Young people from across the Diocese and beyond have gathered for this summer’s Ripon Venture camps, which combine fun activities with Christian engagement.
Guided by various leaders, two week-long residential courses at Ripon Grammar School for 11 to 18-year-olds include team-building exercises, such as gorge scrambling, cave exploration and group games.
This year will also see the launch of a third camp, Ripon 3, which will welcome 50 young people next week between the ages of 8 to 11. 
“This has become a really special place for us,” said Revd Claire, one of the lead organisers alongside husband Sam, Rector of Leeds Minster.
“We’ve had around 600 young people come through our doors since 2002 and it has been an absolute privilege to meet them.”
“We have some fabulous young people from all walks of life. They come from across the country, some from London, some from Spain and others from Leeds Diocese. There is a fabulous mix.
“We do lots of great, fun activities but we also gather to explore, investigate and think about God, who God is, who we are and how the two interact.”
The Revd Canon Sam Corley said, “One of the things we are committed to doing is give kids space to explore who they are and this week we’ve had everything from asylum seekers through to kids who attend independent schools.
“The joy is seeing young people being young people, free of all the pressures of their friends or schools, relaxing and enjoying, mixing and listening to one another, hearing each other’s stories and working out what it means to be a young person, who they are and who God is.
“We have a fabulous team of volunteer leaders who all give up their time and money and invest in these young people helping them to have a great holiday, with huge fun but also being able to do stuff with God.”
For more information about Ripon Venture please visit www.riponventure.co.uk