PICO ESCONDIDO
Young Life Dominican Republic
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PICO ESCONDIDO Young Life Dominican Republic
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| Our History During
the early to mid 1990's, it became increasingly obvious that Young Life in the Dominican Republic needed
to expand it's ministry. Scott and Jennifer Steele, a local YL missionary
couple, along with their friend and fellow missionary, Willie Hunter, had begun
a small climbing outreach ministry. Then, the summer of 1995 brought the first major step
toward developing our very own camp property. Chad
and Krista Wallace arrived to the DR with this vision of developing the In October of '97, Young Life staff awaited the arrival of leaders and kids for the first YL camp hosted at Red Rock Ranch. However, arriving before the kids was a group of government officials escorted by armed soldiers who ordered our departure from the property. Over the next few weeks they proceeded to level all camp facilities. While this was an unfortunate and tragic situation for all involved, it became a catalyst for radical change which led to a new level of commitment from our YL staff and volunteers to reach every kid on the island with the message of Jesus. During this time, the Lord Showed us that he did have a plan for YL camping in the Dominican Republic, but that it was not what we had imagined. In the fall of 98, an incredible property was found outside of Jarabacoa, a small town set among the foothills of the central mountain range of the Dominican Republic. The property was purchased in December of that same year and work teams began construction in Spring of 1999. Young Life's Pico Escondido (Hidden Peak) was born. Pico Escondido opened to groups in September of 2001 and lives are already being changed through the Lord's work at this property. Although the property is not scheduled to be fully completed for several years, Young Life's newest camp in Latin America, Pico Escondido is serving as a tool to change lives and bring both the young and old to Christ. |
local camping program.
In
December of 1995, Willie Hunter donated a beautiful lake front property, later
to be called Red Rock Ranch. Work teams began construction that summer and
Red Rock
Ranch was on its way to becoming a premier camp property for the youth of the Dominican
Republic.