Philmont, New York. Lucy Nordin is an active member of the North American Youth Section. Here, she talks about what working for the section means to her.
Being part of the Youth Section gives me a lot: peace of mind, hope, shared ambition. I hear and feel so much criticism of people today, from older and younger generations alike. I appreciate being a part of the Youth Section because I think the overall sense is one of hope and capability, an interest in acknowledging the innate good within people, and nurturing it.
In our branch of the Youth Section, there is such a powerful emphasis on craft, similar to the culture of traditional craft I grew up in. I don’t remember the exact moment I began to see it, but at some point, I started to notice a craving for work, or creation, or craft, handwork, whatever you want to call it, in the world, and I haven’t been able to unsee it since. I think it’s representative of more than just the desire to create, though, perhaps a capacity that’s deeply human, and just not taught to flourish within societal norms today.
I think my peers in the Youth Section are asking for something similar to the world around us. We’re asking people to come back into contact with those human gifts, to give attention to the community and nourishment that grows alongside them. We, as a Youth Section, are trying to hopefully create the environment that allows people to do just that. I don’t think there’s anyone more qualified to lead that charge than the young people of today, and I feel ever so grateful to be able to be a part of it.
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Image Lucy Nordin. Photo: NA Youth Section
