Building Community and Confidence: The Impact of Cloquet Area Young Life

Shelly Peterson
Jul 14
3 min read

Listen to the Podcast Here: Cloquet Young Life

Cloquet Area Young Life has been a steady fixture in Cloquet's youth landscape for more than two decades. Established in 2001, this Christian-based outreach, which covers both Young Life (grades 9–12) and Wyldlife (grades 5–8), has grown through authentic relationships and intentional presence in teens' lives.

Supported by staff and volunteers from Cloquet and Duluth, the organization strives to meet adolescents "on their turf," engaging them in their world to build bridges of trust.

Young Life is where every teen is seen, valued, and given hope for a positive future.

Meet the team at the heart of this local ministry:

Brian Points, Area Director for Young Life, leads initiatives for high school students.
Liz Points, Wyldlife Director, provides guidance for the middle school group.
Maggie Stevens, Administrator, coordinates operations and programming.

Together, they manage programming funded by individual donors, United Way, businesses, and annual fundraising events, while maintaining partnerships with Reach Mentoring Program and community groups.

Programming That Matters

Young Life of Cloquet offers a range of impactful programs:

Monday Club nights: Weekly gatherings filled with games, music, conversation, and snacks that feel like a “party with purpose.”
Bi-weekly small groups: More intimate settings to connect over coffee, ice cream, or casual hangouts.
Summer camp: A highlight for many teens, providing spiritual growth and leadership development.
Student-led events: Students take ownership, building confidence and responsibility from prom to service projects.
Open lunch gatherings: Pizza lunches for juniors and seniors are designed to foster connection and mentoring.
Volunteer mentorship: Adult leaders invest in teens by attending games, offering one-on-one support, and guiding moral development.
Annual fundraisers: A golf tournament and banquet—each accounting for about half the budget—plus a 5K run and hockey event sustaining programming.

"Our adult leaders meet kids where they are at and help them screen out artificial filters in our society, and overcome doubt, fear, and anxiety to realize they are worthy of a positive life,” says Maggie Stevens.

Rooted in Relationships and Hope

Maggie highlights a stark statistic: 40% of youth don’t feel worthy of love. Young Life steps in, not as their voice, but as their strength when needed.

This ethos comes alive during community events, such as a recent trash cleanup at local parks, where teens and leaders joined forces. Brian Points, who is on garbage detail himself, embodies the hands-on, relational leadership that defines Young Life's impact.

Local Impact

Programs like Monday Club and Wyldlife provide safe, engaging spaces outside of school, helping teens form meaningful connections rooted in acceptance, fun, and spiritual exploration. Teens' feeling they "can be broken and all—and still be loved" reinforces Young Life's inclusive environment.

Support from community partners like Arise Church further enhances reach and effectiveness.

How the Community Can Get Involved

Young Life is where every teen is seen, valued, and given hope for a positive future. Cloquet Area Young Life remains committed to expanding its impact through support in three key areas:

Financial gifts: One-time or monthly donations sustain operations and programming.
Volunteer time: Adult mentors build trusting relationships and guide students.
Prayer support: Spiritual backing undergirds all their efforts.