My experience at ILTC this past summer was similar to others in many ways, yet also uniquely different. I am from the Rocky Mountain Region #25 and a proud Aleph of my small-city chapter in Boulder, Colorado: Francis Weisbart Jacobs BBYO #5616. As a founding member of my chapter, I have been actively involved on the board since the beginning of my BBYO journey, helping build our chapter into what it is today, leading me to my decision to attend the International Leadership Training Conference at BBYO’s Perlman Camp to expand my leadership skills.

I decided to attend ILTC at Perlman Camp. Although I only knew two people who were attending ILTC, and those two people were from my region, I didn’t let that hold me back. After a grueling 14-hour travel day, I arrived at Perlman Camp filled with worry that I had made a mistake and that the next 19 days might be the worst days of my life.

However, it took just over 12 hours for my mindset to completely shift. I quickly realized I was about to form lifelong friendships with people from all over the BBYO Order. I can’t express enough how grateful I am for this experience—it truly was one of a kind.

Shabbat around the Perlman Tree with my closest friends was an unparalleled experience. My Blueprint group became a built-in circle of best friends, where I also learned how to develop my leadership skills further. And my dorm mates? They were the people I could count on for anything, no matter what.

With International Convention 2025 just a couple of months away, I can hardly wait to reunite with all the incredible friends I made at ILTC and reconnect with them. I’m counting down the days until I can see my best friends again—especially since I’ll be hosting them in my home region here in Denver, Colorado. Having IC in my own backyard makes this experience even more special, and I’m so excited to share it with everyone!

ILTC is genuinely a one-of-a-kind opportunity, and I would strongly encourage every member to attend, even if you don’t know anyone beforehand. That was exactly my situation, and I don’t regret my decision one bit.