Laser tag was fun. Very fun, actually. The kind of fun where people got way too competitive, screamed across the arena, and immediately demanded a rematch after losing.
But honestly, what stayed with the leadership team the most was everything happening outside the game.
Seeing newcomers try something completely new. Watching people slowly get comfortable with each other. Hearing laughter from different corners of the room. Introducing folks to a local Yukon recreational business they may have never visited before. It all felt bigger than just a night out.
At one point, we just paused and looked around.
People were joking with each other like old friends. Some were helping others figure out the rules. Some were hyping up their teammates like it was an actual championship tournament. And in that moment, we had this quiet realization:
“Wow… look how much we’ve grown.”
It made us reflect on the early days of Beyond Borders Youth Network. The moments where things felt uncertain. The moments where we genuinely thought about giving up. Building a volunteer-run organization is not easy. It can be exhausting, emotionally draining, and sometimes overwhelming behind the scenes.
But nights like this remind us why we continue.
BBYN is powered entirely by volunteers, and what makes it special is not just the events we organize. It’s the people behind them. The leadership team and volunteers who genuinely care about others. The people making sure everyone has a ride home. Making sure everyone gets food. Making sure nobody feels awkward, excluded, or out of place.
Those things might seem small, but they matter more than people realize.
They are the reason someone feels safe enough to come back again next time.
For us, it felt like watching something that started as an idea slowly become a real community. Something bigger than myself. BBYN is no longer just a project or an initiative. It’s people naturally looking out for each other without needing to be asked.
And honestly, that’s the kind of community we’ve always hoped to build.
Nights like this are a reminder of why we keep showing up, even when it gets hard.
Love y’all ❤️
Beyond Borders Youth Network 