In 2014, the first Kloska Family Life Defenders Boot Camp was held at Marian High School. The event featured a 101 course for over 20 pro-life youth.
The purpose of the Boot Camp was to equip and motivate pro-life youth to engage in productive conversations about life issues.
While its mission remains the same, the Boot Camp has grown expediently in the past few years. It is now held at Geddes Hall at the University of Notre Dame and offers three tracks for varying levels of pro-life expertise, and is now open to college students and adults.
The Boot Camp features nationally syndicated apologists Seth Drayer and Ian Spencer from Created Equal and Mike Spencer from the Life Training Institute.
Active Duty Airforce personnel and South Bend native, John Paul Fitzmaurice, has attended all three tracks.
“The Boot Camp helped me learn how to defend human life effectively,” John Paul says. “Now I feel very prepared to explain what I believe.”
Marian High School junior Annie Henry had a similar experience.
“I learned a lot about the true science of abortion. This made me extremely motivated to stand for both the unborn and the women involved because they both deserve so much more than what they get with an abortion.”
The 2019 Kloska Family Life Defenders Boot Camp will be held on February 23rd at Geddes Hall from 10am-3pm.
This year, the Boot Camps offers three tracks.
101: What is the preborn? with Ian Spencer 201: Bodily autonomy with Seth Drayer 301: Pro-life is pro-science and the local abortion environment with Right to Life staff.
“With an abortion clinic trying to open in South Bend, the topic of abortion is coming up a lot on social media and in face to face conversations," Right to Life Program Manager, Melanie Garcia, says. "We want to empower our pro-life faithful to be respectful and logical in these conversations. ”
There is a $15 registration fee which includes a light breakfast, lunch, resource materials, and t-shirt. If the fee presents a problem, people are encouraged to register anyway and donate what they can.
“We don’t want money being a barrier,” Melanie says. “This event is truly life changing. I attended the Boot Camp four times. I wouldn’t have my job with Right to Life if it wasn’t for the knowledge and motivation I gained from this training. "