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1949 -YDI Founder, Jim Vaus, saved at Billy Graham Tent Crusade, rescued from a life in syndicated crime.

1959 –YDI began with Jim Vaus reaching out to the youth of the inner-city from a storefront building at Hells Gate Station in Harlem, NY. Subsequently, YDI acquired Lake Champion in the wilderness of New York where many teens came to know the love of Jesus. Lake Champion later became a Young Life Camp, while Jim Vaus brought YDI to San Diego, California. While in San Diego, YDI began to reach out to juvenile delinquents, while also launching a nationwide youth crisis telephone hotline.

1988 –YDI was turned over to Mike MacIntosh and Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego. The team of Mike MacIntosh and Bob Botsford led YDI for the next ten years, continually ministering to the youth.

1995 -YDI acquired 40 acres in Head Waters, Virginia. Jim and wife Alice Vaus, along with their son, Roger and wife, Lorrie pioneered the work of YDI at Head Waters Lodge – a youth camp and retreat center in the wilderness.

1997 -Jim Vaus went to be with the Lord at the age of 78 years.

2005 -Roger Vaus was called home to be with the Lord early in his life (only 49 years old), after ministering to thousands of youth in hundreds of camps and seeing the ministry of YDI Head Waters expand from 40 to 280 acres. The YDI board of directors prayerfully stepped in to see the ministry through this very difficult transition, particularly Terry Clark and Norlyn Kent as interim presidents.

2006 -Chapin Marsh was appointed president of YDI and Ronny Breen the director at Head Waters Lodge.