Youth Leaders End Year With Grant Decisions

It was freezing at Camp Jewell, but the decisions have been made. Click here for the full story of the weekend or click here to see more pictures for now.

Youth leaders took time for some Christmas festivities after they had volunteered at the Toy Drive held at Scinto Towers.

Youth Leaders Celebrate Halloween & Volunteering

A meeting for training and volunteering - full story here

New Year Begins With Team Building!

2010 Youth Leadership members and advisors at Camp Jewell.

Click here for many more pictures from the weekend.

Youth Leaders Elect Co-Presidents

Rebecca Sheehy & Tom Saksa
Click here for story

The 21st year of Youth Leadership at Valley United Way began with the annual Team Building Weekend at Camp Jewell in Colebrook, and the members have been busy ever since! The members selected for this year's program are:

Youth Leadership Members assisted with the Back to School Clothes for Kids Project

What's Camp Jewell like? Here is how Colleen Holt described the experience:

The Orientation of the 2010 Youth Leadership Program at Camp Jewell
 By Colleen Holt, 2009 Youth Leadership President and JR YL Advisor at Camp Jewell

            The Valley United Way Youth Leadership Program has completed its annual Camp Jewell Trip.  The members of the program for 2010 attended their adventure the weekend of April 9-11 and the weekend was full of fun and learning.  19 Youth Leaders, along with current President of the group Colleen Holt and advisors Sara German, Melissa Pucci, Patricia Tarasovic, Dave Grant Jr and Scott Lang all attended and participated in the activities.  

            The weekend begins with a quiet bus ride up to the camp.  Not many of the leaders know one another and many have never met.  Once they arrive at Camp Jewell, the team building begins the moment the bus doors open.  We were greeted with weekend facilitator Phil Holden and again later welcomed by Steve Scott, our other counselor for the weekend.  After unloading our suitcases into our cabins we went up to the dining hall for a snack and pro-note bag making.  Pro-note bags are brown lunch bags decorated individually to describe oneself, and throughout the weekend other members of the group write nice notes to one another about their progress.  After the bags are made and discussed, it was getting late and it was time to head back to the cabin for some much needed rest.

            The following morning campers had the opportunity to climb Sunrise Mountain, a truly spectacular experience.  The hike up the mountain provides an incredible view that cannot be duplicated.  After the hike and breakfast, the group is divided into two smaller teams who break apart with the facilitators Phil and Steve.  The two groups focus in on ice breaker games and team building activities which allows for each individual to stand up as a leader and help guide the group.  These activities range from blindfolded games to active problem solving.  No matter what the activity is, the outcome always leads to the building of communication and teaches skills and lessons of how to work in a group.

            The Youth Leaders are also brought together into the large group for multiple activities. These activities consisted of more adventurous outings such as the Rock Wall and Zip Line.  Individuals would climb the rock wall or the high ropes in the trees depending on the activity the group was at and the others would cheer them on.  The motivation and support for one another gave everyone the courage and strength to participate and helped many make it to the top of the rock wall or across the ropes course to the zip line.  The group motivated and supported many of the other Youth Leaders as they faced their fears of heights and all helped one another through the experience.  Another physical large group activity that the group participated in at Camp was the Vertical Play Pen.  This is a ropes course in which the Youth Leaders climb upwards into the trees to a tire at the top.  They are paired in teams of two so that help can be offered throughout the climb.  The other Youth Leaders watched and cheered from the ground and helped motivate others to make it to the top of the course.

            At night the group had a bonfire, made s'mores and participated in a more personal activity.  This activity, called Boundary Breakers, is an activity where the group sits and everyone answers questions.  This is a group activity where trust fills the group and is a safe environment for everyone to say what the feel and be honest with the group.  This activity brings the group together as everyone remains quiet and does not make judgments or speak when others are talking.  The questions range from "What is your favorite movie" to "What moment in your life within the past three months stands out to you the most".  This group activity brings the Youth Leaders together to learn more about one another.

            The weekend at Camp Jewell is an incredible experience to participate in and witness.  It is incredible how close a group of strangers can become in three days.  Thanks to the advisors, the Camp Jewell facilitators, and to the Youth Leaders themselves, the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Program for 2010 is going to do great things.

Posted April 12, 2010

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