Approaching Camp Alexandra from the street on a sleepy Saturday, you’d never suspect something of such magnitude is taking place on the other side of the fence.
I made my way through the gate and across campus to one of the buildings there, and stepped inside last month to find 56 teenagers dressed in matching blue hoodies sitting in rapt attention. I’d missed the opening remarks of the second speaker of the morning but they must have been good. Everyone in the room sat riveted as Stephanie Cadieux, B.C.’s Minister of Children and Family Development, shared her thoughts about overcoming adversity.
“You don’t know what’s coming, so you’d better be adaptable.”
This from a woman who lives a life far different from the one she imagined when she was their age.
Cadieux was only 18 when she was thrown from her friend’s car as he swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle. Landing in a ditch, her spinal cord was irreparably damaged, changing her life’s path forever and ultimately leading her here.
The Surrey-Cloverdale MLA is just one in a lineup of six extraordinary speakers brought together to inspire tomorrow’s leaders at Youth Adventures in Leadership (YAIL).
In its sixth year, this annual transformative leadership weekend provides insight into leadership, and arms participants with skills in the areas of networking, planning and setting life goals. Ultimately, the event is designed to foster an attitude of giving back to the world community and develop key skills able to turn fresh, young ideas into meaningful future change.
YAIL is presented by Rotary district 5050, which extends from Hope to Everett, Wash., and includes the five clubs of the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
The weekend is open to 65 participants per year, ranging in age from 15-17. There is no cost for the youths to participate, as each $425 fee is paid for by their sponsoring Rotary clubs.
The curriculum, developed by local Rotarians Gary and Nita Hollick, combines a variety of leadership and growth speakers with directly relating activities to apply the learning. The program is led by youth, with guidance from adult Rotarians, in accordance with Rotary guidelines.
Attendees are permitted to attend this event only once as a participant, but many return two to three times as a facilitator.
The material is delivered in four sessions spread over three days, each session with a theme.
The event kicks off Friday afternoon with the well-timed pre-judging and assumptions session, with the remainder of the topics – goal setting and time management, risk-taking and choices, and problem solving – being discussed over the remainder of their time together. The youths pack up and say their goodbyes at noon on Sunday.
“We see a world of difference in their interaction between day one and day three,” said Hank Adolfi, a committee member and active Rotarian visiting from Coupville, Whidbey Island.
“We see phenomenal growth take place here – the closeness of friendships formed are way beyond anything else you’d typically encounter in a 48-hour experience.”
As I excused myself to continue on with the responsibilities of my day, the energy of the event stayed with me, leaving me wishing I was a teenager and eligible to attend myself. What extraordinary leadership potential would I uncover and learn to apply in world-changing ways?
It may be too late for me, but how about for you? Are you Interested in attending or know of a youth you’d like to nominate?
Contact your local Rotary club or visit www.yail.org for more information.
Brenda Gibson writes monthly on behalf of the Semiahmoo Peninsula's five Rotary Clubs – brenda_gibson@shaw.ca