the community newspaper for east oahu since 1987
july, 2007 • volume 8, number 7

 
Sometimes you need to trust and lean. Photo by Mark Ryales

Winners' Camp in Hawaii Kai Hosts 2007 Pacific Youth Leadership Forum

by MICHELE VAN HESSEN
Sun Correspondent

From Alaska, Hawaii, Japan and Kwajalein, thirty teens and their youth advisors recently participated in the Pacific Army Youth Leadership Forum, which was held at the Winners' Camp located on Kamehame Ridge. The weeklong event was organized and coordinated for the purpose of providing an experience for teens in grades 8 through 11. Teamwork skills and positive activities are designed to nurture the teens' abilities so that they become contributing and successful members of their communities.

The retreat focused on programs to help the teens learn how to make healthy life choices that reflect the Army core values. This year's theme Take the Challenge was chosen by members of the Pacific Army Teen Panel who worked on committees, taught some of the sessions and also had input into the selected scheduled activities. The teens from Army military families who attended Winners' Camp, Hawaii Leadership Academy dealt with coping with deployment, character education, leadership development, team-building, fitness, sports, nutrition and a service-learning experience that involved making thirty pillowcases, called "pillow-o-grams," with hand-written letters that shared thoughts on special moments.

"Rope climbing creates team building; and in life you have to work together with people you are unfamiliar with to get things done," said Samantha Larson from Kwajalei who wants to return as a teen leader next year before starting college in New York. "Delorese Gregoire, the founder of Winners' Camp, has taught me so many life lessons. She taught me not to judge, she taught me if you lie, you will be lied to, and she showed me how to be kind to others." Larson paused. "I have never been to a camp like this before. I have trust issues and here I learned how to trust someone other than myself; and the lessons I've learned I will use every day for the rest of my life."

"It's rewarding to meet Americans that grew up in different countries," said Scott Margenau, who is a teen leader. He began attending Winners' Camp in Kauai before it obtained its Oahu facility. "My brother was a volunteer and he got me involved; and my whole family helps out as cooks in the kitchen." Margenau is a skilled young cabinetmaker who also helps with repairs and maintenance around the camp. The lessons are so personal and profound at this leadership academy that participants often return year after year to become teen leaders and volunteers. "The experience with the military teens has been so emotional because of what they have to deal with having one or two parents deployed; it made me realize I had it so good growing up," said Margenau.

"The military teens are so disciplined," said Lindsay Spry, another Teen Leader who plans to attend college in Portland. "Everything this week has been on schedule and on time." She continued, "The teens were asked to rise and shine at 4:50 A.M. for a sunrise hike and they all rose with great attitudes and without any complaining or resistance." The service-learning experience involved making "pillow-o-grams" for soldiers on deployment; thirty hand-written letters and pillowcases were sent abroad.

Participants learned about the Army Teen Chain of Communication and how youth issues are addressed by Army Senior Leadership. They explored technology through animation and web design by posting pictures and text of their daily activities to a web site. They also created their own web sites. The teen participants learned about sports, fitness and nutrition from University of Hawaii nutritionists, and they are now expected to take leadership roles in their installations' Youth Centers during the coming year to teach other youths about the lessons they learned.

Nicolai Raza, now a teen leader, has been coming to the camp since he was thirteen years old. "It's so much different from other camps that just want to have fun," said Raza. "At the end of a week's time, at every camp session, you can see the change in the teens; they develop self-esteem, personal, academic and social skills that change them for life." Raza continued, "I like having fun while helping others become a better person."

"One of the girls came up to me and said 'thank you for being there for me.' That is why I volunteer," said Summer Baclann, a Teen Leader attending Hawaii Community College studying Communication Arts. "The military teens have such a positive attitude and they seem to appreciate life more; they have so much responsibility it's great to support each of them and help build their self confidence," said Baclann.

One teen told a counselor, "I thought I was the only one going though this grief but now I've made these friendships in many different installations regions and I know I'm not alone."

On closing day the teens were also briefed by military personnel on the week's activities and issues relative to their installation. To view the web site with photos and the military teens' camp activities, please visit http://paroylf.org. For more information about Winners' Camp visit their website at www.winnerscamp.com.
A perfect day for an outing!
Camp participants made Pillow-O-Grams for soldiers on deployment