Four teens attended a three-day leadership workshop last June, and have become ambassadors for the program on the islands.
Desire Wilson, Ashley Muller, Laura Edgars ( seen here in the photo with sponsor Elna MacDonald) along with Eddie Ronnenkamp, attended The Pursuit of Excellence June 28-30 at Camp Narnia in Shawnigan Lake.
"It's a great experience, and I would do it again," says Ms Edgars, and the others agree. The teens say the experience was fun and an opportunity to learn about themselves. "You're 100% accountable. You get back what you put out. You have to go out and get what you want. It's a great experience and I would do it again," says Ms Edgars.
The teens won the opportunity to attend the workshop through the efforts of five island adults who attended similar workshops earlier in the year. As part of the learning process, they are asked to work on a community service project. The "High Fliers" group, which includes Ms MacDonald, decided they would make the workshop available for four islands youth, and fundraised to pay for their expenses. The Gwaii Trust chipped in airfare for the teens to travel south.
The project was such a success, that the High Fliers are now working to bring a facilitator to the islands, says Ms MacDonald. If all goes well, the Pursuit of Excellence for Youth will come to the islands next June.