Youth Comments & Testimonials

This was the second year that Vancouver Island University offered the Future Leaders on the Water Program bringing together youth and leaders from both Western and First Nations scientific backgrounds to learn about marine science and aquaculture. The following is an article written by a returning 15 year old youth participants, Woolode Gorup-Edwards. She is Coast Salish and Mi’kmaq and has recently move to Victoria from the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation (Nanoose).

FUTURE LEADERS ON THE WATER 2009

Another amazing 5 days spent among inspiring people at Camp Moorcroft  learning about marine agriculture.  Future Leaders on the Water was a program made for teenagers by Vancouver Island University to learn about marine culture and leadership. A group of 29 of us, myself included, learned about how shellfish grow and where each came from; we also learned about ourselves and the leader within. We had a great group of leaders that made everything happen. There were also Elders that participated and taught us about the native relationships to the marine environment and other teachings.

Our days were filled of learning and fun, it all balanced out. We ate breakfast prepared by a drumming chef and then left for a day of learning. One of the days we went the university science lab and watched how gases blow up. We got to do hands on experiments comparing salt water and fresh water.  We also went to Deep Bay which is an important First Nations cultural site and went on a beachcombing walk looking for crabs under rocks. We got to go out to shellfish farms on a boat made by a welding class at the university.

Another day we stayed at the camp and learned how to survive outdoors if you ever got lost. We had a lot of free time to go out on the beach and swim and to just visit with friends. We would have a campfire almost every night talking in a Sharing Circle about what each one of us learned that day. This gave us a chance learn to listen to what other people had to say. The elders would treat us to drumming songs and singing, some of which their families had taught them when they were little; each song meant something. The leaders would put together fun games teaching us about our differences and how to respect each other.

The time spent at FLOW really flew by. The last day we all got t-shirts which everyone signed. We took pictures and exchanged our gifts that we choose that had importance to us. Goodbyes are always hard but I hope to have the opportunity to see everyone again and learn from the knowledge and experience this program has to offer.

by Woolode Gorup-Edwards

 

Comments

What did you enjoy about the program?

"This camp was awesome. I hope to come back next year and see a lot of the same people"

"It was a cool, fun program that just got better as the days progressed. It was tons of fun!"

"I enjoyed the group activities and meeting new people"

"I liked everything about the camp. I have had a great time"

"I enjoyed the people and I loved the cross between having fun and learning"

"I enjoyed learning new things and meeting new people. I really liked the forest walks"

"I enjoyed everything. The activities were great and I had lots of fun"

"I enjoyed getting to know the different people at the camp, as well as the many leadership building exercises we participated in. I also liked going on the boat!"

"All the activities, going places and learning to crochet with Ann"