by Hannah Fernandez
How are youth leaders striving to create a positive, drug-free community here in Adams County? I am one of the youth leaders striving to make a difference.
This summer I was one of a group of twenty-four 8th, 9th and 10th grade youths from the six area school districts of Adams County who traveled to Fort Indiantown Gap for a five day leadership camp. The camp was provided by Collaborating for Youth in partnership with the Pennsylvania National Guard Counterdrug Program. The purpose of the camp was to learn how to find or improve the leader in ourselves so that we could work toward improving the environment for youths in our area. We led various activities that included GPS geo-caching, an obstacle course, a leadership reaction course, and group brainstorming on ways to better our community. The activities gave us a chance to practice leadership traits such as initiative, tact, unselfishness, endurance, bearing and enthusiasm. Leadership Camp also gave us a chance to build a network of youth leaders from all over the county, to work together on creating a better community.
One opportunity at Leadership Camp was getting to meet the White House Drug Czar, Mr. Gil Kerlikowske to discuss drug issues facing teens today so that he could report back to President Obama. Our group voiced ideas such as making people more aware of the issues through media messaging, getting celebrities to join the fight for drug-free communities, and encouraging youths to take a stand for the cause.
This camp was a great experience and showed that we have to work at leadership; it is not just handed to us. Our roles as youth leaders are very important. If we want our future country to become humane, resourceful, and do all of the great things that create global peace, then we need to take the step toward it today. At this camp, I felt that the training that was provided empowered me to go back home and do something to serve my community.
Many other youths are involved in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, United Way, FFA, and the NAACP. They are doing their part towards initiating positive and involved community service not only in Adams County but nationwide as well. Others who are involved at the county level with Collaborating for Youth meet up with liaisons of different organizations that try and help improve our community. They have also participated in Carroll Valley’s National Night Out, and are working on a networking website for the youth leaders to discuss and support each other’s ideas. As members of the CFY Youth Coalition, we are able to work nationally and regionally with other anti-drug coalitions. With the help of these programs and organizations in the community, kids are starting to help make a difference.
Youth leaders have already taken at least one small step to reach their goals to improve their community. Now it’s your turn to help us! If you are interested in learning more about Collaborating for Youth, please call 338-0300 ext. 26 today for more information.
