High School Juniors Attend Four County EMC�s Youth Leadership Weekend Camp
March 30th, 2016
The weekend camp gave students the opportunity to learn and understand some of the most important qualities of a leader, develop and enhance in an atmosphere of trust and respect as well as introduce the students to the cooperative business model at the co-ops ninth annual Youth Leadership Weekend.
Thirteen area high school juniors attended Four County EMC’s Youth Leadership Weekend held March 18-20 at the Cape Fear Scout Reservation in Bladen County.
Students demonstrated the seven C.O.P.E. goals while participating in many activities during the Youth Leadership Weekend. The seven C.O.P.E. goals are teamwork, communication, trust, leadership, decision making, problem solving and self-esteem. C.O.P.E is an acronym for "Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience." Many of the weekend activities involved a group challenge, while others tested individual skills and agility.
The purpose of the weekend was to provide high school students an opportunity to learn and develop leadership skills that are vital to their success in life. Students who submit an essay reviewing their weekend experience will be eligible to win one of two $1,000 college scholarships. Winners will be announced in late May and will receive the scholarships once enrolled in college.
“Our Youth Leadership Weekend is an important program because of the utmost potential it has to encourage young minds and to shape their perspective, their priorities, and their values,” said Gay Johnson, Director of Corporate Communications. “At Four County EMC we strive to build our youth for the future, and we can help meet this goal by offering high school juniors the opportunity to attend the weekend camp to develop leadership skills that are key to their success in life.”
The weekend was packed full of activities, Friday evening kicked off with an introductory session and initiation games, while on Saturday, the students participated in a full day on the challenge and high ropes course. Guest speakers came to share teambuilding and leadership techniques with the group on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Samantha Long from Heide Trask High School and Gabriel Barnes from East Bladen High School were selected Outstanding Female and Outstanding Male campers by the group of students.
The Youth Leadership Weekend Camp is another way that Four County EMC demonstrates commitment to the communities served. Four County EMC serves over 32,500 members in Bladen, Duplin, Pender, Sampson, Columbus and Onslow counties.
Participating students: Front Row (l-r) Isabella Ickes, Topsail High School; Amber Long, West Bladen High School; Samantha Long, Heide Trask High School; Alexa Hernandez, East Bladen High School; Second Row (l-r) Giovanna Rojas, Union High School; Devontae Smith, Union High School; Madison Guthrie, Harrells Christian Academy; Jasmine Connors, James Kenan High School; Louis Woodbeck, Pender Early College; Back Row (l-r) Jeremiah Richards, James Kenan High School; John Bowen, West Bladen High School; Sydney Singleton, Heide Trask High School; Gabriel Barnes, East Bladen High School.