Each of us experience fun and adventure. We create memories and build friendship through the moments that we share. Through various challenges, we show who we are; how we handle things and how we solve problems. But it becomes more interesting once we create said moments with people whom we have just met.
Pagbugsay 34: Rowers Camp is one of the most anticipated events in STREAMS-Pathways to Higher Education. The camp creates a venue for volunteers to interact with each other. It was held on August 1-2, 2015 at Alomah’s Place, Dahilayan, Bukidnon. The place was the definition of nature: tranquil and relaxing, unadulterated and beautiful.
The camp’s facilitators prepared a variety of activities that targeted different objectives that would help the volunteers know each other and themselves as a person. The activities will determine their strengths and weaknesses.
The first task was a self-awareness challenge: to paint a paddling boat that consisted of their core values, their goals, and their direction in life. Through this, one gets to ask himself what their goal really is. Yes, it may seem to be easy but when you’re in front of the painting materials while holding your paintbrush you’ll come to realize how difficult it really is to paint your life.
Later, former STREAMS volunteers, Ms Janine Guibone and Mr Paolo Araune, gave inspiring and entertaining talks. They shared their experiences from when they were a part of STREAMS and how the program influenced them and both speakers had everyone grasping for their next words.
The moon was already taking over and the sun was setting somewhere in the foggy mountains as the Rowers dined. But the day was not yet over as Your Face Sounds Familiar came live on the Rowers Camp stage. Earlier, the volunteers were divided into four teams and what they should do for this specific task was to create a parody of a music video that they were assigned. Despite the tiring travel from the city, the Rowers broke out of their shells and showcased talents that filled the night with fun and laughter. In the depth of the night, some campers decided to watch Insidious III while others slept safe and sound in their tents.
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The next day, the bright and promising warmth of Mr. Sun energized the Rowers against the chill of the morning air. Morning praise was said and while we were asked to close our eyes, huddle close to each other and reconnect with nature, we were splashed with icy cold water. Apparently, we just had our “baptism” into the program. It was followed by warm-up exercises and breakfast.
The rest of the day was filled by an assortment of physical activities that not only tested ones physical capabilities but also assessed his mental strength and his ability to work with a team. We realized that communication fortifies the bond and, thus, ensures the accomplishment of the tasks given. Queenie Molina, one of the volunteers said that “there are some things about yourself that you’ll discover with the people you barely know.”
Furthermore, one of the personal challenges for most Rowers was The Maze. Every volunteer was blindfolded and led into a maze made of straw interspersed with each other. The task was to get out of the maze was to ask the right question; to ask for help. It was no race for the maze was endless. But who would have thought that the only way to get out of the maze was to actually ask the right question: to ask for help. Paradoxically, it was a riddle that is to be answered by a question. The Maze will certainly test a person’s capacity to ask for a helping hand.
In the end of the day, what you get from these experiences will always stay with you. We meet a lot of people and we learn from them but only if we give them a chance to live in our lives.
The Rowers Camp is surely not an ordinary camp filled with people that you already know. It is a camp filled with strangers that will build and envisage an individual’s purpose and objectives in life.