Review by Chris Whynot:

You’re made to feel like family right away. At first I was nervous, I’ve never been good at opening myself up to a lot of strangers, but that soon changed. The minute I arrived at the camp my nerves were nowhere to be found. The camp leaders greet you with a warm honest hello, followed with a smile and the fun doesn’t stop there. Everyone you meet, leaders and participants, put great enthusiasm into not only meeting, but getting to know and becoming friends with everyone.

The biggest lesson I learned at camp is to not let yourself become shy - just open up, no one is going to look down on you for showing who you really are. The more I laughed and smiled, the more laughs and smiles I received from other people, when you hide in the shadows everyone looks dark. A great quotation I heard on this topic during a presentation was, “If you put up a wall in front of strangers, they will put up a wall in front of you to”. If you don’t let anyone get to know you, they will not let you get to know them.

The activities we participated in were team skills, where we solved six separate puzzles with a group of strangers (well until after the activity). Fun with Jim, a man who showed us some percussion instruments and we made a few songs and rhythms. We learned how to build a resume and be successful at an interview. We watched interesting and hilarious presentations on the Costa Rican and Irish exchange program. We got together at night and had a very relaxed jam session with a couple of guitars and skilled guitarists. And the eye opening lesson on the greenhouse effect in which I learned a lot and am now a very concerned guy. During our free time many of us would excitedly run to the field and throw a Frisbee, kick a soccer ball, play some hacky sack, or just hang out and meet friends.

After the short stay in Truro my eyes were opened just enough to see there is a whole world out there and I must take a part in trying to conserve and improve what we have.

Chris Whynot
NSYCC crew member
Summer 2004
Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation

Review by Alicia Fancey:

The 2004 Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps Training Camp took place in Truro from Tuesday, June 29th, until Wednesday, June 30th, at the Agritech College. I travelled in with my fellow co-worker, Chris W., as well as the N.S.Y.C.C. members who are stationed in Lunenburg, Chris S. and Jeri J. We arrived around 10:30 am and walked into the administration building, and then made our way to the gym where we registered and handed in a few papers. I was amazed at how laid back, and easily approachable the people were. We then got our room keys, and searched for a while to find our rooms. We had nothing to do after that until we met everyone for lunch at 1:00 pm.

Following lunch we headed over to the gym for some team skill-building/problem-solving activities. We were separated into teams of nine or ten people, and we had to create a name and a crest to represent our team. My team’s name became the S.P.R.O.U.T.S, standing for “Seriously Protecting Resources Over and Under The Sun”. All the teams then went outside to participate in the team activities.

After supper we all participated in a very musical presentation. The man who did this presentation allowed all of us the opportunity to play some sort of musical instrument, mainly drums. We all learned certain rhythms and then put them all together. It really was amazing, and we all were really feeling the music when we were done. I think everyone enjoyed this presentation. The pool was open after this for anyone who wanted to go swimming. There was also a music circle which began at 10:00 pm. Three people with guitars played and everyone sang. It was a lot of fun.

We were awoken the next morning at around 6:30, and got ready to attend a smudging ceremony at 7:00 am. A Mi’ Kmaq chief performed a cleansing ceremony in which he called on the spirits of our grandmothers and grandfathers, and the spirits of the bear and the eagle. He held a shell in his hand filled with grass which he lit, and used a feather to spread the smoke on each and every one of us. Following the ceremony he showed us how to break a circle, and told stories to anyone who would listen. I found this man very interesting and I really appreciated his knowledge, and his willingness to share it with others.

For the rest of the day we were all in the gym. We first learned about resumes and cover letters, then we had presentations from the Costa Rican and Ireland exchange groups. I found the people who did these presentations very interesting and I plan on applying for this program next summer. We then had a presentation on climate change, which was very useful. I learned a lot about a subject I had never really known too much about before.

Over all, I really enjoyed the short time I was at camp. I was amazed at how much ambition and knowledge could be in one place at one time. I am very proud to be a part of something that is so great. I’ve always thought to myself that I want to make a difference somehow, that I would like to make the world a better place, but it’s hard to know how or where to begin. The kinds of programs like the N.S.Y.C.C., and the Costa Rica/Ireland exchange programs are ways for youth to start to make a difference.

Alicia Fancey
NSYCC crew member
Summer 2004
Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation


Last Modified: Fri, Sep 10, 2004