Ages 11 to 14
This age group is between youth and childhood, but are often treated as children. They are seen as problematic, and self-consumed. The image the media gives of this age group can often be quite negative. But in reality, these young people are at a very important stage in their lives and have great potential. Junior youth think more deeply about what they are learning than children do, they may start to question authority and notice hypocrisy. They are beginning to gain a sense of self-identity and have a very strong sense of justice, as well as an excitement to learn about the universe. We have seen that these junior youth have a desire for a better world, and should be empowered to contribute to the betterment of our world.
Daily activities during the camp:
Monday, August 23: 9am - 3pm.
Theme: The diversity of nature and its fundamental unity.
Activities: Singing, introductory games, study and group discussion, photography, outdoor recreation*, and a science workshop.
Tuesday, August 24: 9am - 3pm.
Theme: The beauty in the diversity of nature.
Activities: Singing, group games, study and group discussion, painting and poetry, outdoor recreation* and a service project.
Wednesday, August 25: 9am - 4 pm.
Theme: The relationships between parts of nature, and human relations with nature.
Activities: Singing, study and group discussion, outdoor recreation, preparing and performing a dramatic presentation for the children and an outing to the Aboriginal Gardens at UBC Farm with a guided tour.
After the camp, a bi-weekly group will continue to meet in Acadia, as a part of Vancouver's Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. This program provides a place for young people ages 11 to 14 to explore reality and develop the ability to speak with ease about the problems and solutions they see. They are given a space to analyze the different positive and negative forces operating in our society, such as materialism and the media. In addition, the junior youth are encouraged to look into how these forces influence their own thoughts and actions.
In practice, what a junior youth group looks like is a group of young people who study and do service projects together with the help of an older youth or adult, which is called their 'animator'. The animator’s role is that of a mentor, wise advisor and true friend who guides the junior youth through the study of certain books and helps them plan and carry out acts of service. The books that the junior youth study with the help of the animator allow them to develop their language skills by learning new vocabulary words, reading and summarizing stories and practicing writing in complete sentences. Developing the junior youth’s powers of expression allows them to be better able to describe injustice and problems in our society, so as to be able to analyze and understand issues. The books also present many useful spiritual concepts, such as making an effort to ensure a better future, having hope in times of trouble, striving for excellence in all we do and preferring others before ourselves. In this context, junior youth from different backgrounds can come together to talk about what spirituality is, and work together for the betterment of the world.
A junior youth group carries out service projects, which can be simple or complex, but always are extremely empowering. This service component is a strong community-building aspect of the program. It is intended that the junior youth come up with their own ideas for service, so that they experience taking initiative and develop a sense of responsibility in a positive way. Some projects that groups have done in Vancouver include picking up trash in the park, creating informative brochures for neighbors as well as fundraising for various causes. Around the world, junior youth groups’ service projects serve to bring communities closer together and bring awareness to adults about certain issues of their society. It is quite inspiring for members of a community to see the young people striving to improve the lives of all.
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