The Tribune

POTTER’S Cay Dock was littered with sleeping bags, boxed goods and backpacks. Nervous parents hugged jittery teens while dispensing last-minute instructions. A couple of youth searched frantically only to discover they had left behind a much-needed item, others posed for selfie after selfie with old friends and new acquaintances.

It was a typical departure scene for the Governor General’s Youth Award (GGYA) Bahamas Award Super Expedition (BASE) 2015, where participants in the internationally recognised programme embark upon hiking expeditions which will qualify them for their Gold, Silver or Bronze Award.

This year’s expedition, codenamed “Guanahani Isle,” saw 151 participants – 125 students and 26 unit leaders and volunteer supervisors – making a trip to San Salvador which will span nearly two weeks. The event started on Friday and continues until July 8.

Isreal Newbold, a 2015 Aquinas graduate, is one of 58 going for the Gold Award, so has seen this scene before. “The only thing different this time around is the terrain,” he said. “I’m unfamiliar with it so it might be pretty hard just to find our way.”

For others, the prospect of navigating new territory made the journey more exciting. “Our Rangers carry out typical expeditions with the hiking and land navigation, but the GGYA is more intense,” said Able Woman Abigail Gibson, of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Her 20-strong group of eight females and 12 males have trekked across the capital and were eager for a new experience.

“Our Rangers have an appreciation for the land itself. They have developed a deep appreciation for different vegetation and wild life. They’ve become more environmentally conscious so this trip provides the perfect opportunity for us to perfect our land navigation skills on another island.”

The expedition is the final requirement for many participants to receive their respective awards after months of fulfilling physical recreation, skill and community service requirements.

Bronze Award candidates must complete a two-day/one-night expedition covering 15 miles. The duration of the trek increases for Silver and Gold Awards – to a three-day/two-night journey spanning 30 miles and a four-day/three-night expedition trekking 60 miles respectively.

Nicholas Bower, a Queen’s College rising 12th grader, is also going for Gold. “I don’t have a tent so this is going to be interesting,” he said. “What I’m not looking forward to is five days of hiking, which is rough. Still, I’ve done Bronze and Silver so I think I’m accustomed to it now.”

The only thing troubling 2015 graduate of Galilee Academy, Tahj Burrows, is whether his team members will be able to keep up. “Everything is about teamwork and you can’t really go as fast as you want to, as they say, only as slow or as fast as your weakest link,” said the 17-year-old Defence Force Ranger, one of 32 who hopes to qualify for his Silver Award. “I feel that might slow me down the most, but I feel like it’s going to be a great time.”

The San Salvador trip will be the first real Family Island experience for Taj Anthony Nottage, a rising 12th grader from the Leadership Academy. The only other island he has visited is Grand Bahama. “I’m the only one from my school unit going on this trip so I was a little deterred from going, but GGYA is all about sticking with something,” said the Bronze hopeful. “GGYA taught me in order to truly grow as a person you have to come out of your comfort zone a few times. I’m expecting this to be a new and fun experience.”

Although they are all from different islands, Lendeice Smith, Brianna Ritchie and Bertica Christie were also looking forward to the nature adventure.

“I like to be in the bush,” Smith, a rising 10th grader at the New Providence Classical School who is among 35 hoping to obtain her Bronze Award, said. “I like to travel and meet new people. Through GGYA I’m combining many interests.”

Self-confessed outdoors girl Ritchie has always liked the idea of camping. “I’m not nervous about anything with regards to this trip. I love the teamwork element and just the environment itself,” said the 2015 graduate of Sunland Baptist Academy in Freeport. “I completed Bronze and Silver so I feel prepared. I’m most excited about finishing and finally getting my Gold Award.”

Christie, a rising 12th grader at North Andros High, expressed a similar sentiment. “I’m excited and feeling super prepared for the trip,” said the Silver hopeful, who confessed the only aspect of the journey which made her “nervous” was the boat ride to and from San Salvador.

Although she is the only girl making the trip in her 11-strong group, Christie’s unit leader, North Andros High science teacher Deon Williams says he’s not worried about her. “I’m more worried about the guys,” he says with a smile. “This morning when we were leaving and I saw the expressions on some of the guys’ faces I had to tell them not to worry, toughen up. This is the first time some of them actually left home without any family around them. Some of them are mommies’ babies.”

It’s the “new ones” who are “a bit nervous”, explained Bishop Michael Eldon’s union leader, Elaine Gomez. “Those who have been before are excited,” said Mrs Gomez who has participated in BASE more than 10 times. “My advice to everyone is to have fun but listen to their leaders.”

For GGYA’s national director, Denise Mortimer, each year she is amazed by the sheer number of participants who have not travelled in the Bahamas. “We have young people in the group who have never been to Nassau so imagine coming to Nasssau then travelling to a Family Island,” she said. “What I think is so good about our BASE is it gives participants the opportunity to see that there are so many other islands out there for them to explore.”

Since 1992, BASE has encouraged young people to be disciplined and responsible. The event is designed to foster co-operation, insightfulness, resourcefulness, innovation and community mindedness amongst youth, ages 14 to 25.

“Participants develop a sense of adventure and discovery. They develop an appreciation for their country, particularly in regards to the island that they’re on and they develop an understanding of how important it is to plan and manage your time,” said Ms Mortimer. “BASE enriches participants’ team building skills for sure because they have to depend on one another. They develop leadership skills. In a group of four to seven persons a leader is going to emerge.”

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture offsets the cost of BASE and other GGYA initiatives through its GOLD Initiative, a five-year old funding mechanism which allows the youth programme to carry out its mandates of engaging youths across the nation.

Participants and schools

New Providence (63): Aquinas, C V Bethel, Government High, Queen’s College, Hope Academy, The Leadership Academy Home School, St John’s College, New Providence Classical School, The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rangers.

Grand Bahama (25): Sunland Academy, Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School, Jack Hayward Senior High, St George’s High, Bishop Michael Eldon, Tabernacle Baptist Academy.

Abaco (10): Abaco Central High, Forest Heights Academy, S C Bootle High School.

Andros (11): North Andros High.

Inagua (15): Inagua All Age School.