In a show of intent to improve the lives and outlook of young people in Bermuda, the group behind the fledgling West End Youth Community Club intends to take up to 30 youngsters to Darrell’s Island for a week of life-skills, adventure, sharing and competition away from the distractions of the mainland.

There will be no television, no MP3 players, no computers, video games or cell phones, in fact all modern day creature comforts will be missing during the “survival camp” that is intended to become a yearly event.

It is only three months since a group of young men, led by former youth club operator Gerald Fubler, announced their intention to do all they could to restore a youth community club to Sandys to replace the one that ran from 1994 to 1999.

At one of the group’s public meeting before Christmas Premier Ewart Brown said Government would be prepared to meet the community club committee half-way if they showed their commitment to the cause. Since then the youth club team has come up with the survival camp idea.

The ultimate aim is to have a youth club building in Sandys, but the current absence of a building appears not to be hindering the team from their objective of giving a positive focus and outlet for the youngsters of today. Co-chairs of the West End Youth Community Club, Makai Dickerson and Steven Burchall, along with their colleagues in the team want to give back to society and provide young people growing up today with a facility that they themselves missed out on.

While a physical building for a youth club may become a reality later this year, Mr. Dickerson said: “We have to start doing things now rather than wait for the building.”

With guidance from mentor Mr. Fubler they have planned a week of events on Darrell’s Island. It starts this Saturday and will provide character-building, adventure and camaraderie for those 10-17 year-olds who participate. Spaces are still available for youngsters.

Government has provided assistance and allowed the group to use the island for a week.

“We are going to utilise the whole island and show the youngsters different things about survival and not relying on material things,” explained Mr. Burchall. “They will see how they can use their minds and work out issues and entertain themselves. Back in the day there were no cell phones or TVs. People say the youngsters today have all this equipment, well let’s see how they cope without it.”

Outdoor cooking, sleeping in tents, fishing, competitive tasks and exercises will all feature in the survival camp. It is intended to split the youngsters into three teams, with three adult leaders guiding each one.

“They have to see if they can really handle it and work together and be in a group, getting along regardless of their differences and with minimal input from adults,” said Mr. Dickerson, adding: “Although we are going to be there is make sure that no one gets hurt.”

As reported in the Royal Gazette last year the West End Youth Community Club committee was set up towards the end of 2006, with former youth club operator Mr. Fubler as the guiding force for the group of young men and women who want to see a positive outlet for the youngsters of the Sandys community. They would like to see all Bermuda’s parishes eventually have a youth community club.

Premier Dr. Brown and the majority of his cabinet ministers attended a second public meeting just before Christmas to hear more about the group and its plans. As a result of that the group has been getting some assistance in its search for a location to create a youth club although nothing has been settled as yet.

Explaining the objectives of “Survival Camp 2K7” the group states: “This camp will allow young people to reach within themselves to develop their own solutions and coping techniques to problems. It will teach them to co-operate with other people, especially with other campers in the group who will depend on each other for survival during the week.

“Survival camp will give them a dramatic experience of self discipline in having to relate to certain rule and will exercise their own competence within the programme.”

The youth club team believe parents will see a positive change in the attitudes of their children when they return from the camp. Youngsters will be requested to bring items such as a sleeping bag, blanket, rope, rain gear and a tent if possible.

But as Mr. Burchall points out, one of the key lessons for the camp is sharing and those who are unable to bring the required items will be able to share with the others.

The cost is $30 per child and any parent wishing to have their youngster take part should contact either Mr. Dickerson on 734-2241, Mr. Burchall on 336-2098, or Mr. Fubler on 339-2022, or alternative email bdawestendyouth[AT]hotmail.com

[bul]This Thursday the West End Youth Community Club committee is holding a public meeting at Bright Temple, in Spring Hill, Warwick, starting at 7 p.m. Mr. Dickerson said: “We are reaching out to different parts of the Island and parts of the community to see what they can do time-wise or volunteering to help set up youth clubs on the Island.”