2023YES
 

It started with a sponsorship from La Conner Rotary Club to attend Camp Kirby.  They were able to experience and get to learn more about themselves and others.  They were a bit nervous at first, meeting new people, but with the extremely warm welcome and trusting in themselves, they learned the importance of working together as a team.  They had a great bonding experience and were awarded “Stanley” the stuffed deer who was waiting for them in their cabin.  They shared pictures of Stanley climbing a ladder, dancing on a table, riding on a boat and many others.  Stanley the mascot gave them the confidence and courage to lean into the team building, teamwork, and their firsthand at using their hands to build picnic tables.  There were 2 teams and they built 17 tables. 

 
As a part of the learning and exercise, they all took a personality test that identified their strengths and weaknesses and the importance of understanding themselves and others to build a really well-rounded diverse team that excels.  They celebrated their learning and table building skills with SMORES around the fire pit.  They all became very close.

 
Next was the Luck of the Irish – their fundraiser that provided the necessary funding for their trip to Honduras.  They didn’t think they were going to be as successful as they were in the fundraising but learned how to organize and work together for the benefit of the whole.  What they felt they learned was how to meet new people, how to all support one another, and how to go door to door and ask others to help.

 
Youth Adventures In Leadership – (YAIL) was sponsored and held at a camp in Canada, just across the border.  They met new people, built trust and allowed them to get out of their shell a bit.  This camp is an exchange program where youth from many different Rotary Clubs attend.  They were forced to meet other people which started out a bit of a nervous activity, however they both felt it was the best thing for them.  It truly prepared them for the Trip to Honduras and in feeling comfortable in many different settings with new people.  Mental Health was one of the focus groups and taught how to overcome challenges.  They had such a remarkable experience, met such wonderful people, learned the national anthems from other countries as well as many childhood songs.  They performed teaming activities on 2 logs and how to not only help themselves, but to help all their teammates.  They learned that the fastest way to be successful was to work as a team and depend on one another.

Tri Parish Food Bank was another activity they did together.  It is a very tight community, and they were nervous at first, but everyone was so welcoming.  They felt this was one of the best activities that prepared them for Honduras in how to meet new people, how to work in a tight community, and how to open themselves up to join the community.
 
Emma and Hanna also got to work with the other YES members to prepare and serve a meal at The Brick in Anacortes.  They worked together to prepare tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for the homeless.  They learned and felt the importance of giving back to the Community.  Not only did it mean a lot to the people they served, but it also meant a lot to them in their learning experience.  It gave both of them and the people so much joy. 

 
Hanna and Emma shared their first impressions starting at the airport.  They captured their journey in journals.  The food tasted so good that was prepared for them in Honduras after such a long trip.  They loved working on the school with the others and loved the dances the children performed for them.  They made twine with the children as a way to interact with the Community, and the children were so loving and energetic.  They made beaded bracelets and necklaces together, and learned a few new Spanish words, while the children practiced their English.  They were so grateful to be able to connect with the children and the joy it brought them when they were call out their names.  Their project was to paint the school a beautiful bright blue and to build a playground for the children.  During their tourism, they learned this history and culture of Copan w/the leaders and driver Marcello.  They got to try a very nice spicy sauce with their sandwiches that is a local favorite.  They had never seen anything like the Myan Ruins and were fascinated with the architecture of the buildings.  One girl brought them a bag of bananas as a gift, and they were able to visit the coffee plantation and ride horses, which never had done before.