Camporee Honors and Sessions Teach Life Skills and Inspire Career Choices

April 21, 2023 | Trelawny, Jamaica | Ruth-Ann Brown and Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Of the 400 honors boasted by the Pathfinder curriculum, more than 20, including a unique seminar on suicide prevention, were conducted at the 5th Inter-American Division’s Pathfinder Camporee in Jamaica, April 4-8, 2023.

Campers searched diligently throughout the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium in search of sessions that piqued their interest, each designed to be a brief practical course of study. The honors varied, covering topics related to health, spirituality, craft and media and technology.

On suicide prevention

A seminar on suicide prevention was highlighted by campers and club leaders. The session, which occurred over two days and was presented by the president of the Ontario Conference, Pastor Mansfield Edwards, highlighted three phases: prevention, intervention and postvention.

“Almost 80 percent of the individuals there either knew someone who committed suicide or heard of somebody or even contemplated it at one point,” said Edwards.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 700,000 people globally die due to suicide every year. Since 2022, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults, ages 10-14 and 20-34.

“I wanted to drive home to Master Guides and leaders of the junior youth ministries, that peer support is vital. We have to ensure that there is that kind of ministry,” continued Edwards.

Pathfinder Director of the Horeb Pathfinder Club in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Lucille Campbell, was impressed by the depth of the suicide prevention session. “I learnt to never take anything for granted, be it speech or action, know the people around you and learn to deal with them,” said Campbell.

Campbell expressed that “sometimes children can get very miserable, or they might come around and may not look a certain way, feel a certain way, play a certain way or act how they used to act, you can see that something is wrong.”

Sixteen-year-old pathfinder Vashti Tracey, who attended the honor session with her club leader, gained a new perspective during the session.

“I love helping others, I love to give advice, but I learnt sometimes I need to be quiet…to just stay with the person.”

Tracey, who’s currently in the guide class, spoke of the ministry of presence and silence and its impact on those suffering and in need of support.

Elisa Prendergast, a communication major, and Myomi Tucker, a nursing student, also attendees at the camporee, were impressed by the statistics shared and the intimate discussion. Both are final-year students attending Northern Caribbean University (NCU).

“The importance of confidentiality and privacy stood out. Many parents see the signs but they are embarrassed,” said Prendergast.

“I appreciated the statistics that were shared, and the signs to look out for in friends. People were opening up in the session,” Tucker added.

In one instance, the intended one-hour session was prolonged to nearly two hours.

A pressing concern

Suicide is a very pressing concern for Carlos Hernandez. He traveled to the camporee as a Master Guide with a few Pathfinders from his club back home in Chiapas, Mexico. A friend who had been a Master Guide committed suicide five months ago. “He got into drugs and just couldn’t shake his addiction and felt so helpless and depressed,” said Carlos.

The death of his friend hit Carlos hard. In the past few months another 17-year-old former Master guide has also been dealing with addiction and has contemplated suicide. “I could see the signs and have been trying to navigate through his situation and see how I can try to be of encouragement and find him some help,” he added. Carlos got him a job at his family’s business and has been able to keep an eye on him and even helped him look for a place to stay.

“My family is putting some funds together to pay for a rehab program, but we are still needed to learn how best we can help him and let him know that he matters, and we care for him,” said Carlos. There’s a lot of listening, trying to understand, showing love saying the right things while pointing to Jesus who can strengthen and rescue someone in suicide distress, added Carlos.  “It takes a lot of love and a different approach and dependence on God.”

“This [topic] was closer to folks than they cared to admit, but they found a safe space in the context of the presentation to open up and share,” concluded Edwards.

Aligning future careers

Other honors offered at the camporee aligned with the hopes of future careers for some campers.

Jasper Gabriel, 13, of St. Lucia in the Caribbean Union, has always been fascinated with the body. He attended the hearts and circulation honor hoping to learn more.

“I like to study things, especially about the heart, just to see the amazing body and the organs and how God has placed us perfectly,” said Jasper.

He paid keen attention during the session, raising his hand to ask questions while taking notes. Jasper is looking forward to being a neurosurgeon.

The honor, presented by instructor Olive Sterling Johnson, focused on the function of the heart and lungs, how blood is circulated, and how to maintain a healthy heart.

Campers flocked to technology-based honors such as social media, digital photography, robotics, and media broadcast ministry.

Patricia Grant, special events and projects manager of NCU FM, an Adventist-run radio station in Jamaica, spoke to hundreds of campers about ministering with technology during the media broadcast ministry honor.

“It’s very important in the 21st century because Covid would have taught us a lot as it relates to how we can share the gospel in more than just the traditional way,” said Grant.

Campers not only learnt tips but participated in challenges including reading from a teleprompter.

The Robotics honor got campers thinking about the future and creation. Master Guide Jamoye Phillips, 23, of Kingston, Jamaic, believes there is a direct link between robotics and the gospel. “It shows how good God is because it allows us to see what creation is like. Though we can’t blow breath into anything inanimate, we can admire the creative process and details in our world and how great God is in relation to us,” Phillips said.