Krista Carlson said she thinks young people who attended the second annual Sylvan Lake Youth Leadership Conference will be “inspired”.
“I heard that word a lot,” said Carlson.
The conference took place Saturday and Sunday at the Family and Community Centre in Sylvan Lake. Participants, who were aged 13-18, came from around Central Alberta.
Carlson is the youth services program coordinator at the centre. She said the conference is different from what is done in schools because those who attended it chose to be there. Teamwork, communication, active listening, healthy living, good mentorship, and especially smart choices were among the skills developed.
“We had a whole workshop on choices,” said Carlson. “We all have the consciousness to make the right decision. Sometimes we make decisions based on what other people are doing, or what our friends are doing, or what’s going to look cool.”
Carlson said another benefit of the conference is the friendships formed between participants. Some of those who met at the conference last year kept in touch with each other, and were able to see each other again when they came back this year, she said.
Reuben Bjornson, 15, is from Sylvan Lake and attended the conference last year. He enjoyed the talks, had fun, and decided to return. He said he would like to come back again next year. At this year’s conference, he played pool and learned to box, among other activities. His favourite workshop taught the history and values of the samurai, including kindness, a strong mind, and compassion. Participants were encouraged to apply these values to their own life.
Carlson said she thinks compassion is very important for youth to learn.
“Kids need to learn compassion for each other. We’re all in this together,” she said.
Madison McDonald and Morgan Nemish, both 15, are members of Sylvan Lake’s Youth Advisory Council. The council aims to give youth a voice within organizations in the town, and to create a better community for them. Both were involved with planning this year’s conference. and thought it would be fun and a good way to get involved with the community.
“I think it’s important that people get involved in the community and know what they like to do by trying new things,” said McDonald. She added that she thinks it’s important to be open to new ideas to become a leader.
Carlson said she hopes the conference can give those who attended skills they can take back to their communities. She wanted to give an alternative to similar, religion-based programs.
“This is for anybody and everybody.”
By Aleisha Bosch