Adventures are amazing. Whether you try a new restaurant, explore a neighbourhood in your city, spend an afternoon listening to Elder spin tales and teachings from their past, have that first date with someone special or jump on a plane and trek through a foreign country – whatever your adventure is, there is no doubt, with an open mind and brave heart – it will be nothing short of awesome.
We have had a pretty spectacular year filled with adventures. We’ve been to the oceans edge in the north, east and west. We saw icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland and took part in pow wows on the Plains. We were privileged to meet with Premiers, Mayors and Chiefs to share our insights. We have been to Canada’s Arctic five times and visited with powerful community change makers in both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, as well as having Dale in the north this winter as part of our Worker-In-Residence Program. We met young Indigenous leaders and lead four days of discussion on colonization, confederation and reconciliation in PEI. We were witness to the power of community in Winnipeg and saw what happens when children and youth’s learning is rooted in culture and language in First Nations throughout British Columbia. Road trips in northern Ontario and rural Alberta complemented by more than 80 flights brought our adventure, literally, from coast to coast to coast.
Throughout our adventures we worked alongside some of the country’s finest leaders: women who are committed to creating change for exploited girls and women being victimized by human trafficking; parents, community leaders and more than a hundred young people in a small First Nation who simply want their little brothers and sisters, cousins and friends to be healthy and safe as they develop a suicide prevention and life celebration strategy, educators working to inspire learning in youth and community organizations working to build up girls as they transition into young women. We sat on Task Forces, Advisory Committees and Councils and in doing so, sat with others who through their own adventures were creating change in the lives of children, youth and communities.
We are not naïve about the privilege we have in doing work we are passionate about, committed to and are filled with so many opportunities for adventure. So we want to share this opportunity.
We are thrilled, with the support of YMCA Youth Exchanges Program, to be able to be working with two outstanding organizations, Pathways to Education Kingston and the SideDoor Youth Centre helping facilitate an adventure for two groups of youth; one from the area around Kingston, Ontario and one in Yellowknife and Inuvik, Northwest Territories. In March a group of 21 youth will leave Kingston and head north to experience life in the NWT and build their knowledge about northern living, indigenous history and culture and what it’s like to grow up so close to the Arctic Circle. The youth and staff of the SideDoor will plan a powerful week and their southern ‘twins’ will have, we have no doubt, the adventure of a lifetime. In May, the group of northern youth from Yellowknife and Inuvik will come south and while experiencing indigenous culture in these territories will celebrate National Youth Week in Canada’s First Capital.
Each group has a diverse group of young people selected to take part. Here in Kingston, Pytor along with the Pathways to Education team are working with a group of youth from across the city, most which simply without a program of this kind, would never have this kind of opportunity. Coming from five different schools, including Quinte Mohawk School in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory the team will be preparing for their adventure north and planning the visit from their new northern friends in May.
In preparation for their adventure the youth in Kingston are having bi-weekly meetings where they are building a community amongst themselves while at the same time building on their knowledge. Each meeting includes teachings from local First Nation Elders, information about Kingston and Yellowknife. In building their knowledge and understanding we believe that this becomes more than simply a trip. It will be an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to build relationships and a new reality between the two groups. It will open the doors of history and explore what might not be taught in southern (or northern for that matter) schools. It is reconciliation in action.
Both groups of young people are now planning. Each group is responsible for fundraising for the activities planned during their twin groups time in their community. This includes on the ground transportation, meals and various activities. Each group will contribute collectively community service through some of their planned activities.
Adventures like this are successful when community comes together. Our first community meeting several weeks ago had more than 70 people came together for dinner and to learn about the opportunity. This past weekend more than 40 people (including each of the participants and their family members) gathered to begin planning for this adventure. If you want to support a group of young people who are looking to change the relationships and reaffirm what Canada can be, let us know. We can connect you with Pathways to Education and the SideDoor to ensure your contribution to this adventure is one that pays off for years to come. Whether it’s financial support, an activity you think will be of value to the youth or a meal you would like to host for the group (of approximately 50), please join us. Be part of the adventure.
So yes, in our opinion, adventures matter. We are grateful to Pathways to Education Kingston (who have been so committed in supporting this opportunity for youth in the area) and all the youth, Elders and adults volunteering and joining us on this one. We are thrilled that our friends at the SideDoor want the same experience for youth they serve and have so much gratitude for them creating the space for this to take place in the north. Together, as communities, we can turn these adventures into the life changing events that shape young people’s future.
You can learn more about the YMCA Youth Exchanges Program and apply (the next deadline is March 1st) for an adventure with a group you work with at http://www.ymcagta.org/en/who-we-work-with/educators/youth-exchanges/index.html. The process isn’t difficult and the staff support from the YMCA Youth Exchanges Program makes it even easier. Their team works thoroughly, including supporting their Youth Advisory Committee to ensure that youth voice is included within their process, to support adult allies to create spaces for youth to learn, grow and develop a new perspective on their worldview. And isn’t that really what any adventure should do?