Induction for new youth councillors to get wet ’n wild

ROTORUA 10.02.11: The 2011 Rotorua District Youth Council is preparing for the unknown as they kick off their year in office with a training and induction weekend designed to challenge them both mentally and physically.

The 16 new youth councillors will set off to Lake Okareka tomorrow [11 February] where qualified outdoor instructors will take them through a ‘Survivor’ initiation based on the popular reality television series.

Rotorua District Council youth projects officer, Jill Campbell, says the induction programme will test youth councillors’ ability to cope in unfamiliar territory while undergoing an array of difficult tasks.

“Youth councillors will encounter the wilderness, get a little wet, and face numerous challenges, but they’ll learn to work as a team and learn to trust each other which are going to be important qualities during their term.

“We’ve run successful ‘Survivor’ camps with youth councillors for the past three years now. The training weekends help create instant bonds amongst youth councillors resulting in some real productivity from them during the year.”

The Youth Council training camp takes place from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 February 2011.

The 2011 Rotorua District youth councillors are Scott McAlister, Michael Welten, Viliami Manu Taliauli, Matthew Bloomfield, Kate Wright, Katheryn Pasco, Sunny Kim, Eric Roberts, Dominique Werahiko, Riley Power, Benjamin Martelli, Tessa Morgan, Ramari Rakuraku-Foster, Khan Aranga, Alicia Atarangi Manley and Savanna Goncalies.

ENDS

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