My Kool Adventure Camp Experience

Being a scholar of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI)'s Young Minds Academy Program, I took part in a one-of-a- kind character building leadership training seminar dubbed as Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) which was conducted at the Boys Scout Camp in Lahug, Cebu City on the great day of March 27, 2011.

There was so much to learn about the Kool Adventure Camp and most of it was about discovering ourselves and our peers. "Handa na ba kayo?" I will not be narrating the specific activities that we've had so that you will be spared to relish the experience itself.

I was able to impart to everyone how I envision myself to be through my camp name, “Tubod” which symbolizes how I want to be a reminder that God should be the living water in each of our hearts.

I was also able to experience how it feels to be out of our comfort zone but not too far to be at panic. With no time to be comfortable and full, we lived a lifestyle that was far from what most of us grew up in.

We even learned to become sensitive to the needs of others and putting them first before our own through the first lunch meal that we had where we had to feed each other.

I have also absorbed the fact that we always have to play to win and it was demonstrated through the outdoor ball challenge where all of us eventually realized that in order to win we need not step on each other to get ahead.

 Learning what characters I have that is positive and negative was very essential in reinforcing what needs to continue and those that should not.

Taking off our shoes was also a great thing to ponder upon in order for us to make it easier to step into someone else’s shoes and foster an environment that makes us equal and humbled.

To do whatever it takes to survive. To further innovation by marrying aesthetics and functionality which is very much applicable when you are tasked to cook your own food and build your own shelter.

To keep something burning alive and this lamp symbolized our passions in life which we are to maintain light although out the program.

To conquer the dragons that keep you down from realizing your full potential and the peak where you are intended to be.

To challenge yourself by choice, endure excruciating pain from the sun or problems in life, leave no man behind, lift each other up and trust that the rest will never let go of the very rope that keeps you safe.

I intend to apply these learning by starting to feel the needs of others before they even have to express it. Thoughtfulness could make me a great leader and a great friend all the more.

 I also have to make sure that everyone in the organization where I am into gets to feel worthy by making him or her an important part in every endeavor we embark in as this was demonstrated in the activity about synergy and the elastic garter we all rested on. I could also apply the things I learned at the camp site by giving more value to the material possessions that we have such as food and shelter as these things are very hard to have for most of our poor brothers and sisters which we experienced ourselves.

Starting to live my daily life through the Nine Pillars of Leadership will be one of the boldest moves I could take so that I am guided in my relationships and undertakings in my home, at school, at work, at church, at my organizations and my neighborhood.

I also have to become more trusting of others through the trust fall exercises that we had. Being a catalyst in building an environment that gives emotional security to each of our peers is important as well that is why trust was emphasized by Ate Pillow.

I am complete.

About Kool Adventure Camp (KAC)

It is an experiential adventure-based education. Participants are taught how to apply the skills, concepts, and attitudes they have learned from the camp to future life situations as well as to individual and team performance. RAFI is a member of the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) which is an international non-profit organization based in Boulder, Colorado, USA with the mission to help develop and promote experiential education, supporting its professional development, theoretical advancement, and evaluation worldwide. The KAC is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area where future leaders and influencers are gathered in order to build a community that is ready to effect change.

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