ST ANN RESIDENTIAL CAMP ALSO FEATURED DRILL SKILLS, EVENING OF EXCELLENCE
Fifty young people from St Ann have benefitted from a residential camp that taught them drill skills, social graces, and discipline.
The Youth Regimentation Corps Summer Camp was held at Steer Town Primary and Infant School, Steer Town, St Ann, from July 12 to July 20.
It was led by Chief Regimentation Commander Lascelles Hamilton and included officers, instructors, and members of the Youth Regimentation Corps (YRC) in addition to students with maladaptive behaviours who were referred to the Anti-Exclusion Behavioural Intervention Program (ABIP).
Over the eight (8) days of the camp, students were taught many drills to improve their discipline and ability to work as a team. They also
attended sessions that focused on self-control, anger management and aspects of social and emotional learning skills geared towards their
physical and mental development. Over the life of the camp, the young people were trained by volunteers, YRC members and trainers as well as police officers.
Among those assisting with the training were: Sensei Romeo Beam, martial arts; Youth Empowerment Officers from the Marcus Garvey Youth
Information Centre; Nordia Henry, NCDA; L. Smith, Restorative Justice; past cadets serving in JCF and JDF.
On July 19 the campers were treated to an evening of excellence during which they wore formal attire and dined in a formal setting.
They were also addressed on the value of building strong relationships through socializing with persons of the opposite sex without trying to make a pass at them.
On Saturday, July 20 a closing ceremony/parade was held to showcase the outcome of the eight days of training. It was said that the result
exceeded expectations.
Not only were the students encouraged by the presentation of guest speaker Christine McBean, Principal of Chalky Hill Primary and Infant
School but also by the presentation of the Commander’s Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership trophy to Sergeant Joshua Haye from
the Steer Town Academy.
Lascelles Hamilton reminded the parents and the students that ABIP is a year-long initiative that has two other residential camps, the next one
will be in October and the students will attend that camp as members of the Youth Regimentation Corps and will be treated as cadets.
Among the sponsors for the camp were First Regional Corporative Credit Union, Spray Tech Limited and CB Chicken. Funds had also been raised through a cake sale in June and contributions from the parents of campers.
