Boot Camp brings students closer to God

Tinian –– Over 400 students from all over the Northern Marianas and Guam participated in the third annual Boot Camp, a gathering of public and private school students aimed at nurturing their artistic potentials while strengthening their belief in the Christian faith.

Counselors and youth pastors flew in from Minneapolis and New Mexico to take part in the five-day workshop, which is now being held on Tinian, according to Boot Camp Director Aileen Lang.

Ms. Lang said 34 counselors and young pastors from Minneapolis and six from New Mexico are participating in the workshop-seminar.

The participants, who are divided into the junior and senior categories, take crash courses in photography, sketching, theater arts, music and theology which are being held in several places around San Jose village on Tinian.

Christine Halloran, Boot Camp coordinator, said participants, counselors and youth pastors are billeted at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino which gave workshop organizers a sizable discount to be able to stretch their limited funding.

Ms. Lang said Tinian 7th grade student Leon Sanchez bagged the recognition for this year’s t-shirt design.

Activities for the camp include a bible quiz and a presentation of each group’s work during a farewell fiesta on Thursday which will be hosted by the Tinian Mayor’s Office and the Municipal Council.

Ms. Lang said this year’s Boot Camp is primarily organized by the Tinian Christian Assembly and the Grace Christian Academy-Tinian through the support of public and private organizations.

Sexually and physically abused children were also given a reprieve from the $100 application fee. Without subsidies from various organizations and the sizable discount granted by the Tinian Dynasty, the students could have paid up to $400 each.

At the same time, 60 abused children were also subjected to counseling with advisers from the mainland United States. Ms. Halloran said they expect the sessions to help the children cope with their unpleasant experiences both in the home and in the community.

Ms. Lang and Ms. Halloran also disclosed that the Boot Camp is being held to help bring the students, especially those who are disturbed by unpleasant bad experiences, closer to God.

The participants are also expected to do service to the Tinian community through beach cleanups and similar outreach programs. These activities are seen to bring forth unity among the students from different islands in the Marianas.

“The students are making friends and we are glad that the Boot Camp is helping significantly in existing efforts to bridge the gap between the youths from different islands in the Northern Marianas and Guam,” Ms. Halloran said.

An additional 50 student-participants are still expected to arrive on Tinian today to take part in the last leg of the workshop-seminar.