\n\t\t\t\tCamp leaders and volunteers pose with children ages 6-8 at their recently concluded three-week summer camp in Kagman. The 4H\/CHL Kagman Summer Camp was led by NMC and was the first of its kind in the area. (Dennis B. Chan)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\nThe Northern Marianas College\u2019s 4H Clover Alliance Program teamed up with the Division of Youth Services this summer to provide children ages 6-8 with a camp full of physical activity as well as arts and crafts at the Kagman Community Center.<\/p>\nThe 4H\/CHL Kagman Summer Camp camp\u2014which concluded last week\u2014was the first camp of its kind held in the Kagman area, according to DYS administrator Vivian Sablan.<\/p>\n
She said through NMC\u2019s leadership, the camp\u2019s first year \u201cturned out really good,\u201d as 30 children signed up, with an average of 20 showing up each day for three weeks.<\/p>\n
The camp led kids through physical activities such as hula hoop and obstacle courses, as well as arts and crafts, with mwarmwars, beads, masks and posters made by the children, according to Tanya Belyeu-Camacho, a program coordinator at NMC.<\/p>\n
She said PSS\u2019 Food and Services provide the children with breakfast and lunch everyday.<\/p>\n
Polly Omechelang, NMC\u2019s 4H extension agent who helped lead the camp, said their motto is to \u201cmake the best better.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that the camp was a pilot program and said she would like to see more camps and more youth as they try to help youth grow to become better citizens.<\/p>\n
She pointed to the \u201cawesome\u201d youth leaders who helped run the camp.<\/p>\n
Robert Suzuki Jr., NMC student president of the 4H club, said he loves working with children and has been participating in programs and activities like these since before his freshman year in high school.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my first year, I wasn\u2019t really into the idea of working with kids, but then as I started working with them it really motivated me to major in [rehabilitation and human services],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Suzuki is currently an NMC student in his second year. Another leader, 4H club\u2019s treasurer, Jenella Nelmida, a high school senior at MHS, said she enjoys teaching the children \u201cskills and the values of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe learn from the kids as much as they learn from us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The two leaders said part of their work includes team-building, one-on-one conversations with the kids, and being patient and sensitive to their needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we bring [the children] out of their shells, or we help them guide them towards a better path,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have one-on-conversations with the kids. They tell us their problems, if they\u2019re being bullied at school. We try to help them figure out a way to [solve their problems],\u201d Suzuki added.<\/p>\n
Omechelang described the youth leaders as \u201creally good with kids,\u201d as the children are more comfortable with them than older adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are awesome. They blend well with the kids and the kids relate to them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Suzuki said he wants to \u201chelp the kids grow into our future leaders,\u201d but added that the camp gives opportunities not only for kids but for older youth as well who want to volunteer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually want to open up an opportunity for high school students. They need community service hours, we want to help them also,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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