Vision Youth Leadership Program: #VYatBarkLake: Our Annual Trip at Bark Lake Leadership Centre

By Katie Li

Arriving at Bark Lake!

From defying gravity at the High Ropes course to racing down the lake in giant Voyageur canoes, Vision Youth’s Bronze and Silver participants were able to conquer fears, discover many first-time experiences, and learn more about leadership and themselves at Bark Lake Leadership Centre in Haliburton, Ontario.

The three-day excursion was packed with exciting activities, on lake and on land, designed to develop teamwork skills and intrapersonal abilities.

Swim Test in the Lake

Day One featured a grand tour of the large outdoor facility, as well as multiple warm-up and ice-breaker games to help Visioneers get settled in their temporary homes for the upcoming days. After a delicious meal prepared by the Bark Lake staff, Visioneers had the chance to take a dip in the lake to test their swimming abilities.

Creating Goals for the Next 3 Days

Later, Visioneers gathered in the main hall to create a list of group and personal goals for the days ahead of them. Many shared plans of keeping an open mind and a positive attitude when exploring new experiences that may be out of their comfort zone.

Learning to Kayak

Taking a Break From the Kayaks!

Learning the Canoe Paddling Strokes

Returning from a Great Canoe Trip!

Throughout the following day, Visioneers took on specialised activities offered by the camp, including kayaking and canoeing, and the high ropes and low ropes courses; many for the first time.

Each of the different activities offered its own set of unique learning experiences- while kayaking offered its own challenges to an individual, canoeing and canoe rescues, done in groups of pairs, required more communication and teamwork.

Low Ropes Activities

On the low ropes course, Visioneers were asked to work together to complete different challenges, whether it be lining up on a narrow plank of wood without stepping off of it, passing both people or a piece of rope through a web without touching it, or balancing a large teeter-totter as a group.

Low ropes activities encouraged Visioneers to communicate with one another, ensuring all ideas were considered and attempted. After every challenge, participants were given an opportunity to review and reflect on their communication and collaboration efforts, building upon and improving themselves significantly after each attempt.

Figuring out Tricky High Ropes Courses

Jumping Offf the 'Leap of Faith' Pole at High Ropes

Teamwork in Action!

High ropes activities challenged Visioneers with solving problems in a tactile challenge, while also overcoming a potential and common fear of heights. Working as a team to belay, spot, and encourage one another through each individual’s struggles, the daunting, yet exhilarating activity was able to bring the best out of everyone.

Frisbee and Capture the Flag on the Beach

Lots of Laughs and a Hilarious Orange-Eating Competition by the Campfire!

Campfire Skits, a VY Tradition

Learning and Mastering the Art of Marshmallow Roasting

The evenings concluded the eventful days with spirited, friendly games of Capture-the-Flag and Frisbee, a night hike in dark through the woods to an open ground for a night of stargazing and storytelling, Vision Youth’s annual tradition of performing skits around the campfire, and of course, marshmallow roasting for s’mores.

The Race Begins!

The final day of the eventful trip was wrapped up with a friendly tournament within the Bronzes, consisting of canoe races and mini games around the camp, as well as an in-depth reflection and debriefs session to review and set goals for the future.

The Race Continues with More Challenges

A popular favourite amongst higher-level Visioneers, alumni, and volunteers, Bark Lake has no doubt proved itself the same once again to this year’s Bronzes. Happy chatter and talks of the new memories made filled the buses on the ride back, undoubtedly one of the greatest of their summers, yet!