#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!

Congraulations to the Winning Team, The Moose Team!

Check out pictures of our trip posted by our Visioneers on social media under the hashtag #VYatBarkLake!

Final Debrief

Another Successful Bark Lake Trip- Until Next Year!

Accessibility session with Luke Anderson

By Jason Shiu

Silver Visioneers actively participated in the discussion about Accessibility 

What is Accessibility? Accessibility (in broad terms) is the availability of resources, services and areas for everybody regardless of a person’s condition. On Monday we, Vision Youth, journeyed downtown to the Centre for Social Innovation to learn more about people who face this issue everyday. There, we met Luke Anderson; an engineer who is dedicated to make public areas and services more accessible. He is also...a wheelchair user.

Luke Anderson leading the discussion

Luke wasn’t always a wheelchair user - in the past he was physically active and an avid mountain biker. It was only until a mountain biking accident where he suffered a spinal cord injury that he needed to use a wheelchair and started to notice that the world we lived in wasn’t friendly to wheelchair users.

More discussion on Accessibility

During his presentation, we were brought to attention how we lived in a world where it is not very accessible for wheelchair users. He described the many frustrations he faced performing daily tasks and going about his life, most that we weren’t aware until he brought it up and even he wasn’t aware until he had to use a wheelchair. From there sparked an organization he created to address one of the many problems he faced and many other wheelchair users face; the StopGap Foundation.

For many buildings as you may notice, there is a single stair step that one is required to take to entire a store, office building, etc., and because of this step a lot of buildings that have it are inaccessible for wheelchair users. StopGap aims to solve that issue; by building a small ramp and putting it in front of the building it allows wheelchair users access to the building. StopGap has given ramps to many buildings in the GTA and has expanded to other areas in Ontario such as Kingston and Ottawa. Last year we also met with him and he kindly gave us one the StopGap ramps to use - it turns out our Vision Youth office also had this single-step in front of the entrance. Luke described the single-step as one of the many physical barriers society is generally not aware of that is affecting people like him and other people with other conditions.

The ramp in front of our office was donated by StopGap.ca

One of the highlights of our meet-up with Luke is a workshop that he ran with us. He posed the problem of the “Push to open” button that is featured next to many public entrances and exits that when pushed, automatically opens the door for the user. He gave us a challenge to redesign the button (whether the button itself, the wheelchair symbol, etc.) to allow better access for everybody entering or exiting a public place. In the 40 minutes of generating ideas, coming up with a solution, prototyping and presenting it was one of the few moments our group was really into the activity. There was so much conversation and back-and-forth between the kids about how to redesign this button and the longer the workshop was the more excited they seemed to be. It was a refreshing moment to witness teens having this type of energy for designing something for the benefit of others and we hope we could recreate the same feeling for them in future sessions.

Silver Visioneers were providing solutions to Accessibility

We learned a great deal from Luke and had a wonderful experience collaborating with him! We look forward in learning more from him in the near future and open our eyes about the world around us. Check out Luke Anderson and the StopGap Foundation at StopGap.ca

LEAP: Learning Experiences through Artistic Performance

By Katie Li

Daniel introducing a character and scenario through a story

For four evenings, Bronze Visioneers had the opportunity to learn more about self-expression and identity through the “LEAP” program, or “Learning Experiences through Artistic Performance”.

Led by long-time teacher, Daniel Kim, who also has lengthy experience in the performing arts, Bronze Visioneers were encouraged to consider themselves and the world around them through storytelling, performance, and self-reflection.

Daniel explaining the concepts of Leadership qualities

The basis of the sessions was built upon the main pillars of leadership and identity; history and understanding where they come from; responsibility, accepting differences and diversity; and seeing things from different perspectives.

Further activities provoking thought on the character and scenario discussed

After establishing basic characters, settings, and scenarios from storybooks, Visioneers were guided through elaborating on simple notions and putting themselves into the characters’ shoes. Exploring issues of bullying, acceptance, family, are more, Bronzes were invited to connect and empathise with the difficulties the characters from the book faced.

Dramatic tableau depicting bullies, bystanders, and their victim

 Bronzes also considered the many sides to a single story through dramatic tableaus depicting the situations explored. Through the sharing and creation of the scenes first-hand, not only were the feelings of the main character explored, but also secondary and background characters who have impacted vicariously by a single person or event.

Another dramatic expression on Bullying

Visioneers also had the chance to participate in activities in the role of certain characters. Asked to contribute pieces of advice, write letters, and even gift imaginary presents as if the character from the story was in front of them, many dug deep and reflected on their own selves in order to better understand and help characters from a story.

Discussing and debriefing on the things learnt through tbe sessions

Through analysing and reflecting on unfamiliar characters and scenarios, Visioneers were able to gain a better understanding of not only different people entrenched in different struggles of life, but also parted with a positive grasp of their identities and the role they play in the world and people around them. 

Vision Youth’s “Cash Dash” Adventure- Well Done, Golds!

By Katie Li

Armed with TTC day passes, maps, and questions booklet, eleven teams of Silver and Bronze Vision Youth participants took off from Mel Lastman Square early Sunday morning to explore the rich culture of Downtown Toronto in part of an urban scavenger hunt and race organised entirely by the Gold team. 

Ready to Head Out!

 After coming in first place at a “City Mosaic”, a similar event hosted by Across U-Hub this past spring, Vision Youth’s Gold team have been inspired to create their own version of the exciting and rewarding challenge for Vision Youth’s participants.

Teams were challenged to visit and explore the rich culture and heritage of four different urban locations, in addition to the final ‘secret’ checkpoint, deciphered through a riddle.

Exploring Yonge Street

Embarking on foot and on subways, buses and streetcars, Visioneers explored Union Station and Yonge Street, Korea Town, the Annex, and City Hall, completing photo challenges and answering questions referencing the city’s history and cultural values. 

From learning new languages to team-building exercises, teams were asked to ‘check-in’ at each of the locations to complete team challenges. Successful completion of the challenges won the participants coloured tokens or “properties”, in spirit of their Monopoly “Cash Dash” theme.

One of the Challenges, Ddakji, a Korean game

The citywide activity served as a fun adventure and excursion from regular Vision Youth programming, and also allowed many participants to explore the city for the first time. The race also encouraged team members to collaborate and communicate with one another in order to proceed through the race efficiently. For many Bronze and Silver Visioneers, the “Cash Dash” event was the first time they had taken public transportation and navigated through the heart of the bustling and diverse city.

Trying to Have All 10 Members Jumping at Once!

The event also encouraged many to speak to strangers for the first time, whether to ask for directions, translate messages, take pictures, or answer questions about nearby local landmarks and culture.

First Team Back at the Finish Line!

Top teams were rewarded with prizes for all of its members, but it was evident through smiles on faces and excited chatter at the finish line that the day was a rewarding for all the participants. Whether it was a delicious lunch break at a local restaurant, or a cheeky run through the water fountains at Nathan Phillips Square, all Visioneers surely had a good memory to take home with them from their great adventure. 

Add captionCongraulations to the winning team - Alvin Ng, Michael Li, Jordan Kang, Wayne Fan, and their chaperone, Calvin Cheung

VY Opening 2016: Day One of a Great Year Ahead

By Katie

With summer officially in full swing, Vision Youth hosted its annual Opening and Orientation weekend to welcome new and returning participants and parents to yet another exciting year!

Saturday’s festivities were kicked off bright and early at Unionville’s Carlton Park with a series of warm-up games including Blob Tag, The Shoe Pile game, and Link Tag. 

“Ice-breaking” activities allowed the program’s newest participants the chance to meet many other Visioneers and volunteers while being active.

Both Bronze and Silver participants were also asked to sit down alongside counsellors and volunteers to create a list of values and responsibilities that were expected from themselves and others. Many new and returning participants suggested ideas including having an open mind, helping others, and respecting different opinions and people alike.

After discussion and deliberation of the standards set in place, Visioneers and volunteers took turns signing the list to commit their agreement in creating a positive and open environment.  

Counsellors and Silver Visioneers also hosted a series of different team-building games played by the Bronze teams to help members familiarise with one another and practice teamwork skills.

Activities such as creating and presenting Team Cheers, “Huckle Buckle”, “Human Knot”, a park-wide Scavenger Hunt, and a team Obstacle Courses introduced Bronzes to friendly competition, physical activity and the many aspects of working in a team, such as communication, organisation, and support.

After much fun and excitement, Vision Youth’s 2016-2017 orientation day was concluded with a final friendly match of European Handball, and well-deserved Popsicles for all. Surely a successful start to a great year ahead!

Gearing Up from the Year Ahead! - Counsellor Training

By Katie Li

With summer swiftly approaching to mark the start of the Vision Youth year, the Bronze counsellors have been hard at work for the past month preparing for the exciting year ahead.

Counsellors had the opportunity to take part in vigorous training sessions to familiarise with the many activities in store for Vision Youth’s newest participants; including the managing the Community Service Project, outdoors and DEA knowledge, and leadership skills. 

The 2016 Counselors and the Bronze Program Directors - Connor Chan and Gabe Wong

These new skills will be sure to help Bronze Counsellors facilitate and foster a positive and enriching experience in all the programming in store, ultimately ensuring Visioneers have an optimal understanding of leadership and the outdoors in tune to Vision Youth’s themes of continual learning and new experiences.

Counsellors were also able to receive some first-hand experiences in leading Vision Youth’s new budding leaders in planning games and activities for Vision Youth’s Opening Day in July, as well as preparing and organising camping equipment to be used during the practice and qualifying expeditions. 

The 2016 Bronze Program Director - Connor Chan is teaching the class

 Training sessions have served the vital purpose of helping counsellors understand how to create a quality and rewarding experience, in addition to giving them the chance to familiarise with the operation of Bronze sessions and their roles as leaders to other young leaders. 

Counselors listening intensely to the instructions. 

With the exciting programming scheduled for the Bronze program, it is undoubted the counsellors cannot wait for the exciting summer and year ahead!

We are the Champion - Vision Youth Takes on City Mosaic 2016!

By Katie Li

This past Saturday marked another exciting City Mosaic, a city-wide scavenger hunt and race hosted by one of Vision Youth’s community partners, Across U-Hub. Over sixty teams, and hundreds of participants and volunteers were in attendance, including Vision Youth’s Gold level participants and a team of Bronze counsellors.

All Winning teams on the stage

The day-long event was kicked off bright and early at North York’s Mel Lastman Square. Teams were introduced with the task of “saving the city” from an evil time-travelling organisation looking to destroy Toronto’s heritage. 

01 City Mosaic opening ceremony

By visiting various locations across Toronto, answering questions, and completing “challenge” activities, teams would not only save the city, but top teams would win ‘points’ allowing them to be eligible for some of the many great prizes and awards offered.

With over a hundred questions that could only be answered by visiting the designated landmarks, photo and reconnaissance challenges, scavenger hunts, secret codes, team activities, and less than 7 hours, the pressure was on for all the teams! 

02 The race begins with VY at the lead!

This year, locations included several notable Toronto sites including the Annex, Massey Music Hall, Korean Town, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Union Station, City Hall, the PATH underground walkway system, and the infamous Honest Ed’s discount store. Participants were only permitted to travel via TTC or on foot.

03 With a photo of Ed Mirvish at Honest Ed's

04 Trying 'Hodugwaja' walnut pastries in Korean Town

After a long day of strategizing, scavenging, and travelling through the heart of Toronto, participants were met at the finish line with refreshments, live entertainment, and the award ceremony. 

05 Waiting for results after the race

Vision Youth’s Golds were able to finish in 1^st place with over a thousand points, along with being named the “Top Crew” for their success in completing team challenge activities!

The Counsellor team finished runner-up at 4^th place out of 43 teams in the division.

06 VY's Gold team takes home 1st place and  the 'Top Crew' prize! 

City Mosaic is a great opportunity for youth to not only experience leaving their comfort zones, but interact with the public as well- a vital asset that can often be otherwise hard to come by. For many participants, City Mosaic can serve as a first time for exploring the city with friends, while also allowing for the discovery of hidden local landmarks and the city’s rich history and diversity.