Venturing
the great wild in the city, participants went all out in outdoor activities –
spelunking, snorkelling and trekking – during the 1st Regional Environmental
Youth Camp hosted by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Social Awareness and
Community Service Involvement (SACSI) held April 4-8, 2017 at Scout Limbaga
Camp in Barangay Pasonanca this city.
The
five-day camp kicked off with a parade participated in by 99 participants from
Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance (ZABIDA) Inc., Junior and
Senior High School students from Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Arturo
Eustaquio Memorial Science High School, Baluno National High School, Basilan
National High School, Bunguiao National High School, Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial
High School, Kabasalan National High School, Manicahan National High School,
Ramon Enriquez Memorial National High School, Regional Science High School,
Zamboanga City High School, Zamboanga City National High School, Zamboanga del
Norte National High School and Zamboanga Sibugay National High School.
AdZU
President Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ, who delivered the welcome remarks, said
that the camp was part of AdZU’s mission of forming students to be good leaders
that cares for the world and the environment.
Camp
Convener and SACSI Environment Program Officer Welma O. Omboy, said that the
camp sought to equip participants with the skills in coastal and upland
resource management, at the same time molding them to become stewards in
conserving, protecting and sustaining the environment.
With
the theme, “Kasama Ka: Kabataang Sama-Samang Maglilingkod Para Sa Kalikasan,”
the camp also strived to instil values in each participant to motivate them to
be involved and initiate environmental programs, projects and activities.
Other
activities during the camp included environmental sessions, team building
games, earth jam, art festival, film appreciation, cultural night, exposure
trips and planning.
Also
present during the camp was Fr Wilfredo Samson, SJ, AdZU Assistant to the
President for Formation together with representatives from partner agencies: Felix
Mirasol, Regional Director of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) Region 9; Dr. Dante Oporto, Provincial Environment and Natural
Resource Officer; Pedro Melchor Natividad, OIC Regional Director of the
Department of Education (DepEd) Region 9; Asec Paul Anthony Pangilinan, Commissioner
at-large of the National Youth Commission (NYC); Fr Angel Calvo, Chairman of
ZABIDA; and Director of the AdZU Bacatan Library Lynnie Calingacion.
Camp
masters composed of the SACSI staff headed by SACSI director Raquel Salvacion, together
with SACSI and Ecowatch volunteers who served as camp facilitators.
The
envi camp was organized by SACSI in partnership with the DENR-9, DepEd-9, U.S.
Embassy American Corner-AdZU, U.S. Department of Interior, ZABIDA, City
Government of Zamboanga, Film Council of the Philippines-Cinematheque
Zamboanga, JCI Yllana and NYC.
