The Optimist Club of Anguilla has pulled off another wonderfully successful Youth Weekend Retreat. This year’s retreat was held for the second consecutive year in the village of Island Harbour at Kent Webster’s apartments from 17 – 19 August 2007.

Retreat participants relaxing at the end of an education and fun-filled weekend

The schedule of activities included a movie evening where the youngsters enjoyed the positive and motivating movie ‘Jump In’ as well as various motivational and etiquette sessions, a trip to the ‘Big Spring’ Amerindian site and participation in Sunday worship with the congregation of the St Andrew’s Anglican Church. All of the sessions were facilitated by Optimists members with the exception of one motivational session on ‘Vision’ facilitated by guest speaker Mrs Welcome and another on ‘Behaviour Patterns’ hosted by Ms Christine Brooks, Ms Natasha Carty and Mr Carl Thomas, all employees of the Anguilla Probation Service.

One of the highlights of the weekend for many of the youngsters was the formal dinner at Flavours Restaurant where they were able to put into practice their dating and dining etiquette, following the day’s sessions.

Participants at formal dinner

The other session which many of the children reported enjoying was the ‘Culinary Experience’ where they created their own Sunday lunch and then consumed it with much gusto. The trip to the Big Spring brought some awareness of our Amerindian history to the participants, many of whom had heard of this small Amerindian site but never had the opportunity to visit it.

By the end of the weekend, all the young participants had made new friends, and they all reported that the retreat was a wonderful experience! Some even asked when we could have another retreat for them!

Budding chefs under the skilled guidance of Opt Monica

The Optimist Club of Anguilla extends sincere thanks and appreciation to all the sponsors namely, the Department of Youth and Culture, the Police Welfare Association, Anguilla Social Security Board, Hughes Medical Centre, E’s Oven, English Rose and Cap Juluca for making yet another Youth Weekend retreat possible.

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