| | Mr. Russell of Feliciana Retreat Center gives instructions on the Rock Wall activity to participants during the 4-H Teen Leader Weekend, May 23-24. |
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| | Whitney Rainwater zips to the ground from the Rock Wall during 4-H Teen Leader Weekend, May 23-24, at Feliciana Retreat Center. |
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| | A few of the participants at 4-H Teen Leader Weekend, May 23-24, took advantage of the water and the iceberg float during recreation time at Feliciana Retreat Center. |
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Teen Leader Weekend Challenges Youth
Seventeen East Feliciana 4-H youth and ROTC cadets from Jackson High, Clinton High, and Silliman Institute were challenged with a variety of activities during the recent 4-H Sponsored Teen Leader Weekend, held at Feliciana Retreat Center May 23 and 24.
According to Lauren Kennedy and Ken Spoto, 4-H agents with the LSU AgCenter, the weekend began around 6 pm Friday afternoon with “checking out” the rustic cabins, called hogans, and putting away gear. The teens, Caleb Carter, Rechelle Cryar, Darius and Ellis Eubanks, Delvon Green, Jonathan Goss, Myesha and Mynesha Holliday, Mar’Lesha Hollins, Timothy Hollins, Jasmine Hughes, Ronald Jefferson, Jeffrey Mahon, Whitney Rainwater, Travis Shropshire, Hendrick Taylor, and Cekeshia Williams, then became involved in “get to know you” games. Volleyball, dinner, and a campfire with smores rounded out the evening. Adult Leaders, Allen and Pamela Holliday, and agents, Kennedy and Spoto, supervised the youth during their weekend. Adult Leader, Beth Dawson, joined the group Friday afternoon.
Saturday brought leadership and team building exercises, including individual feats at scaling a rock wall and zipping down a 300 foot long metal cable from the top of the rock wall. The teen leaders encouraged one another, strengthened their interpersonal and leadership skills, and persevered over the course of the morning.
After lunch on Saturday, the teens canoed, swam, and enjoyed the afternoon together. Fun, developing friendships, and acquiring leadership and teamwork skills were the results of the weekend, making departure time (around 5 pm) seem to come all too soon.
For more information on Teen Leader Weekend and/or the 4-H Youth Program, contact Spoto, Kennedy, or Ursula Shaw at 225-683-3101 or SFC Banks with the Clinton High ROTC Program.