News And Media

AYL Internship Observations by NOLS Instructors

October 20, 2010

 

This year saw two new pilot projects for the Arctic Youth Leadership program; these were the Program Internship and the Expedition Internship.  Both of these internships were designed to build upon the leadership skills learned from a previous year, gaining new skills and training, and provide peer mentorship while on the Horton River.

 Shannon Ciboci, alumnus from 2010, successfully achieved the position of AYL Program Internship, and worked in the Arctic Youth Leadership office, at IDC, from the end of June through to mid-August.  Shannon's duties were varied, with the majority of her time spent learning and applying competencies required for clerical office work and event coordination and delivery. She also received advance leadership training as a returning expedition participant on the Horton River, learning and applying higher level leadership skills in her role as mentor and peer leader for new students. According the NOLS instructors, Shannon was effective as a role model to this year's participants.

 Returning this year to the AYL Expedition from Nunavut was Swen Ugyuk, of Taloyoak, to fill the position of Expedition Intern.  Swens' responsibilities were to learn advanced leadership training as a returning expedition participant on the Horton River, learning and applying higher level leadership skills in his role as mentor and peer leader for new students.

 According to Geoff Kooy, one of this year's NOLS instructors:

" The success of this year's AYL program is due to a large number of factors.  However, one of the most significant factors of the student's success was the presence of two returning students; Swen Ugyuk and Shannon Ciboci.  Both Shannon and Swen played very important roles during the expedition.  They were able to act as role models to the other students, letting them know that they could persevere and even strive in tough situations.

 Both Shannon and Swen took their roles very seriously.  Once out on the expedition Shannon and Swen helped create a positive learning environment by role modeling appropriate behaviours.  They were able to show their peers how to perform essential tasks like lighting a stove, cooking nutritious meals, keeping their belongings organized, being leader of the day, and canoeing techniques.

 I believe that having two returning students on the AYL program is incredibly empowering to not only those returning students, but also to the group as a whole.  The other students are able to learn from them in many informal, indirect ways.  The group can look up to these students (especially during the beginning of the course) and try and model the behaviours and techniques that they demonstrate.  The returning students are able to expand on leadership skills that they were taught in the previous experience and further refine the techniques that they used.  This benefits everyone involved.  The returning students get to further their leadership, returning back to their communities as even stronger leaders.  The other students receive role models, and can strive to come back to the program again."

 - Geoff Kooy