The Community Partnership and Extension Office (CPEO) of the Philippine Normal University (PNU) alongside the Extension and Community Educators and Leaders (ExCEL) Society conducted its fourth Youth Camp last October 29 to 31, 2019 at Nasugbu, Batangas with the theme GEN IV: Inspired Vanguards, Intelligent Viewers, Innovative Volunteers.

The annual camp was participated in by extension stakeholders who are expected to have active roles in leadership capability building programs of the university. The majority of the participants were from ExCEL Society, the official extension student volunteer arm of the university and the rest were composed of student-leaders from the partner schools Ignacio Villamor High School and Claro M. Recto Senior High School, Division of City Schools - Manila. The camp is co-presented by Pinas Forward, a university partner in executing community engagement activities.

The camp was kicked-off with the opening remarks from CPEO Director, DR. Serafin A. Arviola. Dr. Arviola highlighted that it is important for partners to be involved in university activity to establish a sense of rapport and unity. Dr. Zenaida Q. Reyes, Vice President for University Relations and Advancement, also gave a message centered on how PNU is committed to serving its partner communities. Sessions about Stress Management and Commitment were conducted by CPEO Faculty Assistants Jonathan Campo and Iona Ofelia Zanoria, respectively.

The inaugural bonfire was lit up later that night as the campers participated in team-building activities. Professor Leigh Ann Perez conducted a lecture about Creative Story Telling to open the second day. Story-telling is important for allowing leaders to easily establish their credibility among their constituents.

The Pinuno Camp by Pinas Forward was conducted shortly after the storytelling talk. The session Salinlahi, Piling-pili, Pinong-pino (Generation of Chosen and Noble) was facilitated by Pinas Forward champion Jeff Richard Segumalian and June Joson. The campers went through various boot camp activities during the Pinuno (Leader) Challenge that aimed to instill discipline, leadership and camaraderie amongst its participants. The last session of the day called Sandigan: Habang may Pilipino, may Pag-asa! (The Hope in Every Filipino) highlighted the importance of companionship amongst leaders to establish unity and resilience.

The last day, the camp was a synthesis of the orientation on School and Community and a session called Sambayanan: Let’s Move Forward! This session featured action planning of students-volunteer with partner institutions to promote the values they have learned in the camp.

The Youth Camp is an annual event of CPEO which aims to strengthen the commitment of its volunteers as well as its partnership with its extension beneficiaries.