By Georgia Thelen
Review Staff Writer
“When you look back at your life, it’s really the things you’ve done to help others that matters most,” said Patti Charette, North Oakland Community Coalition Youth and Outreach Coordinator.
The boys at the North Oakland Community Coalition, NOCC, Just Guys Camp all started their day on August 26 at 9 a.m. very shy and timid. Soon they broke out of their shells as the day progressed with team bonding activities and group discussions. The group of 16 boys formed different teams throughout the day to do activities such as: obstacle courses, capture the flag, football tosses, running relays and fishing on Tommy Lake.
Alex, an eighth grader at Waldon Middle School, said that his favorite team building activity of the day was playing capture the flag.
The campers soon settled down for group discussions with the older camp counselors. Hearing scenarios and situations from a wiser crowd that has gone through the same circumstances, quickly let the younger boys open up with their experiences and opinions on peer pressure, bullying and turning the tables to become a leader in their friend groups.
The boys also discussed how to step in on situations where others are being bullied; discussing tactics like surrounding people who are being singled out, talking to them and including them in activities to make them feel comforted and protected.
“Becoming a leader; that’s basically today. What are they going to do, what their legacy is and how they want to be remembered? Do they want to be remembered by making good decisions and becoming a leader… or are they going to sit in the background, giving into the peer pressure?” said Sean Charette, lead camp counselor and Grand Valley student.
Magician and 2013 Lake Orion High School graduate Anthony Grupido, joined the afternoon fun to give a short magic show and discuss self- empowerment and the impact it can have on oneself and others.
“I think this is a good way to give back. I went from a point where I needed help and now that I helped myself I want to show people how they can help others and themselves,” said Grupido.
One of Grupido’s more popular tricks, and the Just Guy’s Camp personal favorite, is to free himself from a tied up straight jacket and 40 feet of chain. Grupido uses this act as a metaphor for anything that could hold a person down mentally, then shows the audience step by step how to overcome their problem by not looking at the big picture, but rather at small steps to accomplish anything from a mental issue to scoring their dream job.
Grupido deals with many different audiences, from schools to corporate magic, but always includes a motivational tie in to try and positively influence the crowd wherever he goes, because “everyone can use a little pick-me-up.”
“This whole camp is about protecting our kids; about empowering them; about teaching them to be able to say ‘no’ to unhealthy choices,” said Patti.
Patti not only helped NOCC Executive Director, Julie Brenner, and Barb Pote, Project Developer, organize the 2016 Just Girls and Just Boys day camps, she has also run the Teens In Action club at Lake Orion High School since 2007, which works to empower fellow classmates with positive messages and inspirational programs several times a year.
The second annual NOCC Just Girls Camp was held on August 12 at Camp Agawam in Lake Orion and had 48 girls in attendance.
The NOCC is a part of the Alliance Coalitions for Healthy Communities (ACHC) and is one of roughly 16 coalitions in Oakland County. They are constantly striving to raise community awareness to help see our future generation succeed and lead their communities.
The NOCC currently plans to hold more girls’ and boys’ day camps next year.
To find out more information, or get involved with the NOCC, visit their website at northoaklandcoalition.org.