A Chance to Travel
Brenda Waltham
Dunnville
To see the amazing wonders the world has to offer is a gift above all others. This experience of a lifetime is one the Lions Youth Exchange offers to youth in Haldimand.
This opportunity to travel to almost any country of your choosing, for five weeks of summer, is offered to students ages 16-21. Being immersed in the different culture, lifestyle, traditions and country is a life changing experience that lasts forever.
Head of the Dunnville Lions Youth Exchange is long time Lions member, Bill Evers. Evers is very passionate about this youth exchange program. He has seen many students come back from their journey and talk for hours, recounting and reliving their unforgettable summer in a foreign country. Not only do the memories last forever, but so do the many friends you make along the way. Within the five weeks, these kids stay with Lions families, but also go to camp for the last part of their travels. Also at this camp are youth from all over the world who had the same journey in the same country. To make friends from everywhere you can think of truly is the best experience of all.
Evers and the other Lions members are always looking for new applicants to give this chance away to. Be the one to explore new boundaries today, whether it is from high up on the Alps of Switzerland, or down low on the beaches of Brazil.
DSS Badminton Team
Dunnville
Jenn Ruigrok
The Dunnville Secondary School (DSS) Badminton team had their first practice last Tuesday, March 1 after school. Approximately 20 students came out. Students are split into 3 different age groups, consisting of Midget level for grade 9 students, Junior level for grade 10 students and Senior level for grade 11 and 12 students. The teams are run by Mr. Shoup and Mr. Vaughan. The practices for this team are on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. The senior students will be participating in an open invitational tournament held at DSS on March 29th. The Midget and Junior student do not have anything planned until zone which begins at the end of April. Then after that will be SOSSA (Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association.) "The team has a few strong players that will do well at zone and be able to move on to SOSSA," said Mr. Shoup as a predication for this year’s team. Hopefully Shoup's prediction will be right and the team will do well enough to move on. Shoup and Vaughan have also put together a Badminton club for students which takes place every Wednesday night.
High Skills Tour
Andrew Jurik
DSS Press
Caledonia-On February 24th Dunnville Secondary School’s finest High Skills Major students made a trip to Caledonia to take a tour of the High Skills competition. Randall Jurik is one of the students involved in the High Skills competition this year. “I am involved in High Skills to widen my variety of skill in the construction field," said Jurik. The tour was an opportunity for the students to get the feel of the atmosphere for the competition. “Nothing was more impressive than the next thing I saw, everything there was amazing," said Jurik. The High Skills Major program provides for those students pursuing trade work after high school. The upcoming competition will test the students’ specific area of skill. “I am very excited for the competition. I can’t wait to match myself up against other students from other schools," said Jurik. All students involved in the competition will practice by completing their school assignments and by taking advice and help from their skilled teachers at Dunnville Secondary.
Wilderness Trail Blazers Trip
Acton
Jenn Ruigrok
Dunnville Secondary School’s Wilderness Trail Blazers (WTB) class took a trip to the Blue Springs Scout Reserve. On Tuesday, March 1st twenty students and two teachers, Mr. McCormack and Mrs. MacLeod boarded a bus and drove to this resort located near Acton.
WTB is not set in the traditional class room setting. Students are provided with the opportunity to explore and understand the world by experiencing it first hand. They are exposed to a wide variety of environmental issues and outdoor activities. In these activities they have a chance to learn a variety of skills by themselves. The purpose of this trip was to not only to build and strengthen group dynamics as well as team cohesiveness, but also to go on a winter camping trip. While at the reserve the students went on many hiking trips. Since they were on the trails around lunch time one day, lunches were made on one of the trails over a fire they had to build. Some students also participated in a night hike, without any flash lights.
The team building games they played were games like camouflage and capture the flag, which are both where team strategies are required. Hide and go seek in the dark was another game that was played.
Through out this trip everyone had a good time and participated in most activities. "It was amazing," said Brittany Cranston, "words can't even describe how fun or beautiful it was."
The DSS WTB still have more fun in store for them. They will be going hiking on the Bruce trail in April and taking a canoe trip on the Grand River in June.
