MPYD summer camp: the mission of making young men

Members of Mentoring Partnership for Youth Development held their annual summer camp in August. Photos by Phillip Holland.

by Phillip Holland
MPYD 

 

As the summer came to a close and the school year began, the young men of Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development (MPYD) reminisced on the activities at the 8th Annual MPYD Cardinal Paint Summer Camp on Aug. 13-17, 2012. The camp took place at the Oakbridge Camp facility in beautiful Ramona, California, on the foothills of the Laguna Mountains about 29 miles from San Diego.       

 

Trying out the zipline at MPYD summer camp.

MPYD took 40 young men ranging from the ages of 13-18 on a camping trip they won’t soon forget. The four day, three night trip was full of activities such as: an Olympic basketball tournament, high-rise rope course, Olympic style swimming tournament, football, team building, “Building Real Men” workshops,  and bonding time with mentors.    

 

This year’s campers were greeted with a welcomed treat: MPYD was sent off in prayer by Rev. Tyrone Skinner from Metropolitan Baptist Church before they boarded an air conditioned charter bus. This was all thanks to the generous support in part with funds received from: Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Pasadena Tournament of Roses ® Foundation, Cardinal Paint, Vons Foundation, Sharp Seating Company, Carolyn Ingram-Seitz, Peter LeSourd and Bernardean Broadous.        

The MPYD Summer Camp came to a close with The Talking Stick Discussion, a time that allows the campers and staff to share a few words about their challenges and decisions they made at the summer camp. “Don’t take your parents for granted, because one day they won’t be here” is a quote from one of the heartfelt stories shared at camp from a student who just lost his mother.

 

MPYD members try out the ropes course.

The phrase that summed up camp is “I can’t wait to come back next year!”  These memorable four days will forever be etched into these young men’s minds. It was a positive time reminding them that there are people who care and with the support of MPYD they will become Real Men.

 

MPYD would like to thank all of our volunteer mentors, community partners and board members who give their time and services to change the lives of our young men. So far we have 54 community men willing to mentor students.  These volunteers consist of members from Metropolitan Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, First A.M.E. Church, Morningside Baptist church, and Abundant Harvest Christian Center.

We are grateful for their support, but we are in need of more volunteers. Our goal is to have 75 mentors, so every MPYD student can have a personal mentor. It’s up to the MPYD and the community to make sure this happens. If you would like to become a mentor please contact Tecumseh Shackelford  shackelford@mpyd.org or (626)840-0925.