Training Leaders

[Music] um foreign [Laughter] [Music] Foundation is a necessary part of a strong Nation rural leaders make this life what it should be helping to build these leaders is the junior farmer Association of Ontario this Association has an extensive program of local meetings projects competitions and conferences tonight at this typical Junior farmer club meeting there is a guest speaker his subject is County Government most clubs use speakers quite frequently on their programs their subjects are only limited by the interests of the members Junior farmer clubs in Ontario have been operating since 1907. in 1944 the junior farmer Association of Ontario was formed to coordinate local clubs and to provide further training in leadership today under the supervision of a provincial board of directors there are 7 500 Affiliated members in some 330 local and County organizations the girls section of the regular Junior farmer meeting features clothing homemaking Knowledge and Skills and home crafts topics not of special interest to the boys roll calls demonstrations and discussions bring out their slogan of something to do something to see and something to hear sponsoring 4-H homemaking clubs for younger girls may also be a part of their responsibility well the girls are having their separate meeting the boys are not idle tonight their demonstration is on how to judge a class of winter wheat but at other times it might deal with farm machinery or cropping practices besides demonstrations discussions and practical projects the boys plan and Carry Out activities which result in a better rural community some of these projects have been addressing mailboxes beautifying Farm entrances or making Township soil surveys a typical Club evening who closes with a social hour for dancing and party games complete the program but club meetings are not all of the association's program to further the aim of trading leaders an annual leadership training camp is conducted at Geneva Park on Lake from this County Line Club two delegates a boy and a girl will be chosen to attend the week-long September Camp session this Camp a project sponsored by the Ontario Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the junior farmer Association of Ontario was established in 1947 to bring representatives from each County together and provide a training for capable rural leaders [Music] foreign [Music] to organize the junior farmer Leadership Camp requires much preparation Mr TR Hilliard associate director of extension for the Ontario Department of Agriculture and secretary treasurer of the junior farmer Association starts these preparations at least two months ahead of the departure date many hours are spent drawing up the camp Duty lists daily programs tribal divisions and other important particulars the camp is run on an Indian style and tribal division is arranged ahead of time a letter containing Preparatory instructions is sent to each chosen delegate one of the two delegates from this County Jim Martin is all set to leave for camp the pre-camp letter was the list of clothing required and the traveling instructions came in very handy Jim and his mother are asked to meet the girl delegate at the railroad station the other County delegate Mary Kennedy is checking her pre-camp letter to see that she has everything expectation of the coming week is at its highest right now Club friends meet and in their estimation the traveling time can't pass too quickly next stop Toronto's Union Station where all the delegates meet for the trip to Lake Kuching all the children delegates meet in Toronto's Union Station where chartered buses wait to carry them to Geneva Park Mr Hilliard is on hand to greet the arrivals and a word of Welcome is given each camper before he enters the bus a two-hour bus ride a happy one amid songs and talk serves to provide a meeting ground for the many new people who will live together for the next week approximately 80 Junior Farmers arrive at Camp beginning a time that all have anxiously anticipated for many weeks all campers live in cabins and soon after arrival they are allocated to their new homes the cab program will commence immediately since the campers have been previously divided into five Indian tribes each with a chief and a Sagamore the staff tribe acts purely in an advisory capacity and the junior farmer motto self-help and Community betterment is practiced to the letter all those on a staff tribe have been previously selected to give to the campers the benefit of their experience there is a member of the staff tribe to head up every Camp activity whether it be Sports Photography and extension music forestry crafts program planning or social Recreation their initial meeting gives the instructors a chance to check their time schedules and go over details of the responsibilities at General tribal meetings immediately after first settlement the chief and the Sagamore begin to organize their tribe after showing how it is to be worn a blue headdress symbolic of the Algonquin tribe is given to each Brave black covered copies of the duty list which allocates daily tasks to the five Indian tribes are also given to each Algonquin Brave drag racing flight lowering evening Vespers preparing the evening program Chief camper and receiving special visitors are the duties which rotate among the Ojibwe Algonquin Iroquois and Huron tribes these duties change every day although the camp offers a varied program in entertaining events the purpose of it all is not just relaxation but progress through participation and education through planning and discussion the first evening's program is directed by the staff tribes party games such as this round of bingo are on the agenda this is the beginning of a week of friendly competition that is stimulated by the record of accumulated tribal points but the cat adds to the fun and singles out campers in an effort to destroy self-consciousness the campers build up a varied repertoire of games by the end of the week the camp day is planned before arrival and at all times there is a program underway is at 7 A.M early for some yet late for others this morning the Mohawk Tribe takes the flag-raising ceremony after which the campers go to breakfast at breakfast the campers get a word of advice from the Padre known as the morning crumb it is equivalent to a thought for the day one morning it might be people who say I can't are really saying to themselves I won't try or a few words centered around the true calling of a Christian is not to do extraordinary things but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way the battery acts at the camp in an advisory capacity only and is always available for consultation Whenever there is a problem at 8 30 a.m each tribe meets to make the necessary arrangements concerning their duties for that day tribal meetings are the first step in emphasizing leadership and responsibility to the junior farmers an Ojibwe Brave makes a motion that her tribe enter a tap dancing duet in Wednesday evening's program since the ojibwes are responsible for a well-planned program on Wednesday pre-planning is a necessary step the camper learns what it means to practice teamwork and is impressed with the idea that the menial jobs must be tackled and done as well as those which are more rewarding instruction in songs and song leading follow the tribal meetings here the camper learns how to conduct an assembly in group scene the various techniques learned will be valuable assets at County meetings following the same song the camp is divided into two groups rotating each day between physical and social Recreation archery is included in physical Recreation along with leadership classes and other sports basketball is popular with the boys and is played in the camp gym baseball a more inclusive sport further impresses the need for teamwork on all participants when the lake waters are calm there is an opportunity to try a hand of canoeing Mary decided she would take this instruction in her physical Recreation period you soon finds handling a canoe comparatively easy volleyball also played in the gym is a popular sport with everyone nearly every Canadian lives near a body of water if not a lake just a river or stream the number of favorite swimming spots has impressed upon everyone the need for competent Lifesavers instruction is thus very valuable it is hoped that each camper will be able to take his knowledge back to the county organization social Recreation includes instruction and participation in the many Camp crafts leather working is an art Mary often sits in on these classes for this instruction is given by the Waterfront where she also takes canoeing during the week campers make belts slippers or wallets many of the boys are interested in photography and extension work one hour each day is devoted to these subjects for those who are interested in reforestation one may learn proper planting procedure these small trees will go to provide a dense boiler essential in woodlot preservation swim period runs from 11 to 12 before lunch both Mary and Jim take advantage of the period excellent Waterfront facilities make it possible to enjoy this relaxation to the fullest all campers enter the dining hall together as the meal times provide a chance for everyone to become better acquainted at lunch the campers have a chance to practice their abilities acquired in leading group singing anyone may be called upon to lead the songs held after dinner and throughout the week a point is made to give every camper this opportunity many songs may be accompanied by appropriate motions and teaching these to the cam body is excellent training for Rural leaders quiet period provides the campers with time to write home or make more complete notes on activities from which they have already benefited notes are made summarizing each part of the daily program they may then be used at club meetings to pass on instruction received at camp a cabin inspection has already taken place in an award given to the cleanest cabin the most untidy cabin of the day is also judged and mentioned as a stimulus to better efforts the next day Mary makes sure her cabin stays neat a tidy cabin makes Camp life a comfort rather than an effort time is short at Camp though and at two o'clock the campers must prepare to take part in the afternoon program one of the most important periods of the day follows with instruction in program planning the methods taught are given with the idea of improving the procedure and agenda at home meetings regular lectures are given and each day a new thought is introduced points on leadership such as program building making programs work usage of proper grammar panel discussion and impromptu speeches are stressed over a five-day period the camp is once again divided into interest groups between 3 and 4 pm one of the more colorful of these is the drama class these campers receive instruction on drama techniques pageants such as this one are helpful in emphasizing Poise and Grace of movement [Music] few people do not enjoy a square dance to carry out the intricate movements correctly however is really a question of skill and practice the gym therefore is used in the afternoon for this purpose here one may learn the various calls or perfect the rhythmatic techniques [Music] oh foreign some of the campers try their hand of the Danish artiste this folk dance is often confusing especially when trying it for the first time never give up bro there must be a way [Music] everyone looks for mail this period before supper is no exception in a Camper's day the evening meal like breakfast and dinner is a time for friendly tribal competitions this brave from the Mohawk Tribe is challenging all comers to a contest of balancing an orange on a knife it may look easy but watch out move away the soup bowls first these games serve to better acquaint the five tribes Supply lowering ceremony takes place immediately after supper it is an impressive sight to see the campers lined up singing the national anthem as the flag is lowered the sun begins its descent an inspiring sight over the still lake waters Vesper services at the Lakeshore are conducted by a different tribe every evening for 15 minutes the Iroquois tribe leads the camp in singing hymns and giving thanks for daily guidance this prayer service is symbolic not only of tribal preparation but also of the devotion needed in everyday life the evening programs highlight the days these vary each night from party games to folk parties Camp concerts to council ring pow wows Quite A Change Is noticeable as the week progresses for the campers become more and more efficient at planning and staging their own programs this evening two Braves from the Ojibwe tribe entertained with a step dancing duet as each day closes the camper has witnessed many new experiences and learned much that will be of benefit in furthering Junior farmer work through leadership across the province they have learned through participation in the various programs that it takes training to build strong rural leaders on other evenings the program calls for a council ring tribal initiative is shown well here for each tribe must present an entertaining skit or game that will be indicative of thought in preparation the chief of the big feet tribe is quite Adept at telling ghost stories and in this case presents costume competition with a highly decorative medicine man the Sunday morning interdenominational church service is held on this point by the Lakeshore it is an impressive dedication as all tribes gather to worship together the entire service is planned and carried out by the campers the choir practices in their spare time for days ahead to master the part singing by Sunday they give an inspiring presentation of their hymn the challenge of change the sermon preached was completely prepared and delivered by the camper himself after church the campers get a chance to relax some play horseshoes others just walk about the campsite drinking in the morning sunshine our shoes seems to be a favorite with this phrase the staff Drive are not relaxing however for now it's their turn to clean house in preparation for the Sunday afternoon tea tea time arrives All Too Soon campers visitors and officials congregate at the staff house to talk over the many interesting experiences gained throughout the week this tea is more of a formal Affair and for the benefit of campers who may have forgotten the name of one of the staff tribes and similarly the names of other campers introductions are made this is actually the Camper's opportunity to say goodbye to the many friends made throughout the week and to promise to uphold Camp standards in home organizations on Sunday evening a special candle lighting service is held an impressive sight and irreverent atmosphere are created by Darkness broken only by the combined light of candles and a fire the spirit of the camp is in charge of the program chosen by the campers this Brave symbolizes the best in loyalty cooperation understanding and willingness the true Spirit of the camp the fire is symbolic of the light and star of knowledge its light is absorbed by all and each camper promises to carry it back to his or her farm and community the campers leave for home early the next morning their job now will be to pass on the training in leadership and the camp standards instilled in them throughout the past week at Geneva Park the campus but a memory now Jim and Mary are two delegates have returned to their daily tasks but at the next junior farmer club meeting their fellow club members can notice a difference yes they're still the same people basically but now Jim is able to do the calling for the square dancers and he's good at it too foreign remember the leather working classes which Mary took in the mornings at camp that Mary is able to put her training into practice is a basic purpose of the camp sing songs are always fun Jim enjoys them more than ever now that he feels he is able to get up and lead some of the numbers after the week at the leadership camp both Jim and Mary are able to lead the club in group scene it won't be long before other members Having learned the new songs and actions will be ready to take their places at the front too Mary and Jim are now better equipped to take more active Parts in their club's Affairs one of their major responsibilities is to give a detailed report on the camp program so That Others May benefit the Ontario junior farmer Camp is host to 80 submembers each year each year 80 more leaders take their places with the Youth of today are Leaders of Tomorrow [Music] foreign [Music]