Participants of the “Our Island, Our Future” youth camp gather to show their “kintsugi” projects after discussing the value of imperfection and the beauty of used objects. UOG’s Philosophy Program held the youth camp in December 2023 with the theme “Our Island, Our Future.” Photos courtesy of University of Guam ()
The University of Guam’s Philosophy Program offered a youth camp in December 2023 with the theme “Our Island, Our Future.”
The day camp was aimed at helping Guam’s future generations take an active role in shaping the island’s future.
The camp's two weeklong sessions were provided free of charge and encouraged children ages 8 to 13 to think about questions revolving around Guam and its future – through fun and engaging activities.
The camp fostered conversation topics such as one’s identity; the relationship between self and community; the interconnectedness of self, nature, and communities; environmental ethics; and technology and social media.
The camp also promoted intergenerational philosophical conversations through four “at-home” activities that campers and their parents collaboratively engaged in.
Camp success and support
Post-camp surveys report that more than 80% of participating campers made friends, had good conversations, engaged in fun activities, and gained a better understanding of philosophy. Moreover, 100% of participating parents felt that the camp encouraged important discussions about Guam and its future and agreed that the “at-home activities" helped generate intergenerational conversations.
The camp was free of charge, thanks to sponsorships and donations made by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Guåhan, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences UOG, the UOG Global Learning and Engagement Office, and the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization. Lunches were sponsored by Raising Cane’s, Market Deli, and Jamaican Grill. The camp was directed by Dr. Jonathan Wurtz and facilitated by Dr. Brett Fulkerson-Smith, both UOG Philosophy professors. The camp was also facilitated by current UOG students, Kyra Perez, Arielle Candelario, Chloe Calvo, and Hunter Sidell.
