Organized chaos erupted at the small western area at the Potter's Cay Dock. Sleeping bags, boxed goods and backpacks littered the ground. Parents with frayed nerves hugged jittery teens while dispensing last minute instructions. A couple of youths frantically search through their belongings only to discover they had left behind a much-needed item, while their oblivious companions posed for selfie after selfie with old friends and new acquaintances.

It was the typical departure scene for the Governor General's Youth Award (GGYA) Bahamas Award Super Expedition (BASE) 2015, where participants in the internationally recognized program embarked upon hiking expeditions which would qualify them for their Gold, Silver, or Bronze Award.

This year's expedition, an operation code named "Guanahani Isle," saw 151 participants making a trip to San Salvador that would span nearly two weeks, June 26 to July 8.

"I'll miss you," said a little boy to his big brother, 2015 Aquinas College graduate, Israel Newbold.

In typical big brother fashion, Newbold shrugged it off. After all, it's not like it was his first expedition.

"I'm going out for my Gold Award, so I've done this before," he said. "The only thing different this time around is the terrain. I'm unfamiliar with it so it might be pretty hard just to find our way."

For others, the prospect of navigating new territory made the journey even more exciting.

"Our Rangers carry out typical expeditions with the hiking and land navigation, but the GGYA is more intense," said Able Woman Abigail Gibson of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Her 20-strong group of eight females and 12 males had trekked across the capital and were eager for a new experience.

"Our Rangers have an appreciation for the land itself. They have developed a deep appreciation for different vegetation and wild life. They've become more environmentally conscious so this trip provides the perfect opportunity for us to perfect our land navigation skills on another island."

The expedition was the final requirement for many participants to receive their respective awards after months of fulfilling a physical recreation, skill and community service requirements.

Recipients of a Bronze Award must complete a two-day/one-night expedition covering 15 miles. The duration of the trek increases for Silver and Gold Awards. For the former it's a three-day/two-night journey spanning 30 miles; for the latter it's a four-day/three-night expedition trekking 60 miles.

One participant going out for the Gold was Queen's College rising 12th grade student Nicholas Bower.

"I don't have a tent so this is going to be interesting," he said. "What I'm not looking forward to is five days of hiking which is rough. Still, I've done Bronze and Silver so I think I'm accustomed to it now."

The only thing that troubled 2015 graduate of Galilee Academy, Tahj Burrows, was whether his team members would be able to keep up.

"Everything is about team work and you can't really go as fast as you want to, as they say, only as slow or as fast as your weakest link," said the 17-year-old, Defence Force Ranger who hopes to qualify for his Silver Award.

"I feel that might slow me down the most, but I feel like it's going to be a great time."

The San Salvador trip will be the first real Family Island experience for Taj Anthony Nottage, rising 12th grader from the Leadership Academy. The only other island he had visited was Grand Bahama.

"I'm the only one from my school unit going on this trip so I was a little deterred from going, but GGYA is all about sticking with something," said the Bronze hopeful.

"GGYA taught me in order to truly grow as a person you have to come out of your comfort zone a few times. I'm expecting this to be a new and fun experience."

Although they are all from different islands, Lendeice Smith, Brianna Ritchie and Bertica Christie were also looking forward to the nature adventure.

"I like to be in the bush," admitted Smith, a rising tenth grade student at the New Providence Classical School who is hoping to obtain her Bronze Award. "I like to travel and meet new people. Through GGYA I'm combine many interests."

Outdoors girl Brianna Ritchie has always liked the idea of camping.

"I'm not nervous about anything with regards to this trip. I love the teamwork element and just the environment itself," said the 2015 graduate of Sunland Baptist Academy in Freeport.

"I completed Bronze and Silver so I feel prepared. I'm most excited about finishing and finally getting my Gold Award."
Rising 12th grade student at North Andros High, Christie expressed a similar sentiment.

"I'm excited and feeling super prepared for the trip," said the Silver hopeful who confessed that the only aspect of the journey which had her "nervous" was the boat ride to and from San Salvador.

Although she's the only girl making the trip in her 11-strong group, Christie's unit leader, North Andros High Science Teacher Deon Williams said he's not worried about her.

"I'm more worried about the guys," he said. "When we were leaving and I saw the expressions on some of the guys' face I had to tell them not to worry, toughen up. This is the first time some of them actually left home without any family around them. Some of them are mommy's babies."

It's the "new ones" who are "a bit nervous" explained Bishop Michael Eldon's union leader, Elaine Gomez.

"Those who have been before are excited," said Gomez who has participated in BASE over 10 times. "My advice to everyone is to have fun but listen to their leaders."

GGYA's national director Denise Mortimer said each year she is amazed by the number of participants who have not traveled within The Bahamas.

"We have young people in the group who have never been to Nassau so imagine coming to Nassau then travelling to a Family Island," she said.

"What I think is so good about our BASE is it gives participants the opportunity to see that there are so many other islands out there for them to explore."

Since 1992, BASE has encouraged young people to be disciplined and responsible. The event is designed to foster cooperation, insightfulness, resourcefulness, innovation and community mindedness amongst youths aged 14 to 25.

"Participants develop a sense of adventure and discovery. They develop an appreciation for their country, particularly in regards to the island that they're on and they develop an understanding of how important it is to plan and manage your time," said Mortimer.

"BASE enriches participants' team building skills for sure because they have to depend on one another. They develop leadership skills. In a group of four to seven persons a leader is going to emerge."

Offsetting the cost of BASE and other GGYA initiatives is the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture, through its G.O.L.D. Initiative - a five-year old funding mechanism that allows the youth program to carry out its mandates of engaging youths across the nation.

By the numbers
125 participants
26 unit leaders/volunteer supervisors

New Providence
63 participants
9 units
Aquinas
CV Bethel
Government High
Queen's College
Hope Academy
The Leadership
Academy Home School
St John's College
New Providence Classical School
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Ranger

Grand Bahama
25 participants
6 units
Sunland Academy
Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School
Jack Hayward Senior High
St Georges High
Bishop Michael Eldon
Tabernacle Baptist Academy

Abaco
10 participants
3 units
Abaco Central High
Forest Heights Academy
SC Bootle High School

Andros
11 participants
1 unit
North Andros High

Inagua
Inagua All Age School
15 participants and two supervisors

Total
58-for Gold Award
32-for Silver Award
35-for Bronze Award

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