By: Lilibeth A. French

THE Department of Education 6 has already started its preparations for the Regional Youth for Environment Summer (YES) Camp where some 3,000 participants from public and private secondary schools in Western Visayas are expected to gather.

DepEd 6 Resource Mobilization Special Program and Project Division chief, Dr. Eden Deriada said the 2012 Regional YES Camp will be conducted at the Ramon Torres National High School in Bago City, Negros Occidental on February 10-12.

Deriada said the annual camp is open for officers and members of school-based clubs or organizations such as Youth for Environment in Schools-Organizations (YES-O), Supreme Student Government, Supreme Pupil Governments, Boy and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, and Sangguniang Kabataan, among others including teachers, advisers, school principals, supervisors and other education officials from the different public and private elementary and secondary schools.

It is jointly conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Special Concerns Office-Youth Desk, Kabataang Sama-Samang Maglilingkod, Inc., Miriam Public Education and Awareness Campaign for the Environment and DepEd.

The camp targets to achieve the following objectives: participants to learn about Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Preparedness utilizing best practices and models designed and locally-developed in disaster prone areas; inculcate among pupils and students the critical role of environmental protection in preventing and coping with the effects of climate change such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes and droughts; develop pupils and students’ awareness on the state of the environment focusing on significant issues and concerns; and ensure pupils and students’ active participation and determined concrete action in the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of the environment and the conservation of natural resources in their respective areas.

Further, it seeks to instill environmental values in every pupil and student to actually involve in worthwhile programs and projects for environment; and strengthen the implementation of various school-based environmental programs and projects of DepEd and DENR.

Deriada said the three-day camp will involve various activities like interactive and fun plenary sessions, break-out sessions, panel discussions, action planning, outdoor activities and contests.

Contests include Speech Choir, Docu-Kalikasan, Environmental Quiz, Debate, Sayaw at Awit sa Kalikasan or SAYAWIT, On-the-Spot6 Poster Making, Search for the Lakambini and Lakan ng Kalikasan, YES-O Exhibit and Spotlight featuring YES-O success stories on environmental action and initiative.

Winners in the contests in the regional camp will compete in the national level during the YES Camp in Baguio City.