Waihi teens Bailey Cameron and Zinzan Coop win Blue Light award

Two local Waihi teenagers have taken out top awards at the recent Blue Light Life Skills Camp.

Held at Blue Light's Taupo Lodge from August 24 to 28, Bailey Cameron, 17, was awarded the Overall Excellence Award and Zinzan Coop, 17, the Peer Choice Award.

Both Waihi College students beat a strong group of young people from the North Island to take out their prizes on the week long residential course.

"Bailey was awarded the Overall Excellence award as he showed maturity, intuition, leadership and teamwork skills, all positive qualities that made him the best overall student on the course," says Blue Light life skills co-ordinator Abbe-Mae Henry.

"Zinzan was awarded the Peer Choice Award as he was an integral member of the team and the camp as a whole. He demonstrated respect and encouragement towards his fellow team members and participated in all the camp activities with a positive attitude," says Abbe-Mae.

Senior Constable Harley North of Eastern Waikato Police, who referred both Bailey and Zinzan from the newly established Police Studies course in Waihi, said attending a Life skills course can be life changing.

The new Police Studies course is being delivered by Waihi College teacher Kate Morley and supported by NZ Police Recruiting.

Harley, who mentors participants on the course along with fellow police officers Senior Constables North, David Grant, and Melissa Whiteman from Eastern Waikato Police, is looking forward to sending more rangitahi to Blue Light's highly successful life skills programme.

Run in partnership with the NZ Defence Force for the past 11 years, the adventure-based experiential learning is a key part of the programme, and provides 14 to 17-year-olds critical life skills such as self development, self-control, and teamwork that will enable young people to be successful in their homes, schools, communities, and employment.