Students participating in the radio camp had their station set up in The Bracker and Little Caymanian as they participated in Brac Party Block on Radio Cayman. (L-R) Amanda Jacobs, Ashley Zapata, Marta Walton and Mirissa Scott.

Affording young people the opportunity for gaining employment in a new field was the main objective of the radio camp on Cayman Brac that ran from 18-22 August.

James Myles, of the Youth Services Division, completed the “sizzling summer series” on the Brac courtesy of Sister Islands Youth Development leader Annie Rose Scott at her Summer Camp.

The radio camp was put on in cooperation with the Community Development Service’s programme to add variety to the two-week summer session.

The Youth Services summer programme ran several camps on Grand Cayman before they capped off the radio camp on the Brac, which included a youth empowerment workshop, cooking camp and a wood work camp.

This marks the third year of radio camp on the Brac. Mr Myles explained that students at the camp were prepared with marketable skills enabling them to attain employment after graduating high school.

“It is also an opportunity to equip those students who plan to relocate to Grand Cayman to further their studies, with some of the basic training they would need to be able to work part time in the media field,” he said.

Students who were targeted are those soon to graduate high school, giving them the chance to explore work opportunities.

“Having a career in the media such as a talk show, reporter or radio announcer will furnish some level of flexibility for those wishing to work and study at the same time,” he said.

The students were being schooled on how to speak on the mike, how to write stories or cover news for a radio station, how to conduct and edit an interview and how to set up for a remote broadcast.

“The students have adjusted and have shown a lot of interest in what has been taught over the course of the week; they also have a manual from BBC radio to constantly refresh their memory on what they have learnt,” Mr Myles said.

Accompanying Mr Myles at the radio camp was Radio Cayman engineer Mark Danziger, who was responsible for setting up the various peripherals to get the participants on air with a crisp clear voice.

Youth Ambassador Anthony Fraser was also a part of the radio camp contingent. The students practised various techniques during the week where they conducted several interviews including with District Commissioner Ernie Scott, visitors at Brac Reef Beach Resort and firemen.

These interviews were aired on Radio Cayman from 3:30pm – 4:00pm through the programme Brac Party Block, sponsored by The Bracker and Little Caymanian every Friday afternoon. These activities gave the students valuable experience on what to expect if they pursued careers in media.

Ashley Zapata, who attends Cayman Brac High School, said she had gained valuable knowledge and since she enjoyed the concepts that were taught, would explore the option of venturing into the media field.

“I have learnt how to write an interview, express myself, and this experience has also helped me in speech presentation,” she said.

Marissa Scott was another high school participant attending the programme to experience something different.

“I enjoyed the camp but I really want to explore the medical field, while studying this could be an intermediate opportunity to even learn more about the field,” she said.

Mr Myles thanked all the sponsors who helped to make the radio camp a success: Admiral Administration, Cayman National Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Youth Services Unit, Radio Cayman and Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell.

“Young people are an important aspect for any country’s development and I’m happy for all those who played a special part in this year’s summer programme,” Mr Myles said.