Bella Petrino’s adventures at Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp
Each July, electric cooperatives from across Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma select promising high school students from their membership to attend Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp near Steamboat Springs. The weeklong educational trip is focused on leadership development, learning more about electric cooperatives, and meeting new people.
This year Bella Petrino, from Weldon Valley High School, was selected to represent Morgan County REA at the camp. We connected with Bella after camp to hear about her adventures and what she learned.
Q: WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES?
A: I enjoyed touring the power plant at nearby Craig Station, going whitewater rafting, our morning stretches and wake-ups in the Glen, and our volleyball tournament. I also loved attending the talent show, getting to see everyone step out of their comfort zone and share their talents with the group. The dance was fun too!
Q: EACH YEAR, CAMPERS ARE ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEES. WHICH COMMITTEE WERE YOU ON?
A: I was part of the barbecue and volleyball committee, where we were in charge of setting up the picnic, making the bracket, and building a trophy for the winning team. It went very well and all of the other campers loved it!
Q: DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING NEW ABOUT POWER AND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES?
A: The power that electric co-ops deliver can come from a variety of sources like wind, coal, solar, hydro, and nuclear. There are more types of power generated in the United States than I originally thought, but I learned that some generation sources are better suited for certain locations than others.
Q: HOW DID YOUTH CAMP IMPACT YOUR LEADERSHIP?
A: My leadership skills grew throughout my time at camp as I was pushed out of my comfort zone. I became a lot more involved in different activities and met new people as the week went on. I made so many new friends just by being a leader and getting to know them more.
Q: WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YOUTH CAMP TO OTHER STUDENTS?
A: I would definitely recommend this camp! It was so much more than I originally expected and broadened my horizons. Camp changed my perspective, initiative, and most importantly my view on life. I learned so much, met so many new people, and had so much fun.
Q: ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
A: I would like to thank Morgan County REA for the opportunity to attend camp. This was a great adventure and I’m so happy that I was one of the people who got to experience it. I’ve met so many amazing people and will be forever grateful for the friendships I made. Going to this camp was worth every single second of my time — truly the trip of a lifetime.
