The 2024 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) in AlaskaSA国际影视传媒檚 Mat-Su Valley beckoned for a group of young volunteers from the NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 never been to Alaska before,SA国际影视传媒� said 17-year-old Fort Smith resident Ben Mitchell, one of 11 young people to volunteer at the circumpolar games as part of the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Youth Ambassador Program. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of been a bucket list item place to go for me.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was super excited, and ISA国际影视传媒檇 say it definitely lived up to expectations.SA国际影视传媒�

The Youth Ambassador Program, overseen by the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), aims to give young people opportunities to build leadership skills through participation in special events and volunteer assignments.

For Mitchell, the decision to apply came down to a desire to SA国际影视传媒渕eet more peopleSA国际影视传媒� and push himself out of his comfort zone.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like during the Covid pandemic, I lost a lot of chances to meet new people as I normally would through school events and sports tournaments and such, and so this was kind of my way to regain that lost momentum,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 made some new friends and people ISA国际影视传媒檝e been keeping in contact with on Instagram.SA国际影视传媒�

The AWG ran from March 10-16, and Mitchell and his peers were kept busy for the duration. Over the course of the week, they were split into groups, and helped out with everything from washing dishes to officiating competitions.

One of the highlights was attending the eventSA国际影视传媒檚 Carnival and Makers Market, which ran on March 15 and 16.

SA国际影视传媒淭here was one night when they opened up the fair to Arctic Winter Games participants only, and so there were a bunch of different athletes and volunteers,SA国际影视传媒� Mitchell said. SA国际影视传媒淲e tried to talk to a bunch of random other people who were there and just meet a bunch of people, and I had some great conversations and met some people from all over and it was really awesome.SA国际影视传媒�

By the time the AWG was over, Mitchell felt like he had honed his existing skills and developed new ones, particularly when it came to working with other people.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 always with other youth ambassadors, so I would be working with maybe other volunteers from Alaska, or volunteers whoSA国际影视传媒檇 come from different parts from all over the world,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of that I had to really learn how to work with them quickly. We each had to take on our own role, but still work as a group.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were able to work efficiently even though we might not know each other super well.SA国际影视传媒�

Mitchell and his family regularly volunteer at Fort SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 animal shelter. He intends to continue offering his time and efforts there, and hopes to continue seeking out other volunteer roles in the future, though his post-secondary studies could soon impact his availability.

He has applied to several universities across Canada, and while he has not yet decided where he will go, he has already been accepted by the University of Alberta and University of Victoria.

One way or the other, heSA国际影视传媒檚 glad he applied for the Youth Ambassador Program, and encourages other young people in the NWT to consider doing the same.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne hundred per cent [I recommend it],SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 say itSA国际影视传媒檚 been the best experience of this year, if not for the past few years for me. I got to meet new people, travel to new places, and have all of these new experiences that I wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have had otherwise.SA国际影视传媒�

Ashley Gillis, MACASA国际影视传媒檚 manager of youth and volunteer leadership, was along for the trip with Mitchell and the other young volunteers from the NWT. She said she she saw growth in all of them.

SA国际影视传媒淎cross the board we saw a lot of youth build on their confidence,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e saw this in a variety of ways, including the youth working during their volunteer shifts, taking initiative on accomplishing different tasks.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey talked to each other, made plans with each other, and learned to rely on one another. The youth put themselves out there and made the best out of their experience. Quite a few of the youth havenSA国际影视传媒檛 travelled outside of Canada, so this adventure was new for a lot of them.SA国际影视传媒�