【人間社記者覺皇、如菴報導】國際佛光會洛杉磯青年團於二○○六年十二月二十八日至三十一日，舉辦「加州佛光青年成長研習營」，活動由洛杉磯青年團策劃，豐富多彩，共安排有五場講座、六場分組討論與成長課程及富有挑戰性的佛學攻站、鐵廚體驗、佛光之夜等活動，讓有來自洛杉磯青年團、南灣青少年團、西來青少年團、佛光青少年交響樂團、聖地牙哥等團員36人，於寒假期間，擁有四日充實的學習經驗。各媒體如中天、18台等於晚間新聞皆報導成長營活動，並讚揚此活動對青年人意義深遠。
此次成長研習營主題為「從小熊到大雄(From Cub to Bear)」，講座中特別邀請於各領域學有精專、獲得成就之社會人士，如：核桃市(Walnut City)市長Mr. Joaquim Lim、聖瑪利諾(San Marino)市長Mr. Matthew Lin、鄧洪律師、華興保險張國興居士等，為大眾分享事業成功與做人處事之要訣；更安排青年團資深成員，為學員現身說法，彼此交流在佛光會與佛光山成長學習經驗。五場講座內容「自我行銷與青年團」、「情緒管理」、「人間佛教」、「領導訓練」、「佛青精神」等，為團員們打開邁向成功的大門
成長課程安排有六場，分別為攝影技巧、新聞撰寫、資料管理、公共講演技巧、活動設計與開會小撇步，皆邀請專業人士講說，學員們依照自己興趣，選擇所好，充實分團活動的所需技能。
除了靜態的課程外，更針對青年們活潑的性格，設計「佛學攻站─大地遊戲」、「鐵廚體驗─烹飪」、「佛光之夜」三項趣味性活動。青年團幹部們精心設計如「聽聲辨物-認識法器」、「息心抄經」、「十八羅漢比一比」、「鬆柔操大家一起來」等闖關遊戲，引導學員認識西來寺及佛教。「鐵廚體驗─烹飪」更讓大家難忘，許多第一次下廚的青年們，攪盡腦汁回想菜餚中的食材，有些人則上網尋找食譜，有些人更乾脆以手機通訊，讓媽媽於電話中指導；所有學員們烹煮之「佳餚」，皆獻給媽媽代表品嚐與評分，令大眾了解到掌廚不易，對所食三餐更加珍惜。「佛光之夜」則由分成三隊的成員們，以青年的熱力與創意，藉由百老匯歌舞、舞台劇、饒舌歌等方式，表現星雲大師佛光菜根譚的精神寓意，現場高潮迭起，笑聲、掌聲不斷。佛光之夜後的祈福獻燈，讓這四天的成長體驗沉澱下來，令青年們反芻所學。
適逢「雲水三千─星雲大師弘法五十年紀念影象特展」文化篇開展，常住特別為青年們安排導覽，介紹佛光山開山宗長 星雲大師與佛光山對文化所投注之心血。讓青年更了解 大師辦文化事業之決心及佛光山宗旨與弘法活動。
經過四日的佛法洗禮，學員們表示課程豐富多彩、領隊領導有方，是成長新體驗。許多第一次參與、甚至非青年團團員的參加者，從一開始的孤辟不語，到與團員打成一片，融入其中，顯見到對佛光會青年團的認同。其中帶領的領隊Jonathan表示，這次帶領的小隊，是歷年來參與各種活動中，最為融洽，並真正發揮集體創作的一次。大眾亦異口同聲的表示，要將西來寺滿燈法師在結營時，所開示的「發心立願」，帶回各青年團發展。
“How much can a young adult gain from attending a retreat? How can we make the retreat most fun and educational? How can we combine Buddhism with fun activities together and what kind of environment can we provide for a young adult to learn leadership skills?” These are the questions the planning committee of the “2006 California YAD youth retreat” asked themselves the most. With the goals of providing a fun environment of learning Buddhism and leadership skills for the young adults of YAD in mind, YAD LA, Hsi Lai youth team, and South Bay YAD worked hard together to present the “2006 California YAD youth retreat” in December 28, 2006.
The theme of this retreat was “From Cub to Bear.” In order to become a bear, one has to go through many different changes. First there are many useful seminars and workshops such as “Marketing Yourself & YAD,” “Public Speaking,” “Basic Photo Class,” “Leadership seminars,” etc. In Marketing Yourself & YAD, successful role models such as Daniel Deng, attorney of law; Joaquim Lim, mayor of Walnut; Matthew Lin, mayor of San Marino, and Kenny Chang, CEO & president of KCal Insurance Agency were invited to speak to the young adults about preparing and presenting oneself for the big world. In Public Speaking workshop, the participants had a chance to learn about and critique on an oral presentation, and how it can be applied and used in real life. In the “Basic Photo Class,” students were introduced to how to take good pictures for activities. This class helped to train excellent historians of future YAD’s. In the Leadership seminar, leadership skills were interweaved and practiced with fun activities and followed by reflective discussions.
There are also many educational and fun activities that allow the participant to learn about leadership as well as Buddhism, such activities are: “Treasure Hunts in the Temple,” “Vegetarian Iron Chef,” and “Buddha’s Light Night Show.” These activities gave the participating young adult an opportunity to learn and experience Buddhism from completing the goals of each activity. For example, each group was given a Buddhism-related quote from Master Hsing-Yun, and was instructed to perform the meaning of quote through singing, dancing, and acting. The outcome was impressive: each group took the quote, understood it, analyzed it, applied it to real life, added in their personal ideas and experiences, and created excellent performances, such as musical, plays, and rap songs.
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