Generation Peace Academy Newsletter

Cynthia Jones, Nadia Schwyter and Marina Stana of the GPA women’s ultimate frisbee team congratulate the New Jersey team on a game well played.

CONTENTS Front cover photo by Joana Clive. Photos opposite and above by Christopher Stair

4 Camp Lovin’ Life 2011 GPA staffs the first ever Lovin’ Life summer camp in Barrytown, New York 10 Official Name Change

6 2nd year adventure training The Team Leaders in training form new bonds on a 3 day adventure course

8 Blessed Culture Sports Festival GPA participants go all in on the playing field.

3 Spread designs by christopher stair, Articles contributed by Eika davis, chris stair and familyfed.org

BEING ATEAM LEADER FOR THESE KIDS REALLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE HEART OF APARENT , , AUGUST liNDSAY who participated are so amazing! parents and our True Parents taken so This past summer, 2nd year Taking care of a team of my younger much on their own shoulders, but also trainees of GPA were given the brothers and sisters has helped me how important it is for us as young opportunity to staff the first ever understand a little bit more about the people to fulfill our responsibility. Camp Lovin’ Life at UTS in Barry- heart of a parent. It was inspiring to Camp Lovin’ Life was a chance town, NY. The High School work- see that the camp was really a transfor- for our GPA trainees to really under- shop was a three week venture, in mative experience for many of them”. stand the incredible sacrifice and of- which our GPA 2nd years mentored One activity that left a lasting fering that the previous generations teams on a journey of discovering imprint was the “Messiah” activity. have made. Staffing this camp allowed their faith and potential through the In this activity each member of the them to step out of the position of the theme of “The Shoulders We Stand team held a bucket of water over their student and into the position of the on.” The theme is a simple but pro- head for 21 minutes. If they happened mentor, and continue the cycle of pass- found reminder that our generation’s to drop the bucket then it would be ing down the incredible traditions and success is owed to the many who poured into the designated “Messiah’s” heart that our True Parents and In Jin went before. bucket. It was really a testament to the Nim have given us. GPA looks forward August Lindsay—one of fact that not only have our to helping with the future Lovin’ Life our GPA trainees—, “All the kids Camps.

-Chris Stair & Eika Davis

trek into the adirondacks

This year’s team leader training included an exciting challenge: a three day outdoor wilderness course in the Adirondack Mountains. Divided into teams of 4-5, the team leaders in training’ objective was to trek through swamps and forests with only a compass and map for guide to reach an assigned meeting point. With minimum gear (a tarp, machete, matches…) they learned many survival techniques, but more significantly they learned teamwork on a deep level. What follows is an account from a 3rd year GPA participant, Soogin Ogden from Chicago, Illinois about her experience going through the course.

We trekked for three days in the Ad- fortable, and everything was really frustrat- irondack Mountains through swamps and ing, once I moved past complaining about forests with no communication and only a the situation and realized how we were compass and map for guide. Why did we do surrounded by so many beautiful things, I it? started to feel very free. It was once I har- “I felt like it was very surreal, because monized with nature, didn’t fight it, and we were in the van for 4 hours driving, and tried to work with it, I really felt at peace in then, all of a sudden, we were bushwhack- the mountains. It was a really amazing expe- ing through a forest. It got more and more rience; I did it twice and I’d definitely want uncomfortable as we went along; from the to do it again.” flies, the mosquito bites, the wetness, the mud, and on top of that the energy we had God made our mountains and be- to exert just to survive. It felt very surreal. ing able to enjoy them in the company of However, the whole experience was really brothers and sisters was one of the many amazing. epic experiences that made up the 2011 What I liked the most was that GPA summer. there was something eternally peaceful -Eika Davis about being in nature. Even if we were so uncom 6

Below: Rebecca Nishida, Mike Bonini, Youngbok Gomez, Jes- sica Sattinger, Rosia Kittle and Kengo Inoue pose in front of the majestic Hudson River. Right: One group huddles under their tarp shelter.

Marina Stana

Elijah Whitmore watching Mike Love being consumed by the unforgiving terrain

Cynthia Jones 7

Men’s Ultimate team Elijah Whitmore, 1st in Table Tennis

and Table tennis. GPA brought Open Mic Night, “This Open Mic home a First in Women’s Ultimate was especially amazing because Frisbee, a Third in Men’s Frisbee, lots of people were here from and a First in Table Tennis. across the nation. The audience was so supportive. I think it’s cool What really set this sport’s fest that everyone can get together to apart was not only the fantastic games experience everyone’s talents and played but also the inspiring sports- express their own talents. In that manship and teamwork we saw between sense, everyone has something to T he 7th annual BCSF drew competing teams. “This year boasted the highest level of sportsmanship so far in offer, everyone has something to give. I’m really grateful that we more than 700 participants to compete the history of BCSF,” Dave Hunter stated. were able to put on a great show, in sports and cultural competitions and The game between GPA and New York for and that it was supported by True festivities. Soccer, Men’s and Women’s third place was tthought to be the biggest Family, STF and all the other BCs. Frisbee, Table Tennis, Volleyball, indication of the high caliber of sports- Everybody did a great job.” Ballroom Competition were only a few manship. Because the New York team was We look forward to the next year of the events that happened in that burnt-out immediately after their game of BCSF and competitions! monumental 4 day time span. Teams against New Jersey, GPA decided to split -Courtesty of FamilyFed.org drove in from all around the country. third place and play a friendly co-ed game edited by Eika Davis New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, instead. The ability of the two teams to put New England, Maryland, Florida, Min- competition aside and have fun was inspir- nesota, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, Califor- ing and exemplified the spirit of all the nia, the Northwest, Generation Peace participants at BCSF. Academy (GPA), and Michigan were all represented as competitors. GPA was On the cultural side of things, the represented in Soccer, Men’s Frisbee, best artist and musicians from the young Women’s Frisbee, generation flocked to offer up their talents. DcaS, a rapper from texas commented on

introducing Gpa September 13, 2011

• Dear Brothers and Sisters, • • We would like to express our gratitude for your continuous support and enthusiasm over the years for the • Special Task Force (STF) Program. • • STF has been undergoing numerous developments and improvements over the past three years under • • the visionary leadership of our Senior Pastor, Rev. In Jin Moon. She has prioritized the education of our • young people and guided STF to become a premier program that not only emphasizes the internal aspects • of faith and character but also stresses the development of personal excellence in academics and other • areas. She wants our youth to become well rounded, socially competent people who excel both internally • and externally. • • • To reflect the significant developments in the program, while acknowledging that students who join the • program are not taking time out of their academic career but rather are enhancing their education, the STF • program has a new name: Generation Peace Academy (GPA). • • The word “Academy” represents the internal and external standard of excellence we are striving for and is • • attributed to any prestigious academic or spiritual establishment. As our Senior Pastor has explained, the • phrase “Generation P.E.A.C.E.” encompasses the vision that we would like to empower our next genera- • tion to inherit. This is an understanding that God is our Heavenly Parent and we are God’s eternal sons • • and daughters who have divine value. We are motivated to live lives of altruism and compassion, while • striving to become people of internal and external excellence. The experience gained at Generation Peace • Academy will further develop students’ abilities and spiritual foundation for success in college and their • future career and life. • • In Jin nim’s desire is that all of our young people can be proud of their faith as Unificationists. Genera- • tion Peace Academy is the place where they can begin to discover their potential and talents while building • • a lasting relationship with True Children, who can help them deepen their personal relationship with and • commitment to our Heavenly Parent and True Parents. • • We look forward to an exciting year ahead. 130 new students will join Generation Peace Academy on Sep- • tember 15th for the Kick-Off Workshop. To learn more about the many events and activities throughout • • the coming year please sign up for the GPA newsletter at connectgpa@gmail.com • • Sincerely, • Heather Thalheimer • Director of Education, HSA-UWC • • Roland Platt • Director, Generation Peace Academy