EIGHTY-eight young Bahamians from seven islands have travelled to Abaco to take part in the Governor General's Youth Award's (GGYA) largest Bahamas Award Super Expedition (BASE) in recent years, bringing together Bronze, Silver and Gold Award participants for a multi-day adventure focused on leadership, teamwork and personal development.

Participants from Grand Bahama, Bimini, Eleuthera, Exuma, New Providence, Cat Island and Inagua are taking part in the annual expedition, which challenges young people to navigate the Bahamian wilderness while developing practical skills and building friendships with peers from across the country.

Before departing for Abaco, all participants completed mandatory water safety training at LJM Maritime Academy in Nassau.

The session, led by Chief Petty Officer Omar Albury, covered emergency procedures including abandoning ship, responding to a person overboard and dealing with fires onboard a vessel. Participants also learned basic maritime terminology before taking part in practical emergency drills.

"It’s not just about sitting down and listening — they actually have to take part and be in an emergency situation so they'll know what to do, as well as others around them," said Mr Albury.

GGYA National Director Jacquetta Lightbourne-Maycock said the training is an essential part of every expedition, regardless of whether participants are first-timers or experienced members.

"We want this information to be like muscle memory," she said. "We want them to know that there's a response rather than shock. They have to move, they have to react, they have to respond through the fear and the anxiety of anything happening."

For many participants, BASE represents their first opportunity to travel beyond their home island while taking on new challenges.

Vernanda Knowles, a Bronze Award participant from Inagua All-Age School, said she hopes to make new friends, learn outdoor survival skills and step outside her comfort zone.

"I'm excited for the water — I want to learn how to swim — and I'm looking forward to the hike to test myself," she said.

Ingraham Miller of L.N. Coakley High School in Exuma said he is eager to experience the wilderness and meet participants from other islands.

"I'm most looking forward to experiencing the hike, being in the wilderness and meeting new people," he said.

Gold Award participant Jonathan Clarke of Exuma Christian Academy said the expedition is helping prepare him for life beyond school.

"I'm looking forward to learning new things, learning how to take care of myself and preparing myself for things that are going to come in life," Clarke said.

The expedition is the flagship event of the Governor General's Youth Award programme and serves as the adventurous journey component of the internationally recognized award. Participants are required to plan routes, work together to overcome challenges and develop leadership and problem-solving skills in an outdoor environment.

The GGYA currently serves more than 1,600 young people across eight islands. Organizers said expeditions such as BASE are made possible through volunteers and corporate sponsors, including Scotiabank (ScotiaWealth) and Sun Oil Limited (FOCOL), whose support helps offset the costs of inter-island travel and programme delivery.

As participants make their way through Abaco's waters and trails, organizers say they will return home with more than expedition experience, having developed confidence, resilience and friendships that extend well beyond the journey itself.