By Aileen Stanley

On the rainy, blustery afternoon of January 27, three Pathfinders, Noah Fullard-Leo, Iana Musat, and Jaden Zollbrecht from the Pleasant Valley Panthers Pathfinder Club in Happy Valley, Oregon, were invested (graduated) as Master TLTs at the Rockaway Beach Friends Camp Teen Leadership Training event. These were TLTs who were inducted (officially welcomed) into the Teen Leadership Training program during Covid quarantine on the virtual meeting platform, Gather Town. Who would have thought that they would be able to complete the four-year program with all the challenges that the quarantine brought?

Feeling it important to keep them on schedule during quarantine, in 2020 their club director joined with Master TLT, Timothy Fullard-Leo, to conduct the Outreach Operations classes for them and four of their peers, all who were just joining the TLT program. In 2021, they were able to complete their second operation on Gather Town, thanks to the innovation and technical talents of Rachel Scribner, TLT coordinator, a Master TLT herself.

With a little creativity, Noah, Iana, Mark, and a few others, were able to plan an outreach event for the children who had not been able to attend Sabbath School for a year, due to quarantine during the time when church meetings were able to have 50 people in attendance. Each of the seven TLTs performed science experiments that demonstrated spiritual lessons. Elephant toothpaste, Oobleck, and building spaghetti/marshmallow structures, were some of the activities presented. They even sent each child home with a bag of pre-packaged goodies to enjoy on the way home in lieu of the normal snack that might have been served had there not been a quarantine. It was a ton of fun for all.

If you know a Pathfinder of high school age, the Pathfinder Teen Leadership Training program is for them! Each year, two areas of Pathfinder leadership are taught over two training weekends. Teens also get to help plan their club’s events and campouts and teach honors. The leadership skills learned in the TLT program are designed to go beyond Pathfinders for lifetime application.

Your teen can join Noah, Iana, and Jaden and many others as they live their lives by the TLT pledge, “Loving the Lord Jesus, I promise to take an active part in the work of the Teen leadership Training Program, doing what I can to help others and to finish the work of the gospel in all the world.” Talk to your church’s Pathfinder leader to learn more.