A camp for teenagers is the perfect training ground for Whangārei man Shaquille Newton who's studying to be a youth leader.
The 22-year-old is among 17 youths from Whangārei and more than 5000 throughout New Zealand attending a Baptist Church-organised national youth camp at Mystery Creek in Hamilton during this long weekend.
The youth camp will run programmes such as mud running, basketball, obstacle courses, speeches, and social interactions to help participants make better life choices.
Newton is doing foundation studies at the Salvation Army to become a youth leader and is excited at being part of the youth camp for the first time.
"I heard about it in church last year and have been listening to all the good stories from there so I decided to give it a shot this time round. Am interested to be among like-minded people," he said.