Saipan Hosts LEO Youth Camp Exchange, Doubling Last Year’s Attendance

Forty youth members of the LEO clubs gathered at Marianas High School from March 27 to 29 for the 2026 Youth Camp Exchange (YCE). The three-day event brought together young leaders ranging from 12 to 21 years old for a weekend of cultural immersion, community building, and leadership development.
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In an interview, Lions Clubs International District 204 Governor Ronald Hidalgo noted that this is Saipan's first time hosting a LEO youth camp.

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"While we have had various local youth initiatives and community-based activities in the past, this program represents a significant expansion in terms of scope, international participation, and organizational requirements," said Hidalgo.



YCE Chairman Sylvan Tudela highlighted the program's remarkable growth, noting that participation doubled compared to last year's event held in Guam.
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"This year's Youth Camp Exchange had 40 participants... This year's turnout more than doubled from last year.  This year, we have two exchange students from Japan, and they will be staying here 'til April 3.", Tudela shared.

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Governor Hidalgo officially opened the camp on March 27, reminding the youth to never stop serving—even through small acts of kindness—and reinforcing the Lions' theme: "Lead to Serve, Serve to Lead."
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The camp’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, who spoke passionately about the resilience and resourcefulness of the Marianas people. He drew a striking parallel to Death Valley—the lowest, driest, and hottest point on the planet—which undergoes a miraculous "Super Bloom" of wildflowers every ten years.
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Deleon Guerrero emphasized that islanders possess a similar ability to thrive despite limited resources.

"When I think of the way we live here in the Marianas, what I know to be true is this, and this is the most beautiful thing about us in the Marianas, is we've learned to live on islands with very limited resources. That's why we are resilient because we know how to make the most of little," he stated.

​He concluded his address by urging the young attendees to recognize themselves as leaders of the present, not just the future, and encouraged them to find life, hope, and light even amidst despair.
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Throughout the weekend, participants camped in tents set up on the Marianas High School grounds, engaging in a mix of indoor and outdoor activities designed to celebrate local culture.
​Highlights of the exchange included cultural demonstration, hands-on sessions in Apigigi making and Lei Mwar making, alongside a dedicated coconut presentation; ​Maritime Traditions - a special feature by the local maritime organization 500 Sails; Arts and Entertainment, live performances by Gus Kaipat Music and the Cultural Dance Group, and Health and Wellness, two highly energetic Saturday and Sunday morning fitness sessions led by Fitbeat Zumba.