Page "Nova Scotia Secondary School Students' Association" Paragraph 20

When Opening Ceremonies ends, the skillbuilding sessions begin.

Skillbuilding sessions last anywhere from one hour to three hours, and there are eight of them spread across the four days of conference.

Skillbuilding groups are usually eight to ten delegates and two skillbuilders in a room or area separate from other groups.

During the sessions, there are activities such as games, puzzles, and discussions for the purpose of bringing the group closer together and allowing a genuine friendship to build up.

The groups typically become very close by the end of the second or third session, with a real sense of trust among the members.

Often the discussion gets very personal, and secrets are openly shared with newfound friends as one would share a secret with an old, very close friend.

There is a sense of equality among group members and people frequently openly share ideas and take the lead of the group during activities.

The skillbuilders ' purpose is to introduce the activities and to keep the session moving, as well as to assist in the promotion of group closeness.

Every session ends with a " debrief ", which is a brief period where the group discusses the session's activities and tries to learn from them.

The final session of conference is typically very emotional for group members due to the closeness and friendship created.

The final session always follows the same format every year, and group members write " I Love You Because's " ( short notes of praise for the other person, offering words of encouragement, and / or thanking the person for the experiences created during the four days ).

These are often very emotional messages and conference attendees treasure them for a long time.

The skillbuilders send off their delegates with words of encouragement and a call to remember what they've learned and apply those lessons to their lives.

Contact information is usually also shared.

Many conference attendees state that their favorite thing about conference is the skillbuilding sessions, and some groups may stay in touch for years.