Lions clubs throughout Australia conduct a Youth of the Year Quest, which typically attracts young high achievers who are adopting leadership roles.

The Minnamurra Lions Club decided to offer a Youth Development Award to a young person who was not a high achiever, but had the potential to be.

After looking at options and taking advice from Gerringong and Nowra clubs, the Minnamurra club decided its award would be attending an Outward Bound Australia Navigator Course.

This is a 12-day wilderness adventure in places such as the Australian Alps, open to people aged 15 to 18 years.

This year, Minnamurra Lions chose 16-year-olds Jonathan Smith and Damon Zapletal, who headed to Canberra for the start of their journey.

However, the Navigator Course scheduled for April was moved to the Snowy River surrounds in Victoria because of back-burning in the Australian Alps.

The pair completed the 12 days of the course, and returned to a MLC members' dinner to discuss their experiences.

"Difficult, very wet, unexpected, amazing, enlightening, unusual, challenging, instructive and a simply wonderful experience were some of the words and phrases used during their 40-minute presentation," Lions Club spokesman Dennis McColl said. "Perhaps the full impact of the experience won't be realised for some time yet."

The club hopes to continue to sponsor attendees through similar development opportunities in future years.