FOR 22 young people from across Western Australia, this year’s Y WA Kokoda leadership program trek is now less than a month away.

They recently completed their second training camp at the Manjedal activity centre in Karrakup, their final group preparation for the nine-day trek at the end of this month.

Fifteen-year-old Guildford resident Lilli Taylor said she was feeling excited and grateful as the group’s fly-out day gets closer.

“It’s such a unique experience and all the leaders keep telling me about how it’s so beautiful around there, even though it might be hot and humid and difficult, I’m still looking forward to it,” she said.

“My personal reason for going on Kokoda this year is to know that I can succeed when faced with such a difficult challenge.

“I really want to prove it to myself; the conditions are probably going to be difficult for me to push through as I don’t like humidity, but I know when I reach the end, it’s going to be amazing.”

She said she was also excited about seeing a beautiful new landscape, history and culture on the trek.

“It’s such a good opportunity for young adults like me and others to get out there and experience a hard challenge,” she said.

“I feel like it’s going to prepare most of us for the future, what life is going to bring us.”

The training camp physically and mentally challenged each participant, ensuring everyone is ready to tackle the infamously challenging trail through the heart of Papua New Guinea’s ancient rainforest, following in the steps of the Anzac heroes for 96 gruelling kilometres.

On camp, the group tackled the 15km Kitty Gorge trail, a distance comparable to one of their longer days on the Kokoda trail, as well as team building and fitness exercises.

The Y WA chief executive Dr Tim McDonald will trek with the group again this year, and said the training camps give the young group a great insight into how they will be pushed on the real track.

“I was blown away by how far many of them have come, particularly on such a long hike,” he said.

“I would say camp two was a success: the young people are at a good fitness level, and we are all feeling great about the trek.

“This program is aimed at developing aspiring leaders for the future, promoting resilience, teamwork and a sense of community, and I can see all those qualities shining through already.