Every October, a group of fourth, fifth and sixth grade students take a five day trip to a leadership camp in Maine called Camp Kieve. The growth that takes place over those five days is wonderful to observe. Students learn principles of communication, leadership skills and how to deal with peer pressure. Each day they are given a “challenge” activity involving group problem solving. After the activity they discuss how they function as a group in terms of the principles they learn. They are also challenged to overcome fear, and to trust themselves and their team-mates through a ropes course.
One of the favorite activities is called “solo time”. In this activity, students find a quiet place by the river, and reflect in their journals about what they are learning, and how it will translate into setting goals for themselves. The Leadership School’s curriculum fosters risk taking, cooperation, and mutual support. Students, along with parents and teachers (who travel with them), will deepen their sense of community and learn to be leaders of the school.