FORGET the kayaks and rock climbing – a bunch of high school students from across the region have been camping at Lake Keepit learning how to become future leaders.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With five workshops to squeeze in over the three days, there was little time left for all those physical pursuits.
Education Department program developer Mark Roach said the lessons at the leadership camp took in goal setting, action planning, communication and listening skills, problem-solving and creative thinking, intertwined into some corporate-style, team-building challenges.
“They’re not your typical camp activities, but the students are all gaining from the experience,” Mr Roach said.
“The activities are all thinking challenges. In one they had to build out of pipe and bamboo a way to run a golfball down the slope in the slowest possible time.”
“Judging from the feedback we’re getting from the teachers, they’re extremely impressed with how the students are going and how enjoyable the program is.
“We’re delighted that 100 per cent of teachers would recommend the program to students at other schools across the region.
“That is a great en-dorsement of what we believe is a tremendous program.
“There’s such a need for leadership development, both in primary and secondary schools.”
All up there are 52 students, from years 7 to 11, accompanied by at least one teacher, from Moree Secondary College, Warialda Central, Coonabarabran, Inverell and Macintyre high schools.
“The majority are from years 10 and 11 and they’re selected by their school, which has targeted them as future leaders within their school and local community,” Mr Roach said.
The main aim of the program started back at school, where the students were tasked with building a school action plan over the first two days from an item or specific subject they identified at school prior to coming.
On the third day, students had to present that action plan to their principals.
Students were on the go from 7.30am to 9pm daily, doing workshops and activities to enhance the learning of messages within the workshops, so they’ll probably welcome being back at school.
Mr Roach said the program was being rolled out in eight of the 11 Sport and Recreation sites across the state, with close to 500 primary students attending the first camp.
“Students walk away with a tremendous confidence boost and the ability to speak in front of any audience.
“With this program, they’re focused on project management, breaking a big idea down into achieveable goals, using a fairly similar plan their principals are using.”
