Building Leadership Skills in Kids and Why it Matters

Why do leadership skills really matter and do summer leadership development camps really have an impact on teens? These are questions you might be asking as a student or as a parent. We will address these questions, as well as cover the many benefits of leadership camps in this article.

This testimonial below truly speaks to why leadership skills matter and the impact of attending a leadership camp.

“Since attending Army and Navy Academy summer leadership camp, I have noticed a huge change in how I behave and treat other people. People have commented how they’ve noticed that I am more respectful, outgoing, and more of a leader. I have also seen a change in my attitude; If I am about to do something I don’t want to do, I try to make the best out of it and stay positive.”

Benefits of a Leadership Development Camp

Demonstrate Perseverance – During a summer leadership camp, perseverance is critical to personal growth and the development of leadership skills that can be applied at school and college. Summer campers develop tenacity, resilience, perseverance and grit as a natural part of completing physical, mental and social activities.
Promote Leadership and Teamwork – Summer campers learn how to operate within a team framework by communicating, organizing, sharing ideas, and building consensus. Being a leader involves mentoring, inspiring, delegating and organizing. These are all critical real-world leadership skills that require focus and determination.
Improve Communication Skills – In a leader camp, teens are actively engaged in listening carefully and responding respectfully. They also engage in sharing ideas and socializing. Some leadership camps and school programs for high school students also integrate both verbal and written exercises into the daily activities, so campers can accelerate and improve communication skills.
Practice Conflict Resolution – A leadership development camp is a great way for middle schoolers and high school students to figure out how to get along with others. Living with a roommate and doing activities in groups requires the ability to communicate, understand various perspectives, build consensus, and adapt.
Set Goals – Leadership camps require campers to think about group goals as well as their own personal goals and aspirations. To stimulate goal-setting, many leadership camps offer a number of activities where there are built-in goals (e.g. physical obstacle course or completion of individual or group projects).
Motivate Self and Others – Summer leadership camps motivate teens to go beyond their comfort zones, stay off their phones, and stick to a schedule. Without motivation, teenagers tend to lose their sense of direction and purpose. Learning how to self-motivate as well as how to get others motivated is fun and challenging.
Take Responsibility – A leadership camp during middle school or high school requires taking responsibility for one’s own behavior, decisions and actions. For instance, during summer camp, teens have to make activity choices, get along with others, and take responsibility for daily hygiene, dress, and nutrition.
Build Confidence – Leadership development camps bring up new challenges and kids learn to navigate unfamiliar surroundings and situations. This all helps teens develop self-esteem and a greater sense of self-worth through mental, social, and physical activities. Teens get a chance for self-expression, a time to shine, and showcase unique abilities and talents.
Choose and Build Friendships – Learning how to make new friends is one of the core aspects of summer leadership camps. While away from home, summer campers figure out to choose friends wisely and keep promises. They might even learn how to live with a roommate at residential camps (aka sleepover camps, overnight camps, and boarding school camps).
Exercise Emotional Intelligence – Self-awareness and the ability to understand yourself and others at a deep level is so important for young people. During a summer leadership development camp, teens develop greater self-awareness, self-regulation, and learn how to demonstrate empathy and understanding.

SUMMER LEADERSHIP CAMP OPTIONS IN CALIFORNIA

One highly rated summer camp program that makes it really fun to learn these and other life skills and principles is the Summer Leadership Camp series of summer camps for boys and girls on the oceanfront campus of the Army and Navy Academy, a college preparatory boarding school during the school year in Carlsbad, Calif.

For over a decade, the Summer Leadership Camp has included basic and advanced Leadership Development Programs for middle school students (grades 7-8) and basic and advanced Leadership Education Training programs for high school-age boys and girls (grades 9-12).

Both middle school and high school programs have classes and activities that concentrate and develop the principles of good character and responsibility, while enhancing self-confidence and providing opportunities for campers to experience the following benefits:

Become self-disciplined and resilient leaders, modeling independence and self-confidence;
Build positive relationships in a supervised environment that promotes independence and a sense of belonging;
Develop cherished friendships and a sense of community connections;
Experience the daily lives of cadets who attend the Academy during the school year with an emphasis on mentoring, safety, personal development, and sportsmanship;
Learn to avoid and if needed, to resolve conflicts while demonstrating respect for others; and,
Raise self-esteem and realize one’s own potential.

SUMMER LEADERSHIP CAMP COURSES

Introduction to Leadership

For middle school campers, the two-week session is an introduction for campers interested in exploring potential and learning the fundamentals of citizenship. Campers gain invaluable life skills through fun activities and adventure-based challenges, reinforcing teamwork, accountability, discipline, and respect. Returning campers can follow up their primary leadership classes from previous camps with an advanced curriculum, emphasizing the core values of responsibility, loyalty, and selfless service, all focused on preparing them for high school
For high school campers, this leadership education course includes: group instruction, hands-on learning, and outdoor adventures. During the two-week session, campers learn to focus on achievement while overcoming physical and mental challenges.

Advanced Leadership

For middle school campers, this is a four-week session for younger campers interested in gaining primary- and secondary-level experience by combining both the introduction and principles courses in a four-week period.
For high school campers, this four-week course introduces them to the U.S. Army’s high school-level Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), focusing on the core values of honor, integrity, and selfless service that motivate campers to succeed. Returning campers from a previous summer camp will receive instruction on advanced citizenship and leadership skills that reinforce the confidence and principles learned from their previous training.

Introduction to Leadership Elective Courses

Included as part of the Supplemental Enrichment Options programs are the following electives, each offered in two-week sessions:

Leadership – For motivated middle school and high school campuses to become better citizens, the Advanced Leadership option enhances the camp’s core leadership element, reinforcing communication and cooperative skills, personal strengths, and self-confidence.

Warrior Aviation –This popular course introduces campers to aeronautics through in-class discussions and project-based learning. Topics include the principles of flight, aircraft anatomy, space travel, remotely piloted aircraft systems as well as what they will need to earn drone, glider, and private pilot licenses.

Cyber Security & Computer Science – This course introduces cyber security through the use of virtual machines to run Windows 10 and Linux. The elective reinforces the scientific process and promotes the appropriate use of technology. It introduces the concepts of personal responsibility for data, online behavior, and digital leadership. Campers will become familiar with the digital defense of operating systems and take responsibility for their data.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): This course teaches active listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills for English learners, using a variety of instructional media and technologies.

TEAM-BUILDING AND ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

Leadership Reaction & Obstacle Course
Overnight camping
Water Safety and Survival Skills (includes high-tower water jump)
Indoor simulated marksmanship training
Rock climbing and rappelling

RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Trips to the Camp Pendleton Military Museum and the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
Wilderness hikes
Kayaking
Movie nights
Enjoying the beach next to the campus

CAMPERS’ SAFETY IS PRIORITY ONE

Following the guidance from local, state, and federal organizations, the operational procedures for operating safety amid the COVID-10 pandemic included, but are not limited to the following procedures:

Configuring the campus to optimize social distancing protocols
Conducting wellness assessments throughout the day
Implementing facilities sanitation tasks per Centers for Disease Control (CDC) standards
Use of personal protection equipment by campers and staff

As you can see, beyond just pure fun and adventure, summer leadership camps offer teenagers a chance to learn real-world leadership skills.

These skills are all integral to the many benefits associated with summer leadership camps. Cognitive, emotional, personal and social development for teens is all part of the summer leadership camp experience. And beyond all the benefits cited, leadership camps enhance college applications, and can have a lasting impact in college, career and throughout life.

As you do your research, keep in mind that leadership camps vary widely. While the focus is on leadership skills, some summer camps like Academy by the Sea even include opportunities to explore specific interests in areas such as: science, technology and aviation/UAS.

Questions? Ranked by Boarding School Review, Private School Review, Niche, Great Schools and Yelp, as one of the top boarding schools in California, we are here to help you find the right summer leadership camp.

Feel free to contact us to learn more about our leadership camp at Academy by the Sea, owned and operated by Army and Navy Academy. To explore, fill in a simple request info form.

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