Junior Leadership Academy of the White Mountains
What if a two-week summer day camp could change the course of a child's life for the positive—imparting life skills that help map the future
Profile
Gender: Woman
State/Province: AZ
City: Pinetop
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debe-campbell-41091a4?trk=hp-identity-name
United States
Executive Director
Friends of Navajo County Anti-Drug Coali
Stumbled into substance abuse prevention as a volunteer and a newcomer to an economically depressed community. The learning curve was fascinating and devastating at once. Now substance abuse prevention for youth has become a passion. Keeping up with trends a challenge, and advocating for community education ahead of legislative changes an imperative. Our summer kids camp is a model we want to replicate in other communities that want a homegrown, community owned way to create positive paths for their future leaders.
Research
0pt
Idea
39pt
Evaluation
0pt
Collaboration
17pt
Total
56pt
What if a two-week summer day camp could change the course of a child's life for the positive—imparting life skills that help map the future
Basic skills we incorporate are self-esteem building, goal setting, team building and peer support, basic interview skills, table manners, responsibility, personal reflection, community service. Activities incorporate the learning so the kids don't realize the "lesson" but enjoy the results. With new interview skills they go to senior residences and interview elders. There they learn how to interact, ask questions, listen, record data, reflect and present what they learned. As a side benefit, this has led to several "adoptions" over the years of kids returning to visit their interviewee.
Goal setting is demonstrated by running a mile a day. Some start out walking, some don't even want to do it. But by tackling it bit by bit daily, they learn the stepping stones of goal achievement and improvement by the challenge to improve their daily time.
Community service and simply serving lunch to each other daily, teaches the joy of service and continues throughout the year.
A noted artist spends 2 hours showing basic drawing techniques and the kids achieve an artwork. This has thrilled and surprised many students and awoken some true talent.
Daily readings of the book Mama Bear, Baby Bear by Linda Silvas, requires understanding personification, parallelism, introspection, empathy and group reflection. The readings conclude with a final Skype session with the Author where the kids can again apply their interview skills and self confidence.
The list goes on and on with skills learning buried in FUN!
Thank you so much Michael for your feedback!
Debe commented on Junior Leadership Academy of the White Mountains