GEAR UP conducted a Leadership Summer Camp at the U of O in August, and 20 Lowell Jr. High and Sr. High students attended, focusing on the building of community, leadership skills, goal attainment and the development of proactive learning habits.
Seeds Training personnel led various hands-on workshops including integrity, the foundation of great leadership; building trust, and the colorblind challenge which stressed some key lessons about effective communication, such as asking questions and listening first. The principle lesson during coaching and mentoring is to focus one’s attention on listening before speaking because listening first helps with attaining valuable information and gaining rapport; thus, giving your mentor a sense of being valued.
Students who benefited from attending this camp were Kaylee Astbury, Andrew Bardis, Ashlee Brooks, Enoch Carroll, Caden Durfee, Rowen Files, Esperanza Guzman-Field, Lily Haynes, Kenadee Hermansen, Sienna Hymer, Shaylin Howard, Kylee Johnson, Kaassidy Matthews, Anthony Smith, Kelsie Smith, Alex Stratis, Justus Thurman, Priscilla Thurman, Nicole Tucker, and Mati Williamson. During the school year these students will be asked to demonstrate their leadership skills by being positive examples to their peers.
Chaperones for this event were teachers Katrina Burkhardt, Trudi Glander, and Aaron Farrier. They, too, attended several workshops focusing on Leadership.
GEAR UP Coordinator Jeanie May arranged the trip and conducted the essay contest and applications. Greg Erickson, Lundy 6th grade teacher, conducted the essay application process at the sixth grade level.
“Overall, we had 33 applicant essays of high quality. Students were selected because of their potential for leadership skills and writing ability, and GEAR UP allowed us to bring more students than the 12 previously slotted spots. It was an amazing turn out for camp, and teachers in the district are doing a credible job teaching leadership and composition skills,” said May.
