High school students will take a hard look at their leadership skills at a conference this summer at William Woods University.
The Missouri Association of Student Councils will have its annual summer leadership institute at WWU from June 12-17. During this six-day leadership camp, 740 members of high school student councils around the state will attend various activities, classes and forums focused on becoming effective leaders at their high school.
"It's a way of sharing ideas between different schools," said Chad Rizner, an adviser for Jefferson City High School and district representative for the Northeast Missouri District of the MASC. "Sharing ideas and building the networks are two of the things the camp does."
According to a press release, each day will have a different focus, including an inter-council Olympic competition, putting on a carnival for area children, creating presentations, planning projects to compete at home, and participating in a Special Olympics of Missouri duck race.
The activities will provide opportunities for students to gain experience hosting events as well. For 13 years, the students involved in the conference have put on a community carnival for local children. The carnival, which will be free for all local children in preschool to sixth grade, will include various booths, games, and types of food. It will be held from 2-4 p.m. on June 14.
Students will also raise funds for the Special Olympics. The annual "Duck for a Buck" rubber duck race will give students and local residents the opportunity to race rubber ducks across Senior Lake on the William Woods campus. It will be at 4:30 p.m. June 15.
One of the benefits of the conference, according to Rizner, is that students will be able to network with other student leaders. "It also provides them a list of other kids that they can call on throughout the year," said Rizner. "I know kids that have exchanged numbers."
Students will also be able to focus on their own development as leaders.
"We also work on personal leadership skills and evaluations," said Rizner. "We have forums on goal setting and self-analysis."
Also, according to Rizner, as students will get to present to large audiences, and give speeches to fellow participants which, he says, has been an important part of the program in the past.
"It helps them break out of their shell and get out of their comfort zone," said Rizner.
Rizner says that having students in similar leadership roles across the state in one location creates a positive environment for the students to learn and grow.
"At this camp, everybody's in the same boat," said Rizner. "You'd love to have a school full of these kids."
For more information about the Missouri Association of Student Councils (MASC) annual summer leadership workshop, contact Terri Johnson at (816) 261-7079 or [email protected].