Day One

“It was the first day of leadership camp.  Fear, apprehension, and excitement are all rallying through my mind.  I look at all of the happy faces with their genuine laughter and care-free spirits.  One person in particular walks my way as if we were old friends greeting each other at a school reunion.  She’s wearing a name tag, and carrying an official looking clipboard.  Hand outstretched, smile spread from ear to ear, she asked me how I was.  Not just a head bob or a grunt you typically get from others, but a sincere greeting.  As soon as we shook hands and I gave a wide smile back, it seemed like all my regret for attending SLTP had just vanished into that welcoming.”
Andie Coutoulakis 
East Greenwich HS

 

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Behind the Schedule

Every conference or seminar in SLTP includes a fun filled schedule.  Each day is as full as possible - every opportunity to teach and to learn is advantaged.  The days are fast paced and the expectations are high.  Time is never wasted, nor is time spent on “waste of time” activities.  We begin each day early and we end late.  
    
So, there is no “typical” day.  Every day includes each of the elements explained below.  The specific daily activities and schedule varies according to the design of each session’s staff.   One constant factor of the schedule at every level is that throughout each day, we will explore Positive Risk Taking, ranging from “high risk” to “low risk” involvement activities.

Instruction 
Our formal curriculum is presented in small group workshops .  The workshops are highly interactive sessions which involve examining and practicing interconnected leadership skills.  The number of workshops vary according to the size of the session. The actual material contained in each workshop varies session to session because each staff is different.  The workshops in Officer Training Seminar are specific to the offices held.

The workshops at every level are not passive in nature.  SLTP is an experiential program!

Application
Skills cannot be developed unless practiced - - so in small groups (maximum size 14) called CREWS, our participants are challenged to apply the skills they are learning through group problems and presentations.

Relationality
The key to skill development is the development of student relativity to both the subject and to the other students.  Relativity creates ownership.  Students must be able to relate to one another to establish an atmosphere conducive to cooperative learning and then must be able to relate the learning to their situation.  SLTP endeavors to enable our students to “relate” to what we teach.

Reflection
Each day there is time spent reflecting on learning - - especially the meanings behind the lessons and it is time well spent.  Learning the “why’s” and not just the “how’s” is especially important when dealing with the important issues of ethics and character.