Class of 2016 Leadership Retreat

Julia Gensheimer

While the seniors went home, relaxed at the academy, or took the ACT this past weekend, the junior class spent Saturday and half of Sunday at Camp Loucon in Leitchfield, KY, for the annual leadership retreat. At the retreat, students participated in ice breakers, attended staff-led sessions on everything from relationships to self-discovery, and bonded with their classmates during campfires and starry night hikes. It was a great opportunity to get away from schoolwork and have fun.

The first activity involved writing personal qualities on a notecard and taping them up around the room. Juniors said that it was a good opportunity to make connections to others in a more comfortable atmosphere. Girl talks with Beth and April, and guy talks with Pokey made up the next session, all running over the allotted time. The third session introduced the Chair Theory, explaining that the legs of your chair are your core values and the pillows on your chair are your current interests. Students said that this helped them learn more about themselves. The retreat closed out with the famous Relationships 101 talk and a final message about creating a life mission and vision.

The junior class came back to the academy tired, but with plenty of inside jokes and stories to tell. Tidbits of conversations on Sunday night included stories of swimming across the lake, canoeing, pranks, and stargazing. Beth Hawke summarized the retreat well: “The junior leadership retreat accomplished two goals. Students were able to form stronger bonds with each other while also examining their visions, missions, and purposes for not only their Gatton careers but for their next five years.” An inspirational and fun trip made for a great weekend!