The sun beamed down on our faces, and at night we were warmed by sparkling fires. The snow glistened off the towering maple trees and the frozen surface of Walloon Lake. It was the perfect setting for a peaceful retreat. But peace was only a small part of last week’s mid-winter adventure. Instead, students and faculty spent most of their time stepping through deep conversations, performing acrobatic acts on a 40-foot high ropes course, trusting each other while blindfolded, and practicing some of Leelanau’s core values.
We were reminded that self-awareness, resilience, courage, integrity, and leadership are often discoveredtogether – and when we least expect it.
I spent time with the sophomore and freshman cohorts during our Camp Daggett exploratory program. I witnessed these students building outdoor shelters as a team, soaring through the air on ropes to be sure their whole team made it to the other side (because lava bubbled below them, of course), and climbing a 30-foot rock wall. Before tackling this rock wall, I heard encouraging words like, “Come on, give it a shot!” or “Why don’t we try it together.” And before solving one of the group’s given problems, I heard, “Why don’t we try your solution” or “I like that idea.” Yes, the youngest group on campus was working together in each situation they were presented with–and wildly succeeding.
The most memorable moments came in those which exposed vulnerability. When a student was nervous or the group seemed to be fumbling, that’s when the magic sparked. Someone was struggling on the rock wall at one point, and their partner was right next to them, telling them, “You’ve got this.” The individual made it halfway up the wall before rappelling back down. And because of their partner, they accomplished the greatest feat–the courage to try.
As Head of School, Rob Hansen said, “Whether verbalizing the talents they see in others, or making plans to be a better mentor, or taking the risk of trusting someone or dancing on a beam 40 feet in the air...I saw a grand community at work. I saw things that didn’t exist back in September. Growth is such a crucial part of the human experience–one that The Leelanau School takes very seriously. Because if humans can learn to keep flourishing when they’re teenagers, they truly can soar to endless heights for the duration of their entire lives.”
It’s true this growth and leadership emerge during times of struggle. Those around us can help pull out what may be hidden deep within us. Our Camp Daggett opportunity allowed time to draw these qualities out of everyone who showed the courage to try.
