Description

Camp LEAD (Leadership, Equity, Access and Diversity) is a three day, two night experiential residential high school camp. This program has been making a difference throughout San Diego County for close to twenty years and has been positively impacting the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) for over 15 years, positively changing the culture and community of GUHSD after the tragic shootings on the Santana High School and Granite Hills High School campuses. Through practical hands-on training, students work to identify and address their own behaviors and attitudes about ethnic culture, religion, race, physical ability, socio-economics, gender, age, and lifestyle.

An engaging and interactive learning environment allows participants to gain heightened interpersonal and personal-awareness skills that are essential to improving relations with others. Camp LEAD allows students to take part in a series of activities designed to foster leadership skills and improve understanding & respect between students. Through focused dialogue, experiential learning, and self-reflection, students develop skills to discuss issues that can be difficult to address in everyday life. Camp LEAD prepares students to take on leadership roles to not only succeed, but to excel across a wide range of environments. Through the Camp LEAD experience students develop a deeper understanding of the often complicated dynamics of prejudice and discrimination. Students learn to appreciate each other’s differences and embrace commonalities. The approach fosters relationship building through self-awareness, effective communication, and conflict-resolution skills.

Each camp is facilitated with a two-tiered staffing model. Camp directors consist of highly skilled facilitators from diverse educational and professional backgrounds including education, counseling, law enforcement, and mental health. They possess extensive experience working with youth and adults in the areas of personal growth, group dynamics, human relations, and violence prevention. Camp staff is comprised of school personnel, community volunteers and law enforcement members. Staff who attend Camp LEAD must be cleared with a DOJ fingerprint check, a criminal background check and must complete a five-hour training program in advance of their camp. Traditional and non-traditional student leaders, and those from diverse backgrounds, are encouraged to participate in camp. After camp, follow-up activities include lunch meetings on campus, Saturday training sessions and on-going community service events. Camp LEAD underwent a rigorous external evaluation in 2009 which demonstrated effectiveness for student and adult participants.

Developing capable youth, safe schools, strong families, and responsible communities requires involving young people in every possible way in the institutions that impact their lives. Through Camp LEAD, students become more invested in their learning and more committed to attaining their goals. They develop valuable leadership skills and gain experience in community building while families, schools, and communities benefit from the creative energy of their civic engagement.