Six Reasons to Attend the Emerging Leaders Retreat
Each year new and returning students head to the woods of Camp Guyasuta to spend the day outside, engaging in high and low ropes courses, zip lining, and hiking, while simultaneously learning the foundations of leadership. This one-of-a-kind event is popular not only for its physical challenges, but for the chance to bond with other students while strengthening your leadership and problem-solving skills. Still on the fence? Check out our top six reasons to attend the Emerging Leaders Retreat (ELR), illustrated by helpful breakdowns and insightful commentary from Director of Student Engagement, Emily Fidago—
Saturday, September 17 // 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Camp Guyasuta // Transportation provided
Limited spots available // Register by September 13
Open to students of all ages
Make friends
Thanks to the unique bonding experience that ELR participants find themselves in, a happy side-effect is making new friends. Though the retreat is open to students of all years, it is especially beneficial for first-year and sophomore students who may not have had the chance to meet many people yet. Students are placed in groups that work together to solve a series of physical obstacles, including challenges called “initiative games,” which break the ice, and “trust events,” which help solidify their bond. Show up for the thrills; stay for the friends!
Spend a day in nature
When was the last time you spent an entire day outside? It’s easy to forget the healing effects of nature when you’re juggling studying, adjusting to college, and trying to make friends, but we guarantee you won’t regret basking in the fresh air and sunshine of Camp Guyasuta. It is home to 175 acres of Pennsylvania forest, a clean water stream, multiple waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. If you need a little science to sway you, check out this list of research-backed ways being outside can positively impact your physical and mental health from Business Insider.
Step outside of your comfort zone—with safety and support
“One of the goals of the day is to challenge yourself, but everyone has different limitations. What is a challenge to one person might not be a challenge to someone else. That's totally up to the individual—you only push yourself as far as you want to,” says Emily of the myriad physical challenges available at Camp Guyasuta. Students have the option to participate in a wide range of activities, including low and high ropes courses, zip lines, hikes, and more. According to the Camp Guyasuta website, “Participants climb, swing, balance, jump, and rappel as well as think through solutions to a variety of challenges.” If that sounds a little nerve-wracking, fear not! You’ll also have guides on site to ensure that you are completely safe and supported throughout each activity.
“I learned how to communicate effectively as a leader so that the whole team was able to succeed together. I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone who is looking for a fun, challenging, and exciting opportunity to grow as a leader.”
Gain crucial leadership skills
In addition to the physical challenges of the retreat, students learn a framework for understanding and demonstrating leadership. After each obstacle, the group takes time to debrief and discuss how their leadership skills manifested during the challenge: “We discuss how they communicated, how they strategized, and how they worked together. We think about their role within the group. Were they someone who provided a lot of validation and support? Were they someone who took the lead on figuring out how to approach the obstacle? How did they communicate? How did they come up with a strategy?” says Emily. As their team progresses through each challenge, participants begin to recognize the different styles of leadership within the group and how each leader impacts their overall success.
Exercise in a new way
Whether you’re an experienced athlete or a workout novice, surely you’ve heard about the benefits of exercise. But ELR offers something intellectually stimulating as well. Throughout the retreat, participants continuously pause to reflect on how they are demonstrating leadership, offering a chance to examine the effects of exercise on your mental health and confidence in real time! According to the Camp Guyasuta website, the challenges are not designed to be competitive in nature and are geared towards helping participants flourish both individually and as teams: “The objectives include building teams, solving problems, making decisions, developing trust, communication, leadership, planning, and self-esteem as members cooperate to achieve goals upon which they have agreed. The course is designed to foster personal growth.”
Get a thrill while building confidence
“There is an adrenaline rush when you push yourself past something you're scared to do. It helps you realize what's possible even when you think it's not.” says Emily of the impact of completing the various challenges, both individual and group. If you’re a thrill-seeker, the retreat offers plenty—just watch this video of the zip line experience. And if you’re more on the cautious side, the Camp Guyasuta website claims that, “Most participants find that they can do much more than they initially thought they could.” Keep in mind that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do and can participate in whichever challenges most appeal to you!
Interested in participating in this year’s Emerging Leaders Retreat? Contact the Office of Student Engagement at studentengagement@chatham.edu.