During the first week of June, high school students from the area developed into more effective leaders, while having fun and creating memories, during Methodist University’s unique General Shelton Leadership Camp.

Through the Lura S. Tally Center for Leadership Development, Methodist University hosted students for a one-week summer residential experience taking place on MU’s expansive 600-plus acre campus. The students were also treated to team-building and service-project excursions to Camp Rockfish and Second Harvest Food Bank. 

The General Shelton Leadership Camp helped campers improve their knowledge and skills of what it takes to become a strong leader through General H. Hugh Shelton’s cornerstones of values-based leadership: honesty, integrity, compassion, diversity, and social responsibility.

“It was exciting to welcome these exceptional high school students to the General Shelton Leadership Camp,” said Dr. Mark Regensburger, director of the Lura S. Tally Center for Leadership Development and assistant professor of Management at MU in a press release. “For me, as a leadership scholar and educator, the opportunity to work directly with young leaders is a rewarding privilege. We already look forward to accepting applicants for next year’s camp in the fall.”

All week long, campers participated in a variety of fun activities such as low and high ropes courses, scavenger hunt, Jeopardy, bingo, dancing, dyeing t-shirts, and a talent show. But the camp also provides an enriching experience through a core curriculum that focuses on leadership roles and accountability, team building, leadership styles and situations, social responsibility, integrity as a leader, public speaking, changing behaviors, and goal setting.

The best part of camp is the growth the students experience through both lessons that are both active and interactive.

“Something I’ve really resonated with are the lessons about your personal values,”  Laurel Hustwit, a local 10th grade student who attended the camp shared in a press release . “It’s something I’ve never really thought too hard about, but I’ve learned more about myself, the people around me, and how to work with people that come from different backgrounds and perspectives that have different values.”

For upcoming 10th grade camper Marcus Warees, this was his first time  both attending the General Shelton Leadership Camp and visiting Methodist University’s campus.

“It’s been really nice,” said Warees, who is from the Fayetteville area in a press release. “I’ve learned to speak up and lead people… [Methodist University] is definitely one of the schools I’m considering now.”