Monday, Jul. 06, 2009

Belleville camp challenges kids to learn leadership

BELLEVILLE -- A cave, obstacles atop telephone poles, and the challenge of working together to pick up objects with a stick taught 19 junior high students from Belleville a few lessons during the past few weeks.

They learned leadership comes in many forms. They learned there is strength in shared ideas and work. They learned there is much more to their peers than what their initial impressions showed them.

"I liked caving," said Cushe' Blackmon, 12. "You couldn't just think of yourself. You had to think of the others: If they were scared, if you needed to shine a light up the ladder so they could see where they were going or down the rocks if it wasn't safe.

"We held their hand as they went across so they knew they weren't alone."

The group attended the Challenge 12 day camp -- 12 days of challenges and leadership training headquartered at Douglas Elementary in Belleville. Their teachers at Belleville area schools recommended them because they possessed the traits of leaders.

"I'd help her out around school and deliver copies to other teachers, run to the office" said Travis Heard, 12. "She'd choose me a lot because she saw responsibility in me."

"We help if someone's struggling in class," said Jessica Hill, 12. "I don't want people to struggle. I want to help."

Dominique Hill, 12, said he learned leaders distribute the responsibility and the power.

"You have to be good to people you try to lead and ask them what they want. You get information from them on what they want," Dominique said.

For more on this story, read the News-Democrat on Tuesday or return Tuesday to bnd.com