One thousand and seventy-two outstanding fourth through eighth-grade students recently participated in Education in Action’s summer 2019 Lone Star Leadership Academy camps. Additionally, 24 student alumni returned to serve in a leadership role as youth facilitators.
Educators nominated these young leaders to participate based on demonstrated leadership ability, academic success, and involvement in school/community activities. The students, representing communities across Texas, traveled to Dallas-Fort Worth (4-6 grades), Austin-San Antonio (5-7 grades), and Houston-Galveston (6-8 grades) to take part in the camps.
During the weeklong, overnight camps, these distinguished students developed leadership skills while learning about the great state of Texas.
Participants experienced what they are learning in school through visits to notable and historically significant Texas sites. Venues included places such as the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza on the Dallas/Fort Worth program; the offices of participants’ state legislators at the Texas State Capitol, the Supreme Court of Texas, bat watching on the Lone Star Riverboat, and The Alamo on the Austin/San Antonio program; and NASA, a boat tour of Galveston Bay with a marine biologist, the San Jacinto Battleground Monument, and Moody Gardens on the Houston/Galveston program. In addition, professionals at sites visited introduced students to a wide variety of unique careers during each camp.
The Lone Star Leadership Academy experience provides a unique opportunity for outstanding students to learn about Texas leaders and what it means to be from the Lone Star State. Participants discuss what they learn, complete problem solving and decision-making simulations, exercise creativity, and practice presentation skills in Leadership Groups.
In addition, participants have fun meeting other outstanding students and making new friends while adding to their resume of academic achievements, developing leadership skills, and bringing home a wealth of information to supplement what they are learning in school.