On a recent Friday, Summit Charter ninth graders experienced the Outdoor Leadership rotation of Summit’s LEAD program, including a fly fishing expedition led by The Fly Fishing Club of Western Carolina University and Summit teachers Mr. Whitman, Mr. Loyd and Mr. Hughes. The expedition took place on the Tuckasegee River.
“Outdoor expeditions cultivate leadership skills and traits, including critical thinking, effective communication, confidence and interpersonal skills,” says Lauren Bennett, high school principal.
The Summit high school experience combines rigorous college preparatory academics with the dynamic LEAD (Learn, Engage, Analyze and Discover) program designed to develop students that are inspired, empowered and equipped to lead. In order to realize this vision, students take classes that earn them elective credits as they participate in the following LEAD rotation:
Community Engagement
Students are connected to local organizations through service learning projects and personalized fieldwork opportunities in order to:
Develop Empathy
Encourage Curiosity
Broaden Perspectives
Outdoor Leadership
Outdoor expeditions that cultivate the following leadership skills and traits:
Critical thinking
Effective communication
Confidence
Interpersonal skills
Mentor 360
Summit’s Mentor 360 course pairs students with mentors that emphasize goal-setting, character education, and growth mindset. Furthermore, students are connected with younger students in order to gain relevant opportunities to apply lessons, thereby completing the circle of mentorship. A dynamic speaker series enriches the program by exposing students to pillars in the community that embody strong character.
Life Academy
Life Academy teaches students essential skills needed to thrive in college, future work, and daily life. Life Skills include:
Time Management and Organization
Financial Literacy
Public Speaking
Personal Safety
After the freshman year, high school students have an opportunity to personalize their LEAD experience by co-creating an individualized leadership plan that evolves throughout high school to help students realize their potential. At Summit, student success is not only measured by academic achievement, but also by strength of character and capacity to lead.
Summit Charter ninth graders experienced the Outdoor Leadership rotation of Summit’s LEAD program, including a fly fishing expedition led by The Fly Fishing Club of Western Carolina University and Summit teachers. The expedition took place on the Tuckasegee River.