RENOVO - The Bucktail Leadership Program recently began its fourth class.
An evening orientation session with parents took place at the Renovo Fire Hall.
Class participants and parents were led through a number of "interpersonal skill" activities that demonstrated some of the kinds of experiences that the students will have throughout their time in the course.
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Bucktail Leadership Program students Meredith Blessard, Tasha Peck, Demetri Probst and Maria Morgan work on their “shoe tower.”
Students in the 2012-13 class are Meredith Blessard, Alaina Tripp, Demetri Probst, Aaron Ransdorf, Maria Morgan, Natasha Peck, Allison Schenck and Brandy Pedokus.
The following day the young people met at the Ross Library in Lock Haven. Angela Harding, director of the United Way, explained to the students her job description and the responsibilities of the United Way in Clinton County.
The young people then did an activity during which they had to match cards containing descriptions of area agencies with cards that named those agencies.
They also were engaged in a team-building exercise during which - using items such as two coat hangers, toothpicks, newspaper, construction paper and masking tape - they had to construct a structure that would be at least a foot high and was strong enough to hold at least two shoes.
The group was divided into two teams and had a limited time to complete the activity.
Both teams realized a certain amount of success. Before lunch, the students were hosted in the Pennsylvania Room on the first floor of the facility by library employee Lou Bernard.
After exploring some of the types of resources housed in that and an adjacent room, Bernard challenged the students to a research exercise.
They were charged with finding some specific facts about Lock Haven and Renovo using the resources Bernard had pointed out.
Gaining insight into the differences in how people think and then what motivates them to act in a certain way, and sharing incidents that happened to each participant when they were much younger filled the afternoon schedule. The day concluded with some "Minute-to-Win-it" challenges. As in any educational experience, homework usually surfaces.
The students were introduced to information from best-selling author Dale Carnegie, regarding the importance of enthusiasm in any endeavor. They were asked to prepare for October's session, a two-minute talk on an area in their lives where they will intentionally use increased enthusiasm.
The program is administered by co-coordinators Gwen Bechdel and Bobbie Jo Simcox.
