For the past 27 years, California Leadership Academy has been providing skills and training for student bandleaders. Its philosophy, that “leadership by example” is the only true form of effective peer leadership, not only attracts students, but keeps them coming back.
Though many are attending this year for the first time, several others have come back to camp to get a fresh perspective and learn new leadership skills. To accommodate all the students who want to attend, the program takes place over three weekends, each with different set of students.
“When we first started, we operated with about 50 kids, and we’ve expanded to 350 during this summer,” camp director Don Gunderson said. “We train high school band kids, drum majors, officers and section leaders.”
Most high schools require band section leaders to attend a summer camp, and many at the academy’s camp, conducted at Chapman University, are there based on recommendations from their directors. The students arrive on Friday and stay in the dorms until Sunday afternoon. Several workshops are held each day, and many of the activities deal with problem solving, critical thinking and how to act like a leader.
“This camp is more about the philosophy of leadership, like how to think as a leader and how to work with other people, whereas other leadership camps focus on the specific techniques,” said Elias Hosseini, a senior trumpet player.
The workshops are mixed with lecture-driven seminars in which instructors relate to students about their own band experiences and hands-on activities like solving puzzles on a team or trust exercises, in which students must rely on a partner to guide them.
Support and community is something Joy Baber, a drum major, enjoys. “This year they have 25 different schools attending this camp, whether it be band, drum majors or color guard. They’re all passionate about the same thing so it’s good to be around people that care,” she said. “We help each other figure out problems. It’s helpful to know that you’re not the only person facing these situations.”
Lizeth Alvarez-Morales is a color guard dancer. “A lot of the things they talk about happens in our environment,” she said. “We can relate.”
Said Gunderson: “Since these kids were born, they’ve had someone take care of them, feed them and dress them, but we teach them to not be self-centered. We teach them to build their success on the success of others. Our favorite quote here is ‘the only true leadership is leadership by example,’ and for teenagers, that is something that is a tough one to swallow. We’ve built a curriculum based on what we wanted them to get out of the program, which is trust, service, leadership by example, and support.”
Community and instruction keep the students wanting to come back a second time.
Haley Nelson is a senior and second-time camper. “My first year here, my position (with my school band) was to be librarian,” she said. “I’m back here because I’m in a higher leadership position. (This) second time (is) so amazing. It really changes (your perspective on) the things they teach you.”
Amy Lupsha agreed. “I really see a big change in myself from the last time I was here. I was coming from having a bad year and I think this camp really showed me how to fix that. This camp gives you more than just band skills.”
Contact the writer: 714-796-2258 or varsityarts@ocregister.com
