For 90 years, the Louis August Jonas Foundation has been committed to helping young people grow intellectually, ethically, and globally through Camp Rising Sun, our full-scholarship, summer leadership program for teenagers from around the world. In the upcoming weeks, we will take a deeper look at our curriculum that has inspired, in so many young people worldwide, a commitment to compassionate and responsible leadership for the betterment of their communities and the world. 

In this issue, we will explore our unique leadership model, which provides formative learning experiences for first-year participants. 

Each day of the summer program provides countless opportunities intentionally designed for leadership development. Some responsibilities are connected to defined roles that are assigned to participants while others emerge naturally in the formation of a collective community. Giving youth the opportunity to be leaders of a day, project or experience has been central to the educational experience offered at Camp Rising Sun since its first season in 1930. 

Various leadership experiences may include taking on roles such as coordinating daily activities, facilitating small group discussions, managing construction projects, organizing a drama production, or planning an off-site camping trip. Through these experiences and others, participants are able to:

• Practice complex reasoning and critical thinking skills

• Sensitively make inclusive and thoughtful decisions based on the well-being of the group

• Adapt to unforeseen challenges and construct solution-oriented reactions

• Communicate and collaborate with individuals of different backgrounds to achieve goals

• Model mature behavior and gain experience in motivating peers

• Develop self-reliance and confidence in their abilities

One of the most prominent and long-standing leadership roles associated with the Rising Sun program is the selection of rotating weekly young leaders who are collectively responsible for coordinating programming and logistics for the entire camp. These rotating daily leader pairs are supported by a team of staff members who coach and facilitate sound decisions. Placing trust in youth participants inspires a greater sense of ownership and collective responsibility over the summer experience. 

The value of collective responsibility is best captured in the concept of servant leadership, which prioritizes the development of ethical leaders who make decisions based on the needs of the broader community over personal interests. This idea of leadership as a service to others is the bedrock of our leadership experiences at CRS. By evaluating the shifting needs of a community of peers, young leaders learn to adapt their leadership styles to different problems and discover when to shift between followership and leadership as needed in the facilitation of the group experience. 

Learning to Lead by Overcoming Risks 

In the process of learning to lead in the service of others, students are often challenged to make difficult, yet necessary decisions, at the risk of disapproval from peers. Daily, leaders will be faced with many situations that require the ability to think through the implications of decisions and develop creative strategies to resolve complex problems. 

For example, leaders of the day are frequently faced with logistical questions about scheduling changes, such as: 

• If teamworks run late, how will this impact afternoon instructions? 

• If the swimming instruction is rained out, where will we find time to reschedule?

• Who will be impacted if dinner is served before the soccer tournament ends?  

Students are also encouraged to think about the implications of their actions and whether any individuals may be marginalized by their decisions. It is through experiences like these that students:

• Practice sound reasoning

• Consider how their actions impact other individuals and groups

• Adapt to unexpected changes, and 

• Develop confidence in their abilities to lead large projects. 

Serving as leaders in the Camp community also provides an opportunity for adolescents to plan, risk, fail, reflect, and try again in a safe and supportive environment. Through trial and error, participants work to overcome the fear of failure and persevere through difficult situations. 

This lesson was particularly meaningful for Theodore, a 2018 alumnus from New York. According to Theodore, “I’ve learned that given the position of leadership, it’s okay to feel a little nervous, a little shy, even a little scared, but you should never let it keep you from activating. Instead, use those feelings as energy, step into the ring of leadership and take your best shot at it.”

For Haadia, a 2018 participant from Pakistan, the seemingly simple task of starting a fire shed the most light on the valuable leadership lesson of perseverance through trial and error. Haadia reflected on her experiences at Camp Rising Sun, sharing, “My first attempt at building a fire burnt my fingers. As I dipped my stinging fingers into my bucket of water to ease the pain, a blaze of determination kindled in me, fueling my determination to get through the night. I needed to be strong. When that first log caught fire, the blaze felt like an inferno.” The new experiences of Camp Rising Sun taught Haadia how to take appropriate risks and try new things. 

Leadership for Lifelong Learning 

For Haadia, Theodore, and countless alumni, the leadership lessons gained at Camp Rising Sun extend well beyond the summer program. Being able to process and learn from daily experiences are valuable skills for lifelong leadership. The lessons Haadia learned at CRS became a way of thought and action that inspired her to start her own business and develop a summer camp in her home community for children who are blind.

Jadon, a 2018 participant from Barbados, also attributes his Rising Sun experience to his improved organizational skills, mature and independent decision-making, and focus on setting lifelong leadership goals. While taking on leadership roles, students learn how to take and give instructions, work with groups, fulfill responsibilities, and develop organizational skills. 

Jadon says, “Thanks to Camp, my confidence has greatly increased which has helped me with each task. Since Camp, I have become more willing to take on leadership roles. I hope to further develop my leadership skills by continually growing as I know I am going to be faced with more responsibilities.” 

Camp Rising Sun’s emphasis on independence within structure through experiential and social-emotional learning prepares participants for a lifetime of leadership development and personal growth. How have your experiences at Camp Rising Sun impacted your day to day life? Share your story with us at contact@lajf.org.

Excerpts of this article were derived from the Camp Rising Sun 2020 Curriculum Guide. For a full copy of our curriculum, please email contact@lajf.org