On June 16, 11 Summer Academy participants gathered at the main LDI campus and began their journey towards becoming Emerging Leaders. After an orientation, they headed to Northern Arizona University (NAU), in Flagstaff, Arizona unpacked their bags into their dorms and began to establish friendships.

The rest of the week had them taking a tour of the Northern Arizona University campus to orientate themselves with the campus environment, and began instruction and skill-building session with students through the National Center for Student Leadership Group Fundamentals course. LDI President Veronica Crawford, then joined Emerging Leaders to establish a team-based mission in which Academy participants saw their Mission “to be a friend who is willing to take the actions and have the strength to help others to be able to work towards the unity forming a cohesive team”, and developed goals, standard operating procedures, consequences, rewards and expected outcomes to be used in managing their Leadership community.

At weeks end, Emerging Leaders began involvement in our other areas of focus in Assembling Your College Toolbox and Personal Leadership courses. After a full week of learning, using the fabulous residence amenities and hanging out, the Emerging Leaders did service-learning as volunteers at Rainbow Acres – a local,non-profit organization to help improve the ranch grounds.

Lastly, we had great day trips in the surrounding areas of Flagstaff, where we visited Montezuma’s Castle, Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, and Jerome.

Enjoy the pictures!