For the fourth year, Southern Maryland teens got a leg up toward becoming effective leaders in their communities during the unique LEAD summer camp experience.

A highly diverse group of 44 students from public and private high schools in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties took on a comprehensive course in leadership, learning about motivation and empowerment, diversity, group dynamics and goal setting. While rigorous with workshops, group projects and hands-on service, the delegates also had ample time to get to know each other and create lasting memories and friendships.

LEAD 2013 is a partnership between Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) and the Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW), with a mission to inspire and empower youth to become catalysts for positive change which coincides perfectly with LSM’s mission of regional collaboration. In fact, LEAD is an acronym for Leadership, Experience, Advocacy and Discipline, all components of the teens’ experience.

The four-day, three-night camp welcomed rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where they experienced campus living. LSM board members sat in on discussions offering mentorship and examples of how leadership works in the real world.

Guest speakers Ken Carkhuff and Kim Mozingo joined the delegates on the first evening for a workshop asking them to define leadership. Both told the group about the importance of humility, a strong moral compass and getting to know the people you work with.

Carkuff told the inquisitive teens, “Everybody has a story in life and when you take the time to hear it, you develop stronger relationships and become a stronger leader.”

Students were asked to assess their own and others’ leadership styles. LaPlata High School senior Jake Lind said he acquired several new skills and discovered some talents he didn’t even know he had.

On the final day of camp, Calvert High School senior Robert White said, “[I learned] that I can be a great leader someday.” He said he would encourage others to experience LEAD at least once.

Purposely paired with dorm mates from different schools, with different interests, the delegates were encouraged to connect with their peers, find common ground and, through lessons learned in the diversity workshop, accept them and respect their differences.

Nailah Jefferson said she was pulled out of her shyness, commenting, “The experience of LEAD was a blessing and I loved every part.”