Submitted by Orcas Christian School Staff.

This fall, high school students from Orcas Christian School joined Lewis County Adventist School students to lead two camps for fifth through sixth grades and seventh through eighth grades. In total, the high school leaders guided 200 elementary and junior high students from around Western Washington during a leadership retreat that supported the outdoor school.

OCS high school students took on leadership roles by preparing and cleaning up meals, guiding small groups through various stations — horsemanship, fire building, rocks and minerals, team-building challenges, screen printing and micro life — and leading worship through small group engagement and music.

The experience allowed high school students to develop essential skills such as teamwork, decision-making, problem-solving, empathy, time management, adaptability, conflict resolution, self-confidence, integrity, delegation and accountability.

“The week went really well! What stands out the most is our students’ connections with the other high school leaders from the second academy from Chehalis,” said OCS teacher and leadership event organizer Kyler Morgan. “The students were in tears when they had to say goodbye and have been asking regularly to do more events with them,” he continued.

Overall, the retreat developed leadership skills and strengthened friendships, leaving a lasting impact on both the leaders and participants from OCS and the greater Western Washington region.