Students in China learn leadership skills

Last month, Lifepegs ran a 5-day leadership camp in Wenzhou for teenagers. The campers were taught leadership skills through a series of lectures, workshops, and activities. They were taught how to reach their potential by learning their weaknesses so that they can rectify these, how to increase their ability to influence others, and how to cultivate the habit of practising their leadership skills every day.

Most of the campers had never attended a camp like this, at which learning was fun because it was attained through games that enabled them to exercise their leadership abilities and practise what they had learned. They learned how to play games such as captain’s ball, floorball, dodgeball, as well as an amazing race that required them to complete obstacles at different stations within an allocated time. All the games and activities required them to take turns exercising their leadership ability and teamwork. At the end of each activity, they would reflect on their performance and what they could improve on. Many of the games were new for the campers.

There was also a skills night during which campers were taught different skills. Campers learnt how to cook dishes such as pasta, roast lamb, cookies, and Korean food. They also picked up some music lessons, learned about relationships, and learned card games. For many of the campers, this was a whole new experience, which taught them that there is a lot more they can do for fun besides playing computer games and shopping online. They were excited to go home and share the recipes with their friends and teach them how to cook.

Overall, the campers said that they thoroughly enjoyed the camp and learned much about how to be better leaders. Our hope is that the campers have picked up skills that will help them to be better leaders of the next generation.

The campers
The campers
The trainers
The trainers
At a campfire
At a campfire

Students in China learn about personal development

“What did you do this summer?” This popular question is often asked at the beginning of a new school year. This year, the answer is similar for about 50 students and 20 teachers in Changchun, in NE China. “We went to LifeCamp in Dalian!” Dalian is an important port city. They spent a week with new friends, traveling, and, of course, speaking English.

Each morning we started the day with a lecture by Steven Weathers, a TV personality and show host based in Shanghai. Through real-life examples and excerpts from his TV shows, Steven shared with the students how they can achieve real communication, leadership, and success. Teaching lifeskills of this kind is one of the main thrusts of Lifepegs, a Goducate lifeskills activity club in China.

One of my students who came to LifeCamp told me that she has already had an opportunity to put what she learned from these lectures into practice. “At the beginning of this term, our writing teacher divided us into several groups, and I became the leader of my group.” Other breakout sessions were also conducted by foreign teachers to further enforce topics covered in the group sessions and to provide students more opportunities to practice English.

After lunch, we would head out to see some of the sights in Dalian and to enjoy some team competitions.

Some award winners with camp speaker (far left) and teachers
The campers

Our evenings were filled with small- group English discussions and free time. The many activities and good student-to-teacher ratio provided us opportunities to get to know the camp members. The students also learnt about more specific areas of personal development, with topics including public speaking, academic success, time and money management, leading in relationships. We all came back excited that we had been able to learn and travel together.

Guest writer Carolyn, Volunteer at Student Activity Center

Students in China learn about leadership

The Leadership Camp organized by Lifepegs in Changchun, China, gave more than 60 Chinese university students a week-long opportunity to learn about international leadership from a group of Singaporean and American teachers, with the help of the Lifepegs program team.

Students were introduced to four laws of leadership through lecture and discussion. These laws were: (1) The Law of the Lid, ( 2) The Law of Influence, (3) The Law of Solid Ground, and (4) The Law of Process. Students were given opportunities to put what they learned into action by taking part in team challenges. Some of these challenges included “Bigger and Better”, whereby teams were given Singaporean money and tried to exchange it for things of higher value by talking to store owners or people on the street. Other challenges were a type of scavenger-hunt race with checkpoints and opportunities for teams to work together and, as the finale, a very strategic game of Capture the Flag.

A group with the team flag that they had designed
A team (in red) with their counsellors (in black) taking part in a race
A jubilant team in the Capture the Flag game.

The last night of camp was spent at a local deer farm. Students enjoyed barbecuing supper over an open fire, talking and singing around a bonfire, and sleeping in tents. Many of these students had never experienced camping in nature before.

Most of the students had not previously thought about or learned about leadership in such a structured manner. Whilst many students agreed with the laws of leadership as presented, some asked questions about the cultural significance of these laws and how to implement the laws into their daily lives as students and as soon-to-be professionals. At the end of camp, students were given feedback from their international counselors as to their strengths and weaknesses in leadership as observed throughout the week. One foundational concept that many of the students grasped was the importance of continually developing their leadership skills.

The Leadership Camp provided a great opportunity for students to meet new friends, to have fun, and, most importantly, to learn more about their current leadership styles and how to become better leaders.

Guest writer Darci, Volunteer from China