“An Amazing Experience” – Camp Marshall 2024
Sixteen high school students spent a lively three days at Dodona Manor this week participating in the inaugural Camp Marshall. These future leaders honed their skills – and had fun – in a myriad of ways each day.
On Monday, the group – wearing green t-shirts with “LEADER” on the back – started with a team-building escape room in-a-box from Escape Room LoCo. Two teams competed against the clock to see who could solve the mystery first. They learned quick lessons in communications and collaboration.
Special thanks to Isaac and the team at Escape Room Loco for coming out to Dodona and to Owen Gotimer of OG Media for design and procurement of the shirts, water bottles and more!
After a refueling lunch, the students regrouped for an interactive history lesson about General George C. Marshall by Marshall Historian Rachel Thompson, followed by a guided tour of his home, Dodona Manor.
Students finished out the day with their first Five-Star Character Session, where they dissected the decisions General Marshall made, explored the ethical questions surrounding them and discussed the three pillars of Marshall-style leadership.
Tuesday morning opened with a series of teambuilding games. The students divided into four teams and competed against each other in a Mini-Olympics, culminating in an epic battle to move a giant ball across the lawn while keeping it in the air the whole time. After a break for lunch, students worked together to assemble, paint and install Dodona Manor’s first ever Little Free Library.
On Wednesday, the final day of camp opened with students discussing the books they selected to place into the library. Each student provided a list of books that are meaningful to them, which the Marshall Center procured. Campers wrote a note explaining why they selected their book and inserted them inside the covers for patrons of the library.
The campers then heard from a panel of accomplished leaders – Ethical Leadership Program Director Pete Janhunen, Board Member Robin Milton and Former Navy SEAL Matthew Pierson – who discussed their own careers and leadership styles before answering questions from the campers.
For the closing activity, students worked in three teams to devise a plan for a values-based organization to help the local community. Students then presented their ideas to a friendly panel, who offered constructive tweaks to their impressive initial proposals.
Thank you to all our students and staff – TEAM MARSHALL – for the amazing effort on all fronts!