FAQ & Information

What should I expect if I go to the Leadership camp?

What kinds of workshops does FLA offer at its camps?

What does the peer-to-peer mentorship model look like at camp?

What should I expect if I go to the Leadership camp? (Back to Top)
The Leadership Camp provides a very special lifetime experience to each person in attendance. Students who attend the camp often say that they expected to be "talked at" instead of "shared with" throughout the week. When you begin the FLA experience, you should expect to meet dozens of other youth just like you. The Leadership Camp is a place to make tons of new friends and really have a lot of fun working as a team with a new family of peers and role models. When you finish the camp, you will have people around you with goals who also want to take you with them to help you accomplish your own dreams. Every time you meet someone from FLA you will have an instant connection and friendship because you went through a really positive experience at the same age. If you want to feel good about yourself and make it through college, this is the place for you.

What do students say about FLA? (Back to Top)
Lauren Bouchereau, who is "13 going on 14", attended camp in August and shared the following:
>FLA: Is camp what you expected?
>Lauren: "It's not what I expected. It's a whole lot better! When you learn something at camp, we are all involved in it. It helps us learn more because we get to do something fun with every lesson. My favorite thing is the cultural activities. It's so fun. I like dancing and I like theatre. I like everything we did. Before we started, I didn't think I would get into it. At first you are just like watching but then you get really into it, you know?"
>FLA: What do you like about camp?
>Lauren: "I like everyone. I like the fact that you can go up to anyone and they would really pay attention to you. They won't turn around and pretend you are not there. You really matter in FLA and I feel like I matter to others. I can start a conversation with just about anybody. I can't count how many friends I have made; there are so many! It takes more than two hands to count my new best friends. I will keep in touch with people at camp any way I can."

What kinds of workshops does FLA offer at its camps? (Back to Top)
Students from diverse schools and neighborhoods in each FLA chapter participate in workshops to learn: public speaking, parliamentary procedure, assertiveness training, self-esteem, goal setting, college admission and financial aid requirements, and how to form positive peer networks to make healthy decisions for themselves in home, school, and in their community. At overnight programs, groups take turns painting murals, dancing, singing, reciting poetry, creating plays and then performing in front of all participants each night in the "unity rally."

What does the peer-to-peer mentorship model look like at camp? (Back to Top)
Typically, there are 30 FLA volunteer staff who run the entire leadership camp for 100 new students that attend. These volunteers range from 10th graders who act as "A-team" doing the busy work like posters and set up behind the scenes, to "peer facilitators" and "facilitators" who are finishing high school or college, to interns who are completing university degrees, and finally, Camp Directors who are typically college graduates and professionals who have been members of FLA on average for over twelve years. All volunteer staff are graduates of the same program they are eager to return each summer to introduce new youth to rich, life-long experiences. Youth who complete our leadership camp, continue their involvement in FLA by participating in FLA clubs in their high school, attending staff training camp for volunteers, running future camps for new youth and families, and demonstrating a long term commitment to using their education for the service of others. Each program, no matter the length or scope, is coordinated and implemented using the peer-to-peer mentorship model. Committees made up of students and college age FLAers participate in the planning sessions prior to each activity and program. Therefore, there are always role models, one or two years older, prepared to open doors and help follow in their footsteps.