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McGaw YMCA's Camp Echo recently hosted the inaugural cohort of Evanston Township High School’s (ETHS) new Evanston/Leadership Academy (E/LEAD) program for six days. E/LEAD is a four-year, cohort-based initiative for rising freshmen at ETHS focusing on leadership identity development, academic enrichment, and post-secondary planning.
"E/LEAD is an opportunity for students to connect with leaders in their school community, broader Evanston community, and the world, and find a pathway that excites them and suits who they are and who they are becoming," said Theresa Collins, Director of Student Academic Leadership Programs at ETHS.
Students commit to E/LEAD throughout their time at ETHS. They engage in regular coursework alongside a required four-year seminar advisory and participate in off-campus and summer experiences aimed at fostering leadership development and personal growth. Camp Echo served as one such experience where E/LEAD students shared their reflections.
"Being at Camp Echo has been a lot of fun," said Nielle Watts, an E/LEAD student. "I learned how much I love nature while here. I used to hate nature, but I realized if you have bug spray, you're good. It's all about preparing for anything that comes your way."
The students joined other campers at Camp Echo's 500-acre site in Fremont, Michigan. Activities included archery, fishing, sailing, tubing, and camping overnight.
Djamal Abdelnassir initially viewed E/LEAD skeptically as added work but found it beneficial after his camp experience. "It's been wonderful paddle boarding, tubing, doing archery, and so many other things for the first time," he said. "Everything here has been a new experience, and it's really building me to be a better person."
Collins hopes E/LEAD will foster growth across the student cohort. "At Camp Echo youth are exposed to many experiences and there is such a powerful focus on being in a learning zone as much as possible," she said. "This week has been an amazing launch to that learning component."
Bernard Rocca, Executive Director of Camp Echo emphasized the camp's role in fostering connection and personal growth: "Camp is a place where young people can feel safe to explore take risks discover who they are," Rocca said. “Programs like E/LEAD are grounded in these transformative experiences where growth and community go hand in hand.”
"We often ask ‘What Echoes?’, what leaves a lasting impact when campers return home from Camp Echo," added Rocca. "It’s incredibly rewarding to see campers step into their leadership potential I'm excited to see how this week at camp continues to echo for the E/LEAD students throughout their high school journey both individually as connected cohort."
