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West Hartford Press: September 2014
Learning Leadership, Finding Friendship (page 18) - Posted in the West Hartford Press on September 11, 2014 - This article was written by CRILA 11 student, Samantha Rojas of Glastonbury.
The Bristol Observer: June 2014
BE’s top duo shares passion for math, science – Posted in the Bristol Observer on June 16, 2014
The Hartford Courant: July 2013
Congratulations to members of CRILA 8 & 9 who were recently featured in the Hartford Courant as Hartford-region high school valedictorians. Adam Harris (CRILA 9), Megan Brzoska (CRILA 8), Jaime Grennan (CRILA 8), Lindsay Cadwallader (CRILA 9), and Shanice Gregory (CRILA 8) - we are proud of you!
• Connecticut High School Valedictorians 2013 – Posted in the Hartford Courant on July 2, 2013
• Connecticut High School Valedictorians 2013 – Posted in the Hartford Courant on July 2, 2013
The Granbys Patch: August 2012
Granby Senior Takes to Rocky Mountains for Select Leadership Training
From Corrine Malley, intern at the Capitol Region Education Council
From the stage at Granby Memorial High School to the peak of a Rocky Mountain, Meredith Hauser has had the summer of a lifetime.
Hauser was selected to be a member of the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA), which is a program sponsored by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). Each year, 30 juniors and seniors from the 35 school districts in the Hartford region participate in CRILA, with the goals of developing leadership skills and becoming more active members of their communities.
The CRILA program starts with a weeklong trip to the Colorado Outward Bound School in Leadville, CO. A week of mountain life with 29 students who are basically strangers when they board the plane to begin the trip can affect everyone in a different way, but Hauser said the mountains taught her to trust in her peers and to have confidence in herself.
“Everyone, and I mean everyone, has more strength in them – physically and emotionally –than they ever could have imagined, it just takes a lot of self-confidence and support from people you care for and respect to bring it out,” she said.
Hauser learned the value of teamwork and realized that supporting others in their growth process can be just as fulfilling as experiencing a transformation herself.
Following their trip to Colorado, this group of up-and-coming leaders will get together monthly, meeting with leaders in their community, reflecting on leadership texts, and working towards their common goal of giving back.
Hauser came to CRILA with some leadership skills and teamwork experience. She is the assistant director of the drama club at Kelly Lane Elementary School, a member of the Granby Memorial High School drama club and runs indoor track and plays on the tennis team.
Hauser and her fellow CRILA peers will also spend the rest of the school year planning and executing a service project to benefit the Capitol region. With each lesson, Hauser and her peers will develop into stronger young leaders, who will possess the skills necessary to make great contributions to society.
While Hauser is looking forward to the CRILA group service project, she hopes that her day-to-day activities will demonstrate her newfound leadership capacity. Additionally, she hopes to inspire others and to pay forward her learning.
After CRILA and high school graduation, Meredith hopes to go to a four-year university and pursue a degree in international relations so that she can utilize her multilingual skills in Mandarin and Spanish.
The mission of the CRILA is “to provide a diverse forum whereby students will practice ethical and collaborative leadership through research and community services.” The program is completely free to students and school districts.
Applications are available each year in January and can be obtained by visiting the website linked below or contacting school guidance counselors. For more information about CRILA and to explore pictures from the CRILA 9 team’s adventure, please visit the CRILA website.
From Corrine Malley, intern at the Capitol Region Education Council
From the stage at Granby Memorial High School to the peak of a Rocky Mountain, Meredith Hauser has had the summer of a lifetime.
Hauser was selected to be a member of the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA), which is a program sponsored by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC). Each year, 30 juniors and seniors from the 35 school districts in the Hartford region participate in CRILA, with the goals of developing leadership skills and becoming more active members of their communities.
The CRILA program starts with a weeklong trip to the Colorado Outward Bound School in Leadville, CO. A week of mountain life with 29 students who are basically strangers when they board the plane to begin the trip can affect everyone in a different way, but Hauser said the mountains taught her to trust in her peers and to have confidence in herself.
“Everyone, and I mean everyone, has more strength in them – physically and emotionally –than they ever could have imagined, it just takes a lot of self-confidence and support from people you care for and respect to bring it out,” she said.
Hauser learned the value of teamwork and realized that supporting others in their growth process can be just as fulfilling as experiencing a transformation herself.
Following their trip to Colorado, this group of up-and-coming leaders will get together monthly, meeting with leaders in their community, reflecting on leadership texts, and working towards their common goal of giving back.
Hauser came to CRILA with some leadership skills and teamwork experience. She is the assistant director of the drama club at Kelly Lane Elementary School, a member of the Granby Memorial High School drama club and runs indoor track and plays on the tennis team.
Hauser and her fellow CRILA peers will also spend the rest of the school year planning and executing a service project to benefit the Capitol region. With each lesson, Hauser and her peers will develop into stronger young leaders, who will possess the skills necessary to make great contributions to society.
While Hauser is looking forward to the CRILA group service project, she hopes that her day-to-day activities will demonstrate her newfound leadership capacity. Additionally, she hopes to inspire others and to pay forward her learning.
After CRILA and high school graduation, Meredith hopes to go to a four-year university and pursue a degree in international relations so that she can utilize her multilingual skills in Mandarin and Spanish.
The mission of the CRILA is “to provide a diverse forum whereby students will practice ethical and collaborative leadership through research and community services.” The program is completely free to students and school districts.
Applications are available each year in January and can be obtained by visiting the website linked below or contacting school guidance counselors. For more information about CRILA and to explore pictures from the CRILA 9 team’s adventure, please visit the CRILA website.
Bristol Press: August 2012
BEHS student goes on trip of a lifetime
by Corinne Malley
BRISTOL — From class president to mountaineer, Caroline Boyce had quite a sophomore year at Bristol Eastern High School.
Caroline was selected to be a member of the ninth group to participate in the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA 9), a program sponsored by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC).
Each year, 30 juniors and seniors from throughout the 35 school districts in the Hartford region participate in CRILA, with the goal of developing their leadership skills and enabling them to become more active members of their communities.
Caroline came to CRILA with some leadership experience as her class president and a key saxophone player in many of the music groups within the high school, but she is excited to expand and develop her leadership skills with the intention of bringing them back to the classrooms, the music rooms, the marching field as drum major, and as a member of the Bristol Eastern Cross Country Team.
The CRILA journey begins with a seven-day Outward Bound experience in Leadville, Colo., a small town in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.
Retreating to the mountains for seven days can affect people in many different ways, but for Caroline it helped her to find patience and faith in her generation. She lived with 30 other students in the woods and said she realized there is hope for society.
She believes that these young leaders will blossom and take on the world and she is excited to see the things that can be accomplished by this group.
“The days felt longer in Colorado than they have ever felt here in Connecticut, but we always eventually moved from task to task and we always eventually succeeded. There is no rush in life because Earth will still be around when you wake up the next day,” Caroline said.
She said she has realized the importance of living for the moment; something that is emphasized through the CRILA/Outward Bound Experience.
Following their trip, the group will meet monthly, hearing from local leaders, reflecting on leadership texts, and working towards their common goal: giving back.
Caroline and her CRILA peers will also spend the rest of the school year planning and executing a service project to benefit the capitol region. With each lesson, they will develop into stronger young leaders, who will no doubt make a great contribution to our evolving society.
Caroline plans to attend college the fall after her high school graduation but she says “nothing is ever set in stone.”
She said she realizes that the lessons and values learned through the CRILA/Outward Bound experience don’t stop when she receives her CRILA diploma, and they don’t surface just once a month from a three-hour meeting.
“I am going to experiment with the lessons this year in the position of drum major of the marching band because that is the first leadership position I’ve had that has extremely limited teacher involvement,” she said. “I think it will help me interact with the band and the other drum majors more effectively.”
“I will also have the confidence to take up other leadership positions I find,” Caroline continued. “If possible, I would like to take some of the ideas that CRILA 9 generates for a service project and apply them more locally. It only takes one person to organize an event and get others involved, and I think now I may have the ideas and [ability to take] initiative to do such a thing.”
The CRILA mission is “to provide a diverse forum whereby students will practice ethical and collaborative leadership through research and community services.”
The program is completely free to students and school districts. Applications are available each year in January and can be obtained by visiting the website or contacting your school guidance counselor.
For more information about CRILA, and to view pictures from CRILA 9’s adventure, visit: http://www.creccrila.com/.
Corinne Malley, a 2012 Bristol Eastern High School graduate, was a member of the CRILA 8 group. She is currently interning at the Capitol Region Education Council.
by Corinne Malley
BRISTOL — From class president to mountaineer, Caroline Boyce had quite a sophomore year at Bristol Eastern High School.
Caroline was selected to be a member of the ninth group to participate in the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA 9), a program sponsored by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC).
Each year, 30 juniors and seniors from throughout the 35 school districts in the Hartford region participate in CRILA, with the goal of developing their leadership skills and enabling them to become more active members of their communities.
Caroline came to CRILA with some leadership experience as her class president and a key saxophone player in many of the music groups within the high school, but she is excited to expand and develop her leadership skills with the intention of bringing them back to the classrooms, the music rooms, the marching field as drum major, and as a member of the Bristol Eastern Cross Country Team.
The CRILA journey begins with a seven-day Outward Bound experience in Leadville, Colo., a small town in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.
Retreating to the mountains for seven days can affect people in many different ways, but for Caroline it helped her to find patience and faith in her generation. She lived with 30 other students in the woods and said she realized there is hope for society.
She believes that these young leaders will blossom and take on the world and she is excited to see the things that can be accomplished by this group.
“The days felt longer in Colorado than they have ever felt here in Connecticut, but we always eventually moved from task to task and we always eventually succeeded. There is no rush in life because Earth will still be around when you wake up the next day,” Caroline said.
She said she has realized the importance of living for the moment; something that is emphasized through the CRILA/Outward Bound Experience.
Following their trip, the group will meet monthly, hearing from local leaders, reflecting on leadership texts, and working towards their common goal: giving back.
Caroline and her CRILA peers will also spend the rest of the school year planning and executing a service project to benefit the capitol region. With each lesson, they will develop into stronger young leaders, who will no doubt make a great contribution to our evolving society.
Caroline plans to attend college the fall after her high school graduation but she says “nothing is ever set in stone.”
She said she realizes that the lessons and values learned through the CRILA/Outward Bound experience don’t stop when she receives her CRILA diploma, and they don’t surface just once a month from a three-hour meeting.
“I am going to experiment with the lessons this year in the position of drum major of the marching band because that is the first leadership position I’ve had that has extremely limited teacher involvement,” she said. “I think it will help me interact with the band and the other drum majors more effectively.”
“I will also have the confidence to take up other leadership positions I find,” Caroline continued. “If possible, I would like to take some of the ideas that CRILA 9 generates for a service project and apply them more locally. It only takes one person to organize an event and get others involved, and I think now I may have the ideas and [ability to take] initiative to do such a thing.”
The CRILA mission is “to provide a diverse forum whereby students will practice ethical and collaborative leadership through research and community services.”
The program is completely free to students and school districts. Applications are available each year in January and can be obtained by visiting the website or contacting your school guidance counselor.
For more information about CRILA, and to view pictures from CRILA 9’s adventure, visit: http://www.creccrila.com/.
Corinne Malley, a 2012 Bristol Eastern High School graduate, was a member of the CRILA 8 group. She is currently interning at the Capitol Region Education Council.
Bristol Press: May 2012
Bristol Eastern H.S. student speaks to school board about leadership program
by Susan Corica
BRISTOL — From a wilderness program in Colorado, to organizing a community service program for fourth graders, the Capital Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA) develops leadership qualities in area students.
Corinne Malley, a senior at Bristol Eastern High School, told school officials all about what the year-long CRILA program had done for her.
“CRILA is a program coordinated by the Capital Region Education Council, or CREC, and the mission of the group is to provide a diverse forum whereby students will practice ethical and collaborative leadership through research and community services,” she explained at a recent Board of Education meeting.
The program chooses roughly 30 high school juniors and seniors each year from the 36 school districts in CREC’s coverage area, she said. “The program is completely free of charge to students and their school districts, as it is funded by an interdistrict grant from the state Department of Education.”
The experience begins with a one-week “outward bound” course in the mountains of Leadville, Colo., which culminated in each student spending a night alone in the wilderness.
“Our week away from home helped us to detach ourselves from the world of technology and distraction, and allowed us to self reflect, build strong relationships with others, and learn many of the leadership qualities we would perfect throughout the year,” Malley said.
When the CRILA students returned home, they had regular monthly meetings in which they read about and discussed leadership qualities and heard guest speakers, such as Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, talk about their experiences as leaders.
“The ultimate goal was planning and executing a service project to give back to the region that gave us this wonderful opportunity,” Malley said. “The service project piece of CRILA is very important, because it taught us all to be true leaders, not managers, something you hear a lot in CRILA.”
The project came to fruition recently as the group sponsored CRILA Day, with leadership-building and fun activities for 55 fourth graders attending the University of Hartford magnet school, she said.
“We wanted to replicate our outward bound experience and pay it forward to a group of younger children, to perhaps get them excited about leadership at a younger age,” Malley said.
“While the actual day was a great experience, I believe the planning process and all of the work leading up to this was the true learning experience,” she continued. “We quickly learned that 30 leaders all trying to lead are ineffective, so we divided into subcommittees, assigned everyone a role, and convened every month to discuss progress and map out the next step.”
“I hope that as a district we will continue to encourage our students to apply for this wonderful program and stand behind them as they journey to become leaders,” she added.
Acting Superintendent Susan Moreau praised Malley for her speech in front of the board.
“All I can say is wow,” Moreau said. “You did a fabulous job speaking to a large crowd, which is not easy. Thank you.”
by Susan Corica
BRISTOL — From a wilderness program in Colorado, to organizing a community service program for fourth graders, the Capital Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA) develops leadership qualities in area students.
Corinne Malley, a senior at Bristol Eastern High School, told school officials all about what the year-long CRILA program had done for her.
“CRILA is a program coordinated by the Capital Region Education Council, or CREC, and the mission of the group is to provide a diverse forum whereby students will practice ethical and collaborative leadership through research and community services,” she explained at a recent Board of Education meeting.
The program chooses roughly 30 high school juniors and seniors each year from the 36 school districts in CREC’s coverage area, she said. “The program is completely free of charge to students and their school districts, as it is funded by an interdistrict grant from the state Department of Education.”
The experience begins with a one-week “outward bound” course in the mountains of Leadville, Colo., which culminated in each student spending a night alone in the wilderness.
“Our week away from home helped us to detach ourselves from the world of technology and distraction, and allowed us to self reflect, build strong relationships with others, and learn many of the leadership qualities we would perfect throughout the year,” Malley said.
When the CRILA students returned home, they had regular monthly meetings in which they read about and discussed leadership qualities and heard guest speakers, such as Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, talk about their experiences as leaders.
“The ultimate goal was planning and executing a service project to give back to the region that gave us this wonderful opportunity,” Malley said. “The service project piece of CRILA is very important, because it taught us all to be true leaders, not managers, something you hear a lot in CRILA.”
The project came to fruition recently as the group sponsored CRILA Day, with leadership-building and fun activities for 55 fourth graders attending the University of Hartford magnet school, she said.
“We wanted to replicate our outward bound experience and pay it forward to a group of younger children, to perhaps get them excited about leadership at a younger age,” Malley said.
“While the actual day was a great experience, I believe the planning process and all of the work leading up to this was the true learning experience,” she continued. “We quickly learned that 30 leaders all trying to lead are ineffective, so we divided into subcommittees, assigned everyone a role, and convened every month to discuss progress and map out the next step.”
“I hope that as a district we will continue to encourage our students to apply for this wonderful program and stand behind them as they journey to become leaders,” she added.
Acting Superintendent Susan Moreau praised Malley for her speech in front of the board.
“All I can say is wow,” Moreau said. “You did a fabulous job speaking to a large crowd, which is not easy. Thank you.”
East Hampton - Portland Patch & Berlin Patch: January 16, 2012
CREC Accepting Leadership Academy Applications
by Corey Fyke
by Corey Fyke
The Gazette: January 12, 2012
Student leaders sought
by Bill Doak
by Bill Doak
The Granby Drummer: November 2011
GMHS senior participates in program to develop leadership
by Jennifer Benson
This past spring, Granby Memorial High School senior Cailene Gunn was chosen to be part of the Capital Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy. CRILA is sponsored by CREC, the Capitol Region Education Council. Gunn is one of just a few Granby participants in its eight-year history. She is so excited about CRILA and how it builds future leaders that she wants to get the word out to other students.
The program begins with a week in Colorado on an Outward Bound adventure. This past June, Gunn and 29 other students from the capital region who had met only briefly before spent their days in mountaineering exercises that were designed to build individual character, forge leadership and strengthen trust and teamwork. In addition to Outward Bound staff, the outdoor adventure was led by CREC executive director Dr. Bruce Douglas, CRILA program manager Julia Case and CRILA leadership curriculum coordinator Thomas Brodnitzki. Each day contained surprises and challenges; the exhausting week passed in a whirlwind. In Gunn’s words “We were pushed outside our comfort zones: all 30 of us agreed if we could do this we could do anything.” She wants the particulars of the Outward Bound experience to remain a surprise for future participants.
These 30 young men and women will work together until May 2012. They meet once a month after a full day of school and extracurricular activities. These new-found friends are excited to see one another and Gunn lights up as she talks about them. They are also happy to see the program’s leaders, whom they like and admire. The evening’s activities might include a speaker on leadership followed by discussion, a Myers-Briggs test to discover their personality type or brainstorming and planning the service project that they will do as the culmination of their year together. Gunn returns home energized and tackles her homework.
Gunn cannot say enough about how the program fosters the students’ maturity by developing skills of ethical leadership and service, building relationships and preparing them to make their world better. Her hope is that more Granby students will apply and potentially experience this incredible program. Gunn says, “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It gives you a chance to learn skills before you need them out in the world.” She finds it refreshing to see the changes happening in her and in others and has a sense of hope and happiness every time she comes out of a meeting.
According to Case, “Students are admitted based on GPA/Academic standing, proven commitment to leadership and service, and an essay.” There is not an allocation of admissions per town, but CRILA attempts to have representatives from all 36 districts in the capital region. Sophomores and juniors can apply. Gunn says the essay is a big part of the application and advises, “Be honest, genuine, and speak to who you are. Tell what you think leadership is, how you’d be a part of this.” Students must submit an application, transcript, resume and recommendations by mid-March. For more information, visit www.creccrila.com, email [email protected], or call Case at 860-509-3666. There is no cost to the students or to the school districts for participation in CRILA.
The annual budget for the program is approximately $118,000 and is funded by a state Department of Education interdistrict grant and CREC. Case states, “As an interdistrict grant, CRILA is funded in two year cycles; the most recent award partially funded the program through 2011-2013. State funding for all interdistrict grant programs was cut in the 2011 budget.” For the 2013-2014 school year, CRILA is looking for a variety of other funding sources, including grants from foundations.
As for Gunn, she plans to go to college next year to study biology. She would like to work for Outward Bound after college and ultimately find a career in biology that helps other people. This future CRILA graduate will definitely be giving back.
by Jennifer Benson
This past spring, Granby Memorial High School senior Cailene Gunn was chosen to be part of the Capital Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy. CRILA is sponsored by CREC, the Capitol Region Education Council. Gunn is one of just a few Granby participants in its eight-year history. She is so excited about CRILA and how it builds future leaders that she wants to get the word out to other students.
The program begins with a week in Colorado on an Outward Bound adventure. This past June, Gunn and 29 other students from the capital region who had met only briefly before spent their days in mountaineering exercises that were designed to build individual character, forge leadership and strengthen trust and teamwork. In addition to Outward Bound staff, the outdoor adventure was led by CREC executive director Dr. Bruce Douglas, CRILA program manager Julia Case and CRILA leadership curriculum coordinator Thomas Brodnitzki. Each day contained surprises and challenges; the exhausting week passed in a whirlwind. In Gunn’s words “We were pushed outside our comfort zones: all 30 of us agreed if we could do this we could do anything.” She wants the particulars of the Outward Bound experience to remain a surprise for future participants.
These 30 young men and women will work together until May 2012. They meet once a month after a full day of school and extracurricular activities. These new-found friends are excited to see one another and Gunn lights up as she talks about them. They are also happy to see the program’s leaders, whom they like and admire. The evening’s activities might include a speaker on leadership followed by discussion, a Myers-Briggs test to discover their personality type or brainstorming and planning the service project that they will do as the culmination of their year together. Gunn returns home energized and tackles her homework.
Gunn cannot say enough about how the program fosters the students’ maturity by developing skills of ethical leadership and service, building relationships and preparing them to make their world better. Her hope is that more Granby students will apply and potentially experience this incredible program. Gunn says, “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It gives you a chance to learn skills before you need them out in the world.” She finds it refreshing to see the changes happening in her and in others and has a sense of hope and happiness every time she comes out of a meeting.
According to Case, “Students are admitted based on GPA/Academic standing, proven commitment to leadership and service, and an essay.” There is not an allocation of admissions per town, but CRILA attempts to have representatives from all 36 districts in the capital region. Sophomores and juniors can apply. Gunn says the essay is a big part of the application and advises, “Be honest, genuine, and speak to who you are. Tell what you think leadership is, how you’d be a part of this.” Students must submit an application, transcript, resume and recommendations by mid-March. For more information, visit www.creccrila.com, email [email protected], or call Case at 860-509-3666. There is no cost to the students or to the school districts for participation in CRILA.
The annual budget for the program is approximately $118,000 and is funded by a state Department of Education interdistrict grant and CREC. Case states, “As an interdistrict grant, CRILA is funded in two year cycles; the most recent award partially funded the program through 2011-2013. State funding for all interdistrict grant programs was cut in the 2011 budget.” For the 2013-2014 school year, CRILA is looking for a variety of other funding sources, including grants from foundations.
As for Gunn, she plans to go to college next year to study biology. She would like to work for Outward Bound after college and ultimately find a career in biology that helps other people. This future CRILA graduate will definitely be giving back.
The Granby News: September 19, 2011
Granby student grows through Outward Bound experience in Colorado
by Scott Allyn
GRANBY — If Cailene Gunn, 17, of Granby, turns out to be a future award-winning biologist, her experience in the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy this year will probably have a lot to do with it.
Gunn is a senior at Granby Memorial High School, who plays varsity field hockey and varsity lacrosse, and her extracurricular activities include membership in the National Honor Society.
In June, she attended a week of grueling challenges at the Outward Bound base camp in Leadville, Colorado, fully funded by the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy, based in Hartford.“The program started out as something I though would be fun, and it became the best experience of my life,” said Cailene. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
The academy was created by the Capitol Region Education Council, and it selects 30 students each year to spend a week in Colorado getting to know themselves and each other, before committing to many months of work on a service project back in Connecticut.
In Colorado they test themselves, and learn lessons in leadership that they probably could not learn any other way, according to Gunn’s mother, Brigid Gunn.
“It was pretty amazing,” said Brigid Gunn. “The principal (of Granby Memorial High School) urged Granby students to apply, and it was almost like applying for college, including writing an essay on leadership.”
In addition to the leadership essay, application requirements included a leadership resume, school transcripts and an essay about why the applicant wanted to be in the program, according to Julia Case, program manager for the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy.
Cailene was the only student from Granby who was accepted into the group of 30 students from the Greater Hartford area, Gunn said.
“She’s never been away from home alone,” said Gunn. “They didn’t know each other, but they met twice before the trip to learn about the program and do some team-building. They were asked to leave their cell phones at home, and she did. The goal is for these students to come back to their high schools and be leaders of change and promote teamwork and positive choices in their lives and the lives of others.”
Cailene left for Leadville, Colorado June 26, where Outward Bound maintains a base camp.
“The outward Bound staff teach them to trust each other,” Gunn said. “They did rock climbing and rappeling, and they trained at a site where the (U.S. Army) 10th Mountain Division trained in 1943 to prepare for going overseas in World War II.”
Cailene’s experiences included rock climbing blindfolded and rising one morning at 6 a.m. for a brisk run and a bracing dip in the cold waters of a river high in the Rocky Mountains.
What was it like for a 21st-century teenager to give up her cell phone for a week?
“I actually loved it,” Cailene said. “I realized how dependent we are on cell phones and the Internet, and being without those distractions helped me focus on getting to know the other kids.”
The week wound up with back-packing into the mountains, which had plenty of snow, a rare occurrence in July.The final night was a solo camping night, with each of the 30 kids on their own, which Cailene said was the toughest experience of the trip.“
We were up at 13,000 feet, it was the last day of the trip and I was exhausted.” she said. “We were given a tarp, a sleeping bag, a flashlight and some water. We had to fend for ourselves that night, and we had heard horror stories of bears.
It was difficult but it was worth it. I looked at the stars for a while and fell asleep.”It was a night to reflect, according to Cailene’s mother Brigid.“It’s a huge thing for many of these kids,” she said. “They’re in the middle of nowhere, all alone in the Rocky Mountains.”
When Cailene returned, her mother saw a new girl getting off the plane.
“When she came back, she was more independent, in a good way,” Gunn said. “She realized she could do anything she put her mind to. It boosted her confidence. These kids hardly knew each other before the trip, but when she came off that airplane they were arm in arm. They hugged and cried when they left each other. They had nothing in common, coming from different socio-economic backgrounds, but they found something in common with each other. It was unbelievable. They will bring this message back to their high schools.”
Cailene will attend monthly meetings with her group at the CREC Metropolitan Learning Center, in Bloomfield, for the rest of the academic year, and they will work together on a service project to benefit a cause in the Greater Hartford area.
She said she fell in love with biology after taking an advanced placement course in biology her sophomore year, and the Outward Bound trip helped her realize she wants to do something with her future to link biology to helping people.
The week in Colorado helped her realize how much impact one person can have, she said.“I believe everyone on the trip changed for the better,” she said. “It told you things about yourself you would never know otherwise.“It’s the best opportunity I’ve ever gotten, and I learned skills I’ll have for the rest of my life,” she said.
For more information, visit www.creccrila.com.
by Scott Allyn
GRANBY — If Cailene Gunn, 17, of Granby, turns out to be a future award-winning biologist, her experience in the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy this year will probably have a lot to do with it.
Gunn is a senior at Granby Memorial High School, who plays varsity field hockey and varsity lacrosse, and her extracurricular activities include membership in the National Honor Society.
In June, she attended a week of grueling challenges at the Outward Bound base camp in Leadville, Colorado, fully funded by the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy, based in Hartford.“The program started out as something I though would be fun, and it became the best experience of my life,” said Cailene. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
The academy was created by the Capitol Region Education Council, and it selects 30 students each year to spend a week in Colorado getting to know themselves and each other, before committing to many months of work on a service project back in Connecticut.
In Colorado they test themselves, and learn lessons in leadership that they probably could not learn any other way, according to Gunn’s mother, Brigid Gunn.
“It was pretty amazing,” said Brigid Gunn. “The principal (of Granby Memorial High School) urged Granby students to apply, and it was almost like applying for college, including writing an essay on leadership.”
In addition to the leadership essay, application requirements included a leadership resume, school transcripts and an essay about why the applicant wanted to be in the program, according to Julia Case, program manager for the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy.
Cailene was the only student from Granby who was accepted into the group of 30 students from the Greater Hartford area, Gunn said.
“She’s never been away from home alone,” said Gunn. “They didn’t know each other, but they met twice before the trip to learn about the program and do some team-building. They were asked to leave their cell phones at home, and she did. The goal is for these students to come back to their high schools and be leaders of change and promote teamwork and positive choices in their lives and the lives of others.”
Cailene left for Leadville, Colorado June 26, where Outward Bound maintains a base camp.
“The outward Bound staff teach them to trust each other,” Gunn said. “They did rock climbing and rappeling, and they trained at a site where the (U.S. Army) 10th Mountain Division trained in 1943 to prepare for going overseas in World War II.”
Cailene’s experiences included rock climbing blindfolded and rising one morning at 6 a.m. for a brisk run and a bracing dip in the cold waters of a river high in the Rocky Mountains.
What was it like for a 21st-century teenager to give up her cell phone for a week?
“I actually loved it,” Cailene said. “I realized how dependent we are on cell phones and the Internet, and being without those distractions helped me focus on getting to know the other kids.”
The week wound up with back-packing into the mountains, which had plenty of snow, a rare occurrence in July.The final night was a solo camping night, with each of the 30 kids on their own, which Cailene said was the toughest experience of the trip.“
We were up at 13,000 feet, it was the last day of the trip and I was exhausted.” she said. “We were given a tarp, a sleeping bag, a flashlight and some water. We had to fend for ourselves that night, and we had heard horror stories of bears.
It was difficult but it was worth it. I looked at the stars for a while and fell asleep.”It was a night to reflect, according to Cailene’s mother Brigid.“It’s a huge thing for many of these kids,” she said. “They’re in the middle of nowhere, all alone in the Rocky Mountains.”
When Cailene returned, her mother saw a new girl getting off the plane.
“When she came back, she was more independent, in a good way,” Gunn said. “She realized she could do anything she put her mind to. It boosted her confidence. These kids hardly knew each other before the trip, but when she came off that airplane they were arm in arm. They hugged and cried when they left each other. They had nothing in common, coming from different socio-economic backgrounds, but they found something in common with each other. It was unbelievable. They will bring this message back to their high schools.”
Cailene will attend monthly meetings with her group at the CREC Metropolitan Learning Center, in Bloomfield, for the rest of the academic year, and they will work together on a service project to benefit a cause in the Greater Hartford area.
She said she fell in love with biology after taking an advanced placement course in biology her sophomore year, and the Outward Bound trip helped her realize she wants to do something with her future to link biology to helping people.
The week in Colorado helped her realize how much impact one person can have, she said.“I believe everyone on the trip changed for the better,” she said. “It told you things about yourself you would never know otherwise.“It’s the best opportunity I’ve ever gotten, and I learned skills I’ll have for the rest of my life,” she said.
For more information, visit www.creccrila.com.