Future Leader Camp at Norwich University

Challenge—Teamwork—Adventure
Northfield, Vermont


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For More Information, Contact
Future Leader Camp at Norwich University
27 I. D. White Avenue
Northfield, Vermont 05663
802-485-2531
Fax: 802-485-2739
http://www.norwich.edu/flc

Type of Program: Leadership development
Participants: Coeducational; students who have completed grades 9, 10, and 11; have been accepted to Norwich University for the fall class; and are in good academic standing
Enrollment: Limited to 80 per session
Program Dates: Two 2-week sessions in July
Head of Program: Lieutenant Colonel “Skip” Davison, Director of Future Leader Camp

Location

Future Leader Camp (FLC) is conducted at Norwich University, which is located in the rugged Green Mountains of central Vermont. The campus is located in the small town of Northfield, 10 miles south of the state capital of Montpelier and 50 miles from Burlington, the largest city in Vermont. Both Montpelier and Burlington are cultural centers for the arts and the Burlington International Airport is within an hour’s drive. Vermont is world-renowned as one of America’s most beautiful states, and some of the nation’s most popular resorts, such as Stowe, Sugarbush, and Killington, are located within an hour’s drive. Vermont is an outdoor paradise for those who like rock climbing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and more. In addition, the cities of Boston and Montreal are only a 3-hour drive from the campus.

Background and Philosophy

FLC’s mission is to enable dedicated youths to become decisive, caring, and disciplined leaders in a challenging environment and to instill confidence and courage through hands-on adventure, survival, and physical training while fostering in each the moral integrity and flawless character required of responsible citizens and future leaders.
    FLC is designed for students who wish to further develop their leadership skills or for those are already serving in leadership positions within their school, community, or place of employment. The camp staff members take participants to the next level of leadership while providing a fun and worthwhile camp experience.
    Using a combination of adventure training, group discussions, and hands-on training, the goal of FLC is to instill the basic principles of small-group leadership techniques, ethics, effective communications, problem solving, and teamwork, while developing in each participant a sense of self-confidence, self-respect, and self-discipline. The leadership philosophy emanates from the camp Director who believes that “leadership is an art . . . acquired over time . . . by those with the strength of character . . . to master its form.”
    Training includes physical fitness, rappelling, climbing wall, rifle range, land navigation, leadership reaction course, wilderness and water survival, paintball, rock climbing, hiking, rope bridging, and a three-day overnight Survival Course.
    Camp participants are issued uniforms as part of the program to facilitate training and create an atmosphere of camaraderie. FLC is not a military boot-camp and only those with demonstrated leadership potential, a proven academic record, and a desire to excel need apply. The professional staff members are trained, certified, and qualified to instruct all courses taught.

Program Offerings

The first phase of Future Leader Camp begins with daily instruction in rappelling, rope bridging, climbing and survival techniques, paintball, rifle and archery range, water survival, and physical fitness training. Physical fitness training is conducted by ability groups and instructs participants on how to properly exercise. Most evenings, participants find themselves in the classroom learning about the basic principles and traits of leadership. Group discussions are held and an in-depth study of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s leadership abilities is examined. Other topics include effective communications, how to conduct briefings and coordinate events, and CPR certification. The next phase requires participants to face two physical challenges: hiking to the top of Vermont’s second-highest peak, Camels Hump, and then climbing and rappelling the cliffs of Dear Leap Mountain in Killington, Vermont. Phase three finds participants on a three-day “in the woods” overnight survival exercise where the team’s individual and collective skills are put to the test. The exercise includes extensive wilderness survival skills training and land navigation.
All participants are required to hold the position of Team Leader at least once during the camp. The Team Leader position is rotated daily and each participant receives a performance evaluation from his or her counselor and their peers.
Finally, the camp ends with a physical fitness test, drill competition, and Olympics Challenge course. The physical fitness test measures individual ability, while the drill competition measures the team’s ability to work together as a team. The Olympic Challenge is all about fun and includes such events as the Tired Relay, the Litter Press, the Run-Dodge and Jump, and Log Toss. The last day is one of rest and relaxation at Lake Elmore, one of Vermont’s most beautiful lakes for a day of swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and some really good chow.

Enrollment

Camp is conducted in two sessions. Enrollment is limited to the first 80 qualified applicants. Interested individuals must submit an application, a letter of recommendation, health form, medical waiver form, and travel form to be considered.

Daily Schedule

First call is at 5:30 a.m., followed by physical fitness training the first week from 6 to 7. During the first week, there are morning, afternoon, and evening training sessions. Evenings are generally reserved for group discussions or recreational activities. The training schedule is full and participants are kept busy from sunup to sundown. Midweek and week two are filled with training events that last all day and the schedule changes from day to day. Lights go out by 10 p.m. except during the overnight field exercise.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

During the course, all participants earn their Adult CPR and Basic First Aid certification. Those who arrive already certified are asked to assist the instructor and receive appropriate recognition for their assistance.

Facilities

Participants stay in dorm rooms on campus and dine in the university’s dining facility. Participants must supply their own linen and washing machines are available in the dorms. The dining facility is operated by SODEXHO food service and meals are served cafeteria style, offering a wide variety of choices. The university campus consists of 1,200 acres and has numerous athletic and classroom facilities. Participants also consume Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) on days when training prevents them from going to the dining facility. Accommodations are made for those with food allergies, although individuals must take responsibility for readings menus. The medical release and waiver form should clearly state the participant’s type of food allergy.

Staff

The director is a full-time employee of Norwich University and is retired from the military with more than thirty years of experience working with young people. The camp training officer is also a full-time employee and holds a master’s degree in outdoor leadership education and is certified to conduct all training. The operations officer is CPR instructor certified and is qualified to oversee all training events. Camp counselors are junior and senior cadets who attend Norwich University. They must apply and be interviewed for the counselor positions. In addition, a number of faculty and staff members from the university contribute to training and classes.

Medical Care

All staff members and counselors are CPR certified. An EMT first responder is on call during all training. Green Mountain Medical Clinic is located across the street from the university and provides basic health care. Central Vermont Hospital is located less than 10 miles from the campus.

Religious Life

Due to a tightly packed training schedule, times to attend services during the two-week camp cannot be provided.

Costs

The camp costs $1455. This includes room, meals, uniforms, and all camp activities.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is not generally available. Families who have financial need should contact the program office at 802-485-2531.

Transportation

Participants provide their own transportation to the camp. Included with every information packet is a travel brochure outlining how to get to Vermont by air, train, bus, or privately owned vehicle. The Burlington International Airport (BTV) is located an hour from the campus in Burlington, Vermont. The bus and train station are located in Montpelier, Vermont, only 10 miles from the campus. For a minimum charge the FLC staff will make arrangements to have participants who arrive by air, train, or bus picked up and dropped off. The round trip price to and from the airport is $50; Amtrak and the bus station are $25. Participants who arrive by privately owned vehicle will be provided with a parking pass.

Application Timetable

The office begins accepting applications January 1. Applications are submitted with a letter of recommendation, medical form, and $25 nonrefundable application fee. A $250 nonrefundable deposit must be received upon acceptance to guarantee the applicants seat in the camp and order their uniforms. The entire cost of the camp is due by June 1, unless the family has made other arrangements with the camp director. Last year the program filled and a waiting list started the last week in April.