Culver City, CA–The International Children Education Association (ICEA) successfully hosted its Summer Camp Leadership Training on July 1. The training equipped student leaders with classroom management, communication, and teaching skills to prepare them for leading a variety of ICEA summer camp programs.
On July 1, a group of student leaders arrived at Culver City for leadership training on the afternoon of July 1; the goal of this session is to prepare the young leaders for the summer camp hosted by ICEA later this summer. Student leaders arrived here with excitement and motivation to learn not just for the summer camp, but also to apply skills beneficial beyond the scope of summer camp, participating as life-long learners.
The session began with Felix Guo, introducing the basic principles of leadership. He highlighted that as leaders, “We are not just someone telling other people what to do.” Instead, leaders should provide a health envrionment for growth. With the help of the leaders, students should not feel lost but at home. Instead of being pressured into completing the work, the students should grow in a positive environment together happily.
Following the introduction os the basic principles of leadership, leaders also discussed other aspects of leadership, such as what should be excluded. For instance, all of the leaders agreed that as leaders, they should not exclude any students just because they are falling behind. Teacher Tanya, an educator with more than 30 years of teaching experience, shares practical classroom management strategies with ICEA student leaders, highlighting the importance of keeping the class’s attention and maintaining students’ mental health.
As the session proceeded, leaders began to engage in a special activity. For example, the leaders had a mock scenario where one side acted as students encouraging troubles, and the other side as trying to help. Laughter, knowledge, and joy are the result of this part of the lesson.
As the session went into the last part, each student leader began to host a mini-lecture as practice for a lecture during the camp. Leaders were able to choose their own topic, including volleyball and golf. As one of the participants, I, Ben Xin, saw something more than just lectures and lessons from other leaders. Instead of merely reading the scripts, they shared their knowledge with passion as if a lively galaxy is living in their eyes; I have no doubt that they truly believe in and feel passionate about what they are doing. I felt inspired by listening, learning, and engaging with them. Seeing what they have done, I want to do the same thing: doing, teaching, and promoting something that I truly love, and that is why I based my lecture on what it means to be a great leader. I argued that leaders aren’t just high-standing dictators, but a guiding figure with critical thinking in the family. “Great leaders don’t just influence people’s opinions–they inspire people to think,” I concluded.
The practice presentations allowed student leaders to receive feedback while improving their public speaking and teaching skills before working with campers.
The event concluded with dinner provided by ICEA, allowing everyone to relax, connect, and reflect on the day’s training. Inspired by the experience, each student leader left feeling more confident, better prepared, and excited to make meaningful contributions to the upcoming ICEA Summer Camp.
