Come join the Balarat team, and get school credit for exploration, mentorship, leadership and fun in the outdoors! DPS high school students can take Balarat Outdoor Leadership as a class and receive 5 credit hours. In this important position, you will serve as a leader and role model for a class of DPS 5th graders on their overnight trip.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Each high school leader will participate in at total of FOUR 2 day, 1 night Balarat trips throughout the semester. The first will be a high school leader training trip. The following three will be 5th grade trips, distributed throughout the semester, where high schoolers will act in a leadership role.
On a Balarat trip, high school leaders…
- work on a team of 2-3 students from their school
- live in a dorm with and supervise a group of 5th grade students as a dorm counselor
- teach pre-planned lessons in science and history
- lead games
- help with evening programs and morning hikes
- help to set up and clean for meal times
- connect with and be a mentor to 5th grade students
BENEFITS
- Grow as an individual and as a leader!
- Receive 5 credit hours
- Use the experience as for job and college applications and references
- Friendships, good food, and time spent out of your traditional classroom setting in the outdoors are the cherries on top!
REQUIREMENTS
In order to participate…
- You must be a sophomore (10th grade) or older to be a high school leader
- You must be able to spend a total of eight days and four nights at Balarat. This is a school sanctioned activity, and so will be an excused absence from your traditional high school classes.
- We are currently accepting students from following high schools — East, South, Thomas Jefferson, John F Kennedy, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, DSST Cedar, Northfield, and West. Contact your counseling office for more information!
If you are interested, talk with the Balarat coordinator at your school about how to apply!
BE PREPARED
Like we tell our 5th graders – Balarat is meant to challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone – this is true for our high school leader program as well.
- Balarat involves lots of hiking! On average, students (and high school leaders) will hike about 2 miles each day. Some classes will do our Peak challenge, which is 6 miles round trip. All hikes are easy to moderate in difficulty.
- Leaders will be assisting or leading for the entirety of the 2 day trip. Be ready to dedicate your whole time to helping 5th graders have a positive experience.
- Trip will run rain, snow, or shine! Be prepared to be leading in all types of weather.
