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Re-treat yourself

» What to expect from the 2014 Douglife
student leadership retreat

 

Angela Espinoza
News Editor

Mi news

3 ' @theotherpress.ca

 

he 2014 Douglife retreat

is heading out October
3 (until October 5), the
application deadline for
which was on September 17.
Although applications are
now closed, students taking
part in this year’s event and
those considering attending
next year’s have plenty to look
forward to.

“The student leadership
retreat that is run by Campus
Life is an annual trip where
we invite all students from

of student engagement, Erin
Biddlecombe.

“There’s an application
process because we want to
get a sense of why people
are interested in coming and
developing their leadership
skills with us.”

Each year the retreat
selects up to 40 students
to take part in leadership
development and team
building activities over the
course of three days. This
year’s retreat is taking place
at Squamish’s Camp Summit,
an all-ages site that offers

throughout the year.

“There'll be workshops
that will be presented by
Douglas College staff. We’ve
got a handful of staff members
going up for support and to
facilitate,” said Biddlecombe.
“This year’s group [has] 39
students who are coming
from Douglas. We've got
great representation from
both campuses and great
representation from across the
different academic programs
and the different types of
certificates, diplomas, and

for us.

“It’s a chance for students
to not only develop their own
leadership skills, but to build
their network of peers. How
often is a second-year nursing
student going to connect
with somebody who’s doing
a certificate in [something
else]?”

Biddlecombe also stated
that this year’s crew is teaming
up with students from the
University of the Fraser Valley,
a first for the annual retreat.

“We're co-hosting the
retreat with the University
of the Fraser Valley ... they’re
going to be sending 20
students. [It’s another] way
for our students to meet other
likeminded folks who are
interested in learning about

theotherpress.ca

While the
workshops and
training are a
major part of the
retreat, additional
activities and
down time will
be offered for the
students.

themselves as leaders.

“We will be offering

student attendees a number of
: workshops over the weekend.

: Students will walk away with

a better understanding of
Douglas College.” said manager their own leadership style and

: how to manage the multiple

: priorities that come from being
: ina leadership role. We are also
: going to offer more technical

: workshops on skills like how to
manage an effective meeting,

: how to balance your budget—

: be it a personal budget or

: your club’s budget—and two

: workshops on event planning
and management.”

While the workshops and

training are a major part of the
; retreat, additional activities

: and downtime will be offered

: for the students.

“There’s a ropes course,

camping and outdoor activities : 7” archery range, and the

: intention is that they'll also
: have a chance to develop

; their network through these

: informal activities.

“It’s not going to be all

work ... we’re going to each

: night have some time for them
: to just casually network. We

: want [the students] to not just
: come and get to know people

: and then never talk to each

: other again, we want them to

: think about how they might

: continue to work together

: after the retreat. Maybe they’re
: going to start upa club on

? campus or maybe they'll want

degrees, so that’s really exciting : . }
: to start up a business.

Biddlecombe added

that the importance of the

: retreat, and of Campus Life’s

: involvement, relies heavily on

: teaching students life skills

: that could benefit them greatly
: in the future.

“We know that employers

are looking to hire graduates
: who are not only technically
: savvy but who also exhibit

: leadership skills. They want

: to hire graduates who are

: confident leaders. Campus Life
: exists not only to help foster
: campus community, but also
: to provide Douglas College

: students with leadership

: development opportunities

: that will complement what

: they’re learning inside of the
: classroom so that they will

: succeed in the workforce.”