Camps show how to follow leaders

About 40 students from schools across the region took part in two Wairarapa REAP leadership camps this month where teamwork and decision making were top of the agenda.

Each camp was made up of Year 8 students from different schools that had to work together throughout the two days. They completed tasks, including Henley Heartache and Master(ton) Chef.

The students discovered and explored their leadership potential through a programme of challenging activities with teachers Belinda Bunny and Jo Tatton. They completed tasks looking at self-belief, what is leadership, integrity and leaders they admired, with workshops looking at their own strengths and the qualities that characterise good leadership.

Prefects from Wairarapa college lent their understanding of leadership to a panel discussion, impressing younger colleagues with their enthusiasm.

This was the first year that tutors saw students who had attended the leadership camp in previous years speaking to the students in their roles as prefects.

For Master(ton) Chef the students were split into two teams and members were designated a country, Mexico or Italy, and given $50 each.

They had to plan their menus, design their restaurants, shop for their food, prepare, cook and serve their meals to a keen judging panel of Jennie Smith and Alice Buchanan from Entice Cafe and Catering.

"I was really impressed with their knowledge of food," said Ms Buchanan.

"Jennie and I thought the students were fantastic being put into a new situation and working with people they didn't know; it's fantastic for their confidence and was a really positive experience."

Kahutara School's Beth Graham gave some advice to those students who are selected next year.

"I would say dive in and give it a go. If I had another chance I would definitely come again."

Makuri School's Tessa Poulton said.