On April 6th and 7th, eleven members of the Upper Dauphin Area and Millersburg Area Leadership Academy participated in “The Great Task” leadership development program at the Gettysburg National Military Park. The trip was funded by the Gettysburg Foundation. Throughout the two days, students participated in multiple sessions including an overall battlefield tour, taking part in General Meade’s war council, and performing the role of the U.S. Signal Corp (communication), the 9th Massachusetts Battery (teamwork), and the U.S. Medical Corp (organization). Students learned how to send/receive messages using signal flags, load and “fire” a cannon, triage the wounded, and “perform surgery” under fire. The students also identified the fallen at Gettysburg to learn about sacrifice, and recited the Gettysburg Address near where President Lincoln spoke to learn about inspiration. The students were also challenged to think about areas of concerns in their own school/community and generate ideas for how to move forward with “The Great Task.” This was an engaging experience that helped students learn about leadership using historical examples.
Upper Dauphin Area School District
“Our mission is to empower our students to be lifelong learners in order to reach their greatest potential.”
