The first week of Michigan Student Leadership Camp back in 2016 changed Paige Weber’s life. This senior counselor said camp expanded her world in ways she never imagined it would, meeting people from backgrounds different from her own, building lifelong friendships, and learning lessons that shaped who she would become. With three years as a camper and seven on staff, she’s not only supporting students at camp, but also in her own classroom as an elementary school teacher.
“I grew up in a small, rural town in Northern Michigan, and for much of my childhood my perspective of the world was limited to what I experienced in my own community,” Paige said. “When I had the opportunity to attend leadership camp after my freshman year of high school, I was skeptical. I didn’t know anyone who had attended before and wasn’t really sure what camp was all about. I applied for a scholarship, and when I received it, I decided it was a sign that I should give camp a chance.”
What made camp so meaningful, she said, wasn’t just that it challenged her thinking – it also gave her practical tools to create positive change when she returned home.
“Camp taught me what leadership truly looks like: leading with kindness, serving others, working as a team and empowering those around you,” she said. Those lessons gave me the confidence to step into leadership opportunities, facilitate leadership activities, and work to create a stronger, more positive culture within my school.”
After high school, Paige attended North Central Michigan College before transferring to Grand Valley State University to earn her elementary teaching certification. By that point, camp had already helped her discover what she was passionate about: serving others, and specifically serving young people.
“Watching campers experience the same growth I once experienced was incredibly rewarding,” she said. “What surprised me most, though, was how much I continued to grow alongside them. Every conversation, simulation, and reflection reminded me why I loved leadership education and why creating positive spaces for young people mattered so much.”
The conversations they have at camp are honest, she said, they acknowledge the challenges facing schools and communities – but we also focus on solutions and leave with actionable ways to make a difference. Those experiences, she said, have directly influenced the educator she is today.
“In my classroom, I strive to create the same supportive, inclusive environment that I experienced at camp. I encourage students to lead with empathy, celebrate different perspectives, and understand that every person has value. Camp didn’t just influence my school and college experiences – it shaped my career and the kind of teacher and leader I hope to be every day.”
St. Clair High School student Henry McNabb has attended leadership camp for the last two years. He said camp taught him how to provide other people with platforms and opportunities, to share their ideas to ensure all voices are heard.
“It helped show me my true values and what makes me who I am,” he said. “Because of that, I joined clubs and organizations that aligned with my values and allowed me to make a meaningful impact in the areas I care about most.”
After attending leadership camp, Henry joined his school’s Mental Health Committee to promote mental health awareness and break the negative stigma surrounding mental health.
Camp taught him that leadership is service, Henry said, and that the responsibility of a leader is to serve the needs of everyone, prioritizing the success and well-being of everyone over individual recognition.
“It also helped me recognize the privilege I have and inspired me to advocate for those whose voices are often overlooked, rather than feeling guilty about circumstances I cannot change,” he said. “As a student leader, I try to listen before making decisions, consider different perspectives, and stay open-minded to all ideas.”
Michigan Student Leadership Camp impacted the way Henry interacts within his community.
“Camp gave me perspective on how even the smallest actions can add up to create meaningful change in the community,” Henry said. “It gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and make those small but important actions to make a lasting impact on others. Now, I go out of my way to talk to new people, check up on them and make sure they feel welcome.”
With four years of Camp experience, Seaholm High School sophomore Annabel Cusmano said camp has been a home away from home and something for which she’s extremely grateful. The skills she learned since first attending the middle level camp in 2023 are ones she said she will carry with her every day.
“One of the most important topics that I took with me was learning about my core values and how I should use them when approaching different situations,” she said. “Discovering these things about myself will carry me forward in my school. My Student Congress is somewhere I am constantly using my voice and the values that I discovered about myself at camp.
“For example, one core value is trust. With Homecoming I have to trust the process and the people I’m working with – even if I want to do everything myself! The leadership strategies I have learned at camp also help me choose the way to plan events and communicate with others about the overall goal.”
One of the major things that camp has created for Annabel is the idea of a “BE” goal (Better Everyday). This summer, her BE goal was “Be Balanced.”
“In my family and my community, I want to use the idea of my BE goal to share my ideas, but also balance that with being a good listener,” she said.
She added that camp has helped push her outside of her comfort zone.
“I’ve always been a more introverted person and camp has played a large role in pushing me out of my shell,” she said. “As I take on a larger role within my school community, the ideas and lessons that I have learned from camp will be an asset.”
Annabel said she looks forward to going back to camp next year. Paige has advice for principals thinking about encouraging their students to attend camp.
“Leadership camp is so much more than a week away from home,” Paige said. “It is a place where students gain confidence, discover their strengths, learn how to work with people who are different from themselves, and return home with practical leadership skills they can immediately apply in their schools and communities.”
As a staff member, Paige said she sees students transform over the course of the week.
“We regularly see quiet students find their voice, hesitant students discover confidence and young leaders realize the impact they can have on others,” she said. “Every camper leaves with new friendships, new perspectives, and a renewed sense of purpose.”
With 10 years of camp experience, Paige knows the impact it can have.
“If you want students to return home more confident, compassionate, motivated and equipped to make a positive difference, leadership camp is one of the best investments you can make,” she said. “I can honestly say it changed the course of my own life, and after ten years as both a camper and staff member, I continue to see it change the lives of countless students every summer.”