Adrian College partners with Scouting America in Leadership Program
Posted Wednesday, October 02, 2024
Author: Mickey Alvarado
Adrian College has partnered with the Michigan Crossroads Council, a chartered council of Scouting America, formally Boy Scouts of America, to offer high school students three college credit hours for completing their Summit Leadership Program.
“The Michigan Crossroads Council is extremely excited to add additional value to our student learners through our partnership with Adrian College,” said Donald Shepard, CEO of Scouting America, Michigan Crossroads Council. “Students who enroll in and complete the summit leadership program will spend one semester meeting requirements to earn three college credits from Adrian College, inspiring them to further their study after high school.”
This is the first college credit partnership the Michigan Crossroads Council has formed with any college in the state.
“We are always seeking innovative ways to support and inspire the leaders of tomorrow,” said Adrian College President Jeffrey Docking. “The Summit Leadership Program aligns perfectly with our mission to provide innovative educational opportunities for students interested in earning a college degree. This collaboration underscores our desire to foster unique, educational opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.”
The program is run through Adventure Point, a subsidiary of the Michigan Crossroads Council, based in Eagle, Michigan.
“We already offer dual enrollment at Adrian College, which is high school students taking classes for college credit,” Tony Coumoundouros, Adrian College Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education, said. “The Adventure Point team came to us and asked if there was a way for us to connect their summit leadership program to college credit. We loved the idea and dovetailed an existing leadership class, Philosophy of Leadership, with curriculum provided by Adventure Point, to serve the needs of everyone involved.”
Coumoundouros said he is excited to see Adrian College partner with Scouting America to give young male and female students an opportunity to earn college credits with no cost as it is covered by the school offering the dual enrollment program.
“It is a great opportunity for young students to be exposed to a college level course and get credit for it,” he said. “Providing leadership training to young people will definitely help them in the future, in any field of study they choose.”
“Adventure Point leverages over 100 years of activity-based leadership learning competencies to bring these extremely valuable skills to our middle and high school students, regardless of any previous involvement in Scouting programming,” Shepard said.
The program runs for an entire school year and kicks off in the fall with an outdoor team leadership retreat and is then followed up by monthly sessions where content and guest speakers are mixed with immersive activity-based learning. The school year is capped off by another hands-on, outdoor team building retreat.
After successfully completing the Summit Leadership Program, students receive a certificate of program completion, suitable for reference on a college or employment application.
“The leadership competencies we explore and equip students with include servant leadership, self-awareness, listening, managing conflict, feedback, accountability, vulnerability, service to others, grit, and discipline,” said Graham McGeehan, leadership programs director for Adventure Point.
The program was implemented in several Grand Rapids area high schools and is now beginning to grow across the state, including new programs in east and southeast Michigan starting this fall. Adventure Point recently announced service to 14 schools in Detroit, adding 70 new students to the leadership program starting in January.
A Leadership Dinner will be held in Grand Rapids at the JW Marriot on October 29, where the Leadership Summit Program partnership with Adrian College will be showcased.
For more information about the Summit Leadership Program or dinner, visit adventurepoint.org.
For more information about Adrian College’s dual enrollment programs, email acoumoundouros@adrian.edu or visit adrian.edu.
