This October, first-term Recreation Therapy students at Niagara College took their classroom learning into the real-world during Leadership Camp, a full-day experiential learning opportunity at Brock University. Through hands-on activities and team challenges, students put leadership theories into practice, explored group dynamics and discovered how collaboration can help individuals work toward shared goals.
Connected to RECL1127 – Leadership in Society, Leadership Camp reinforced concepts explored in class, including the stages of group development, the characteristics of successful leaders and different leadership styles.
Students prepare to try the high ropes at Leadership Camp.
“Students are learning about different leadership styles and how they might look in different scenarios,” said Beth Astles, Recreation Therapy Professor. “During the activities, they’re encouraged to reflect on whether they took on a leadership role, whether that role surprised them, and whether they recognized leadership qualities in their classmates that we’ve discussed in class.”
Through team-building activities, students experienced the stages of group development firsthand, including forming connections, navigating uncertainty and building trust, all while working collaboratively toward a common goal. The experience gave them an opportunity to recognize how leadership roles and group behaviours influence a team’s ability to work together.
For first-year student Sofia Rodriguez of Welland, the experience offered valuable insight into her own motivation and how she can apply that understanding in her future career as a Recreation Therapist.
“Throughout this experience I learned that I’m more motivated to achieve goals in a group setting than when working independently,” said Rodriguez. “While challenging myself on the high ropes course and rock-climbing wall, I felt less pressure to succeed because the outcome depended solely on my own efforts. However, when working toward a shared group goal, knowing that others were relying on me motivated me to push beyond my limits and put forth greater effort.”
The experience fundamentally reshaped Rodriguez’s perspective on leadership. She realized that high-performing groups thrive when multiple members step forward to contribute their unique strengths, a shift that underscores the power of teamwork, encouragement, and shared responsibility in overcoming obstacles. As a future Recreation Therapist, she intends to channel these insights into building supportive environments where clients feel empowered to participate, build confidence, and actively achieve their goals.
First year Rec Therapy students travelled to Brock University to participate in Leadership Camp, a full-day experiential learning opportunity.
For Monsurat Oluwatosin Adesina, an international student from Nigeria, Leadership Camp was a powerful opportunity to step outside her comfort zone. As someone who typically prefers to work independently, she was nervous about performing in front of her peers but was surprised by how quickly her confidence grew.
“Working with my classmates strengthened my communication and teamwork skills by allowing us to share ideas, discover common interests, and learn from one another,” said Adesina. “Through open communication and mutual understanding, we were able to collaborate effectively toward our shared goals.”
The camp also provided hands-on leadership experience for five second-year Recreation Therapy students, who led additional activity stations for their peers. By facilitating activities and guiding participants, the volunteers had an opportunity to practice skills that are central to Recreation Therapy, where planning, leading and adapting activities to meet participants’ needs are important parts of the profession.
“It was rewarding to encourage first-year students to step outside their comfort zones and discover what they’re capable of,” said second-year student Stuart Scott-Field. “Sometimes, the greatest accomplishment isn’t completing a challenge but having the courage to try. Leadership Camp is a fantastic experience and one I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience twice.”
“What I hope students take away from Leadership Camp is that everyone has a role to play and that effective leadership can look different for each person. Recognizing their individual strengths and finding where they feel most comfortable contributing will help them grow as leaders and succeed in their future careers,” said Astles.
