The Opening Retreat
We set the tone for the entire class year with a two-day session in
which participants get to know each other, discuss the goals for the
year and learn how to build a team that can work together
effectively. We use a variety of informative (and often
entertaining) instruments to help them better understand their own
strengths and challenges, as well as how to work with people whose
strengths and challenges are different. They discuss issues facing
Hendricks County and are assigned to a service project.
State Government Day
The Indiana Statehouse is the site of a day in which the class
interacts with the legislators who represent Hendricks County and
discusses current issues and opportunities. Participants learn about
(and observe) the legislative process. Lunch includes enjoyable and
informative lessons about etiquette.
County Government Day
The class visits the Hendricks County Government Center to develop a
better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of local
government leaders. Each is presented with scenarios that provide
practical insight into what happens in the various offices and what
impact those offices have on the lives of everyday citizens.
Economic Development Day
Participants get to see Hendricks County from a different angle as
passengers in small airplanes. Back on the ground, they have a
working lunch with a resource person who prepares them for their
role in an afternoon simulation of a county planning meeting at
which farmland might be rezoned for a new subdivision. Whether they
portray the developer, local school administrator, or even a nervous
neighbor, they gain a better understanding of how the process
addresses all viewpoints and the complexity of government decisions.
Business, Industry & Agriculture
Day
Hendricks County has a remarkably diverse business community, and
this day is devoted to learning about the many types of businesses
in the county. From large farms to small manufacturers to the
ever-growing retail presence, they develop a better understanding of
the challenges each business faces.
Quality of Life Day
Victims are trapped in a serious car accident, and several local
fire departments cooperate to extricate them. The demonstration is
one of the many ways class members learn how the county's police and
fire departments work together. The driver who caused the accident
is taken to the county jail, where students eat the same lunch as
inmates while discovering the startling challenges associated with
housing offenders and protecting the community.
Closing Retreat
This single-day session represents the end of the program, but it's
just the beginning of the participants' future community
involvement. They'll reflect on the events of the year and how
they'll use their new knowledge. They make a presentation about what
they gained from one of the class days. Afterwards, they'll join
their parent and school administrators for dinner and a graduation
ceremony. |
