Meet Aaron Powell, who moved to Huntsville four years ago. Prior to the move, he had begun attending the Lone Star Leadership Academy during summers, nominated to attend while he was a student in Conroe. Since that time, Aaron has “graduated” the program, but he continues to be involved annually as an alumni youth facilitator at the camps to mentor younger students. And, as we learn, one of the requirements for the alums is an annual service project.
I do a summer camp each year. It’s the Lone Star Leadership Academy, education in action. You can attend three years as a camper, but after that, you have to come back as a youth facilitator, and to do that, you have to you have a service project every year.
I decided my projects were going to be to help animals at Rita B. Huff Humane Society. I just like animals a lot, and they always need stuff.
We have seven horses and a dog. I’m a member of 4-H Horse Club; I started in Montgomery County and then continued here after I moved.+
The first year was tough. I was fairly new here. The other students, as well as the folks at Rita B. Huff, didn’t know me well. I think we ended up only collecting about $100 and a few dog toys.
Last year, our focus was pet linens and blankets. We did a lot better, and we also collected about 300 pounds of pet food and $300.
This year, we focused on stocking the community pet pantry at Rita B. Huff with food and accessories. I don’t think the community is really aware of this resource. It’s like a food bank, like a community pantry, but it’s pet food. So, it’s all the pet food they collect that they don’t give in-house, but if someone’s in need or has a dog they found on the street and doesn’t have or can’t afford any dog food, they can come in and get a bag until they can. So that’s really what we targeted. This year, we were able to bring in around $600 and a Tahoe load of food and supplies.
Each year, I have to prepare and submit a report on the service project to the Leadership Academy.
Tom Waddill, the journalism teacher, is my faculty sponsor at school. We post flyers in the school with donation boxes. We also publicize the donation drive on multiple Facebook pages. And, with permission, we set up a table one day at Tractor Supply. We hand people a flyer explaining what we’re doing as they go in, and many purchase something for us and give it to us on their way out. This year, our day at Tractor Supply was the same day Rita B. Huff was there doing a pet adoption promotion, so that worked out well.
Yes, we are doing one more push with a spring-cleaning theme through the month of March.
They need cleaning supplies at the animal shelter. We are looking for donations of paper towels, spray bottles, 50-gallon trash bags, bleach, and blue Dawn soap.
They can reach out through my mom’s email to wilson.courtneyk@gmail.com. The project grows a lot every year, like a lot. It gets significantly bigger every year, and we do more to make it bigger, so that’s cool.
I have one more year age-wise that I can participate as a facilitator with the camp. Then, I’m looking forward to being an adult volunteer and finding other ways I can help at the animal shelter.
I like video games. And I like math and science. I do a lot of UIL Academics. After I graduate, I’ll probably end up doing something math-based as a career.
Lone Star Leadership Academy
Lone Star Leadership Academy is an academic camp for 3rd through 8th grade students from all over the state of Texas. The weeklong overnight camps are offered throughout the summer. Each day, participants develop leadership skills, explore unique, historically significant, and notable Texas sites, and learn about unique careers from professionals at the sites visited. Participants also gain self-confidence and independence and have fun while making new friendships with other high-achieving students.
Eligible students maintain an overall average of B (85 or 3.5) or higher, are nominated by an educator based on demonstrated leadership ability, and are involved in school and/or community activities.
Students select their camp location based on their current grade level. 3rd-6th graders may apply for Dallas/Fort Worth camps; 4th-7th graders may apply for Austin/San Antonio camps; and 5th-8th graders may apply for Houston/Galveston camps. Education in Action recommends that new 4th-6th graders sign up for the Dallas/Fort Worth program first so that during future summers they may take part in all Lone Star Leadership Academy programs.
While participants travel on charter buses to fun and interesting sites each day of their camp week, they spend each night and eat breakfast each morning at their camp’s lodging location (Dallas/Fort Worth Camp – lodging is in Keller, TX; Austin/San Antonio Camp – lodging is in Wimberley, TX; Houston/Galveston Camp – lodging is in Crosby, TX).
Scholarship opportunities and a Fundraising Guide are available on the organization website. Many students fundraise in order to cover a portion or all their tuition to attend the Lone Star Leadership Academy. In addition to raising money, students find fundraising develops planning, organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
Upon completion of their 8th grade camp experience, many students continue their involvement through the Lone Star Leadership Academy Alumni Council. Members receive online leadership lessons, lead a service project during the school year, and return to summer camps as Youth Facilitators—providing an important mentoring aspect to the younger students.
Program dates, cost, and deadlines are available on the camp application and at educationinaction.org.
Education in Action is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young people to be informed and active leaders in their communities. All Lone Star Leadership Academy Facilitators are Texas educators. Student/staff member ratio is 10:1. Education in Action conducts a background check on all adult staff members prior to each summer’s programs.
