For the sophomores, the retreat was a team-building experience. Prior to the retreat, each member took a StrengthsQuest assessment to find out his or her individual strengths. At the retreat, the members discussed their strengths, then proceeded with a team-building ropes course, where they used each other’s strengths to accomplish tasks, including a trust fall, an "A" frame walk, and a telephone game. The purpose of the course was to reinforce the importance of communication, teamwork, and trust.
While the sophomores were on the ropes course, the juniors worked on preparing the High School Design Competition. HSDC is a day where high schools from Kansas and Missouri come to the School of Engineering and compete in face-to-face contests of devices they’ve designed and built.
The retreat also served a relationship-building purpose. Being away from campus allowed relationship bonds to be strengthened. The retreat gave an opportunity for both classes to bond with each other, as well as introduce the new junior SELF Fellows.
Read the rest of the Fall 2012 Newsletter here.