About 600 young Iowans are learning leadership skills this summer during a series of courses at Camp Dodge. The Starbase Youth Leadership Institute is conducted by the Iowa National Guard. Colonel Michael Grove says the project develops goal setting and self-esteem while preaching an anti-drug message.The course is for sixth graders. Six courses run every summer at Camp Dodge with about 100 students in each six-day-long course. As part of the training, Colonel Grove says a leadership “confidence course” turns the groups of students into team players.Students from 300 Iowa school districts will attend this summer’s camps. This is the seventh year the Iowa National Guard has conducted the federally funded program. Grove is very close to a recent Starbase Institute participant and Grove says the leadership-building efforts are evident.Students are selected for the camps by their schools based on leadership potential and ability to be positive role models.
