For many students, the five week summer session is the first opportunity they will have to truly focus on themselves and their futures. Many have so many additional responsibilities at home or in school that it is unique to have time to dedicate to thinking about their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The personal development curriculum’s goal is to provide this time, and to create a safe environment in which students can explore and define their future goals.

QuestLeadership takes a holistic approach to learning, and encourages students to establish good life habits in order to fuel their passions and be as positive and productive as they can be. We try to model this behavior at Quest—eating healthy food (mostly prepared by our wonderful chef, Luis), and exercising regularly. Additional aspects of the personal development curriculum include:

• Morning Aikido classes—Aikido is a martial art based on non-violent defense
• Personal reflection time—structured time set aside in each day for students to be alone with their thoughts, and to think about their goals and values. Students may choose to reflect in whatever means is most beneficial to them; examples include prayer, meditation, journal writing, painting or drawing, or playing a musical instrument
• Trust and community building experiences—these activities are geared toward sharing experiences together that allow the group to bond and feel safe with one another. Activities include a ropes course field trip, cultural celebration dinners in which students cook dishes from their diverse heritages together, social dance lessons, and even the day-to-day activities of sharing a summer together

Of course, as mentioned in the overview, each area of the curriculum builds on the others, and no part would exist without the whole. A field trip to a state park, for example, may combine aspects of the science, outreach, and personal growth focuses, and many of the leadership focus activities tie directly into the personal development aspects of the program. With a nearly 1:1 student to residential staff ratio (a ratio that increases to nearly 1:5 when mentors and non-residential staff are included), we are able to provide plenty of individual attention and support.

The experience of Quest does not end with the summer session, click the arrows above to learn more about our college admissions and five-year support.