Suffield Academy Students Take Leadership Lessons Outdoors

SUFFIELD, CT — Suffield Academy students traded their classrooms for climbing walls, kayaks, ziplines and whitewater rapids during the school's annual Leadership Day.

Each grade participated in a different set of activities tied to the private school's four-year leadership program.

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Ninth-graders remained on campus, where they used the ropes course and rock-climbing wall at the Courtney Robinson '88 Leadership Center. Students also participated in yoga and mindfulness activities at the Hillary Rockwell Cahn '88 Balance Barn.

Sophomores headed to Sunrise Park for an afternoon of kayaking, fishing, hiking and volleyball. They also made friendship bracelets and assembled hygiene kits for several charities.

Juniors traveled to Storrs Adventure Park, where they navigated a series of treetop zipline trails.

Seniors spent their day on the Deerfield River during a whitewater rafting trip hosted by Crab Apple Whitewater.

Leadership Day is held each September and introduces themes that students revisit in their leadership courses throughout the school year.

Suffield Academy established its formal leadership curriculum in 2002. The program covers goal-setting, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, service and self-advocacy, with the focus changing as students progress through each grade.

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