Using a Wilderness Environment to Enhance Change-Creating Leadership and Community

Abstract

Undergraduates enter their university experience with differing levels of maturity, belonging, and leadership. Enhancing these character-building traits to support confidence, competence, academic achievement, as well as collaborative qualities the employment world demands is the goal of most universities, and the outcomes are ultimately interpreted as individual growth. At UHD, senior level peer mentors (juniors/seniors) are selected through a nomination process by self, faculty, or current peer mentors. This occurs at the end of the spring semester in preparation for the upcoming fiscal year. Often times, the single attribute considered for nomination focuses on enthusiasm alone. How can community and leadership be intentionally bolstered within any mentor group leading to a community of STEM undergraduates within a three-month period prior to a new semester? This plan outlines a journey of unfamiliarity, physical/mental challenge, and community building leading to enhanced leadership all while in a wilderness environment.