The Leadership Development Team (LDT) at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has set a new goal for themselves - to fundraise and erect a new challenge course. In order to enhance leadership development opportunities, the LDT will construct and operate a high- and low-element challenge course for the use of the university, community and local businesses. Challenge courses are powerful instruments used to develop leadership, build teamwork, improve communication, enhance confidence and improve problem solving skills. The high elements, located many feet above the ground, are used to transcend personal fears and anxieties, while the low elements, located on or near the ground, are used to build teamwork and problem solving skills. The Challenge Course will be instrumental in expanding participants' experiences through communication, trust building, new and often uncomfortable situations, and problem solving.
The LDT is working hard to raise the $80,000 dollars needed to fund the project by June 1, 2008, with the goal of having the course in use by the fall semester. In addition to a matching grant, the LDT has received financial and equipment donations from private individuals, Scheels and non profit organizations totaling more than $23,000 dollars, bringing the total dollars raised to $46,000.
For more information on the challenge course or to help support the project, contact Danny Harts at (605) 660-8530 or Daniel.Harts@mines.sdsmt.edu.
About LDT: The Leadership Development Team is a group of students that are devoted to motivating, challenging and empowering students, faculty and members of the community to develop their full leadership ability through teamwork, ethical and communication activities. LDT currently coordinates the All Campus Leadership Retreat and the Leadership Recognition Banquet as well as conduct numerous Group Processing Skills leadership seminars.
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