Students learn leadership skills with Ricochet

Clarksville is the first school in Butler County to implement Ricochet, an ISU Extension and Outreach program that focuses on leadership skills.
     Tayler Veldhuizen, Butler County Youth Coordinator for Iowa State University Extension, recently started teaching the nine-week program with one class for sixth graders each week. The program focuses on leadership information, leadership attitude, community, decision making and stress management. After each lesson, students put what they learned to work with the activities.
     A recent lesson focused on communication. One student sat in circle with various pieces and tubes and had to work to connect them with eyes closed. Fellow students outside the circle had to serve as the eyes of the operation, telling the assembling student where the pieces were and which ones to grab.
     “They learned how to work as a team and not get frustrated when things didn’t go the way they wanted right away,” Veldhuizen said.
 
Read more in the November 8 edition of the STAR.