Building Leadership Strategies Summer Academy

Develop The Leader Within You

During this one-week credit-bearing intensive program, students will engage in a series of integrated lectures and public speaking workshops, and activities. Students will also identify their personal leadership strengths and style, enhance critical thinking skills, and hone in on communication skills. Final student presentations address individual leadership development, theory, and applications.

Students will:

Earn 1.5 college credits upon completion in the academy
Analyze and discuss their own behavior in group problem-solving challenges
Define emotional, social, and cultural intelligence and their impact on effective leadership
Describe concepts, theoretical perspectives, and current trends in organizational leadership
Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate ethical dilemmas that leaders face
Make engaging, informative oral presentations with confidence
Reflect upon and share their own leadership development

Academy Overview

Who
Students completing their sophomore and junior year, ages 16 to 18 by Summer 2026

What
A residential, in-person summer program to learn and develop personal leadership and communication skills

When
Week I: July 12 - July 18, 2026
Week II: July 19 - July 25, 2026

Where
Rutgers–New Brunswick in New Jersey

_{^{Additional Benefits}}

All students will earn 1.5 college credits upon completion of the Building Leadership Strategies Academy.

Application Information

Daily Sample Schedule

Below is the sample schedule for a student in the Building Leadership Strategies Academy.

^{_{*Evening activities will consist of a variety of different events, such as a movie night at the Rutgers Cinema, arts and crafts events, sports, and more. All activities are supervised by a residential or program assistant.}}

Students will move into their on-campus residential dorm.

Monday

8:00am	Breakfast
9:00am	Welcome and Introduction of Faculty, Icebreaker
9:30am	Academic Sessions • Introduction • Theories of Leadership
12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm	Academic Sessions • Communication Skills for Leaders
3:30pm	Debrief
4:00pm	Assignment, rest, and recreation time
6:00pm	Dinner
7:00pm	Cultural/recreational group activity

Tuesday

8:00am	Breakfast
9:00am	Academic Sessions • The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
11:00am	Academic Sessions • Self Leadership
12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm	Academic Sessions • Self Leadership
2:00pm	Academic Sessions • Working in Groups and Teams
3:45pm	Debrief
4:00pm	Assignment, rest, and recreation time
6:00pm	Dinner
7:00pm	Cultural/recreational group activity

Wednesday

8:00am	Breakfast
9:00am	Academic Sessions • The Ethical Leader
12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm	Academic Sessions • Leading with Your Strengths
3:45pm	Debrief
4:00pm	Assignment, rest, and recreation time
6:00pm	Dinner
7:00pm	Cultural/recreational group activity

Thursday

8:00am	Breakfast
9:00am	Academic Sessions • The Emotionally Intelligent Leader
11:00am	Academic Sessions • The Power of Planning: Own Your Time
12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm	Team Building Field Trip
3:45pm	Debrief
4:00pm	Assignment, rest, and recreation time
6:00pm	Dinner
7:00pm	Cultural/recreational group activity

Friday

8:00am	Breakfast
9:00am	Academic Sessions • Fundamentals of Parliamentary Procedure
12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm	Academic Sessions • Outgroups
2:00pm	Final Group Presentations
3:45pm	Debrief
4:00pm	Rest and recreation time
6:00pm	Closing ceremony and dinner
8:00pm	Cultural/recreational group activity