Over the past two weeks, LEAP students have engaged in a wide range of enriching and memorable experiences that support their personal growth, creativity, and career readiness.
During the first weekend, students had the opportunity to travel to Waterloo for an exciting overnight trip. Highlights included a visit to Hansenβs Dairy Farm, where they enjoyed feeding kangaroos and learning about farm life. The group also spent time dining out together and enjoyed a full day at Lost Island Adventure Waterpark.
Our valued partnership with the Des Moines Art Center has continued to thrive, with students exploring a variety of artistic mediums during Monday sessions. Mondays have also featured ongoing participation in the Dale Carnegie program, where students build confidence and communication skills, as well as Mindful Monday Yoga, promoting wellness and self-awareness.
Throughout this block, students remained active and engaged in a variety of programming. They participated in go ball games, weekly dance classes, and daily classes focused on workplace readiness skills β allowing them to work on teamwork, social skills, and self-advocacy.
Weekly Thrive Thursday presentations have continued to be a highlight. During this block, we welcomed Amber Pargmann from John Deere and Kristin Coggeshall from the Urbandale Police Department. Both speakers provided inspiring insights into their professions and shared valuable career guidance!
Learn more about the Leadership Education Advocacy Program (LEAP)