Members of the Oasis Academy High School Student Council recently returned from a three-day leadership retreat that combined fun, teamwork, and valuable lessons in leadership. The retreat gave students the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, collaborate with new people, and strengthen their skills as leaders.
Throughout the two-day program at Disneyland, students participated in interactive leadership sessions and activities designed to build communication, planning, and problem-solving skills. One of the highlights was a scavenger hunt inside Disneyland, where students worked together to complete challenges that required strategic thinking, teamwork, and creativity. The winners received Disneyland's famous churros as a reward.
“Our Disneyland leadership retreat reminded us that leadership isn’t just about directing others, it’s about listening, collaborating, and finding creative solutions together,” said Isabella Hockenberry-Grimes, Student Body President. “Between the lessons, laughter, and churros, we learned that the best leaders know how to make teamwork feel like magic.
The retreat focused on leadership principles such as cooperation, time management, and adaptability—skills the council plans to bring back and use while organizing school events and representing the student body. One skill students honed was to appreciate different perspectives within a team.
“From this retreat, I learned important life skills, one of which was how to plan with others,” said Neel Bhakta, Freshmen Class President. “Many groups would meet up and create a plan to go on rides with each other. This created a sense of teamwork among all of us, which will help us in the future as we plan events for the school.”
At the start of the retreat the group spent an afternoon at Huntington Beach, where they bonded as a team swimming in the ocean, playing volleyball, or looking for shells. The day by the ocean provided a chance to unwind and connect.
Overall, the experience was both educational, inspiring, and provided many firsts for some students.
“I found the trip extremely beneficial and enjoyable in many ways, from making new memories to learning more about myself through Student Council,” closed Stevie Hiskett, Sophomore Class President.
The Oasis Academy Student Council returned motivated and ready to apply their new skills to make a positive impact on their school community.