STRETCH-LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
Fostering Leadership and Resilience
The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, in collaboration with Worldview, organised the three-day program from July 12th to 14th, 2025, in the scenic landscape of the Golden Boulder Campus, Wanaparthi, Telangana. The program was attended by the prefects of Grade 8, accompanied by teachers, all of whom embarked on a powerful journey of self-discovery, teamwork, and real-world learning.
STRETCH focused on developing leadership, self-awareness, team collaboration, survival skills, and emotional resilience through immersive, real-world activities in a natural setting.
Day 1: Arrival, Reflection & Team Building
The journey began with students arriving at the camp and being welcomed into a safe yet adventurous environment. The day’s focus was on self-discovery and building group cohesion.
- Ice-breakers & Trust-building Activities: Students were divided into small teams and engaged in fun challenges that broke initial inhibitions and encouraged mutual trust.
- Self-reflection and Journaling: Participants were guided through exercises to reflect on their strengths, fears, and aspirations. Journaling helped them begin their leadership journey.
- Understanding Group Roles: Through role-play and facilitated conversations, students explored what it means to be a leader, follower, communicator, or supporter within a group.
- Campfire Circle: The day concluded with a campfire session where students shared their thoughts, hopes, and personal stories under the stars, fostering openness and emotional bonding.
Day 2: Adventure, Survival & Leadership Challenges
The second day was packed with physical challenges and collaborative problem-solving tasks. Students were encouraged to test their limits, face their fears, and function as cohesive units under pressure.
Trek to Golden Boulder: A morning trek through uneven terrain led to the iconic Golden Boulder. The hike emphasised endurance, navigation, and cooperation.
Rappelling Adventure:
With helmets on and harnesses secured, students rappelled down steep rock surfaces, confronting fear and building trust in their instructors and themselves.
- Bushcrafting Workshop: Teams learned how to build temporary shelters using natural materials, tie knots, identify useful flora, and practice basic survival skills—bringing classroom science to life.
- Leadership Simulation: Students took on rotating leadership roles to guide their teams through time-bound, resource-limited problem-solving activities. The focus was on decision-making under pressure.
Day 3: Innovation, Reflection & Closure
The final day showcased students’ creativity, engineering skills, and cooperative instincts through exciting water-based tasks and introspective sessions.
- Raft Building Challenge: Using bamboo, ropes, and barrels, teams were tasked with constructing a functional raft. Once built, they tested their creations on water, balancing design thinking with practical teamwork.
- Raft Races & Debrief: After testing their rafts, teams engaged in friendly competitions. The post-activity debrief focused on what worked, what didn’t, and what they learned about leadership and teamwork.
Final Reflection Circle: Students were asked to revisit their Day 1 journals and share how their perspectives had shifted over three days.
Certification & Celebration: The program concluded with a short ceremony recognizing each participant’s growth, courage, and contribution.
🌟 Impact & Takeaways
Throughout the STRETCH program, students experienced:
- Greater self-confidence and independence
- Enhanced collaboration and communication skills
- Exposure to real-world challenges requiring creative thinking
- A deeper connection with nature and self
- A foundational understanding of what it takes to be a leader in action
Teachers observed a visible shift in students’ maturity, empathy, and initiative. STRETCH wasn’t just an excursion—it was an awakening to the world beyond the classroom, where learning comes alive through experience.
