Day Spring Retreat
As part of its mentoring progrm, The Board of Directors of the Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation of Manasota, Inc., has sponsored a training camp for Culturally Diverse Male Students in the Sarasota County middle and high schools over the past nine years at the DaySprings Conference Center in Ellenton, FL. At the camp, the young men are exposed to leadership training and motivation by successful and well respected males: Fire Chief, Head Football Coach, Fortune Five Hundred Executive to name a few. The Annual Training Camp at the DaySpring Conference Center is held for two days in mid April each year.
On the first day, 5 juniors from each high school are selected to attend an intensive leadership training seminar to prepare them for leadership roles the following year. Training in the seminar
includes principles of leadership, leadership styles, time management, communication skills, and decision making. The second day all students in the mentoring program join the selected leaders for a full day of structured program with the impetus for students to be more aware of the importance of education, planning, preparing, and developing life long goals.
The training consisted of sessions covering the following:
- Counseling and mentoring on how to successfully make prudent decisions
- Discussions of the critical issues and concerns the students face in our society
- Encouragement on how students can focus their efforts on literacy, honing their learning skills, and tools to enhance their potential for success in their careers