Mondays with Mike: Direction and Distance

What a wonderful weekend of weather and fun here at the PCA campus. We had the privilege of working with 8 seniors who will be serving as student leaders next year, providing them leader challenges and opportunities to learn an grow. One thing we did with them was teach them the basics of land navigation, and how to determine DIRECTION and DISTANCE.

I talk about that a bit in this week’s podcast and share how that relates to all of us at PCA for the coming year. I hope you enjoy and are encouraged as well.

Summary of Podcast

I just wrapped up an incredible weekend with some of our seniors, Mr. Hecklemanm, and Mrs. Shoemaker. Mr. Hecklemann is our principal at the Upper School, and Mrs. Shoemaker is our Dean of Women.

We took a group of senior leaders through a 36-hour bonding challenge course right here on campus. The students camped out, rotated through leadership positions, and participated in various challenges. We enjoyed campfires and evening swims, which helped them get out of their comfort zones and bond as a team.

One of the key activities was a land navigation course, where we taught our seniors how leadership applies to navigating terrain both individually and as a team. This included determining direction and understanding distance. Mrs. Shoemaker led us in a devotional from Exodus chapter three, framing the coming year with themes of direction and distance, much like God’s guidance to Moses.

As we look ahead to the new school year, our focus remains on maximizing each student’s God-given potential and challenging them to grow. Whether you’re new to PCA or returning, welcome! We’ve included over a hundred new students, and we’re excited to have you all join us. We’ll be fine-tuning some aspects of our direction and sharing more details in the coming weeks.

During our land navigation exercise, we emphasized the importance of understanding one’s pace count—the number of steps taken to cover a specific distance. This exercise highlighted how each student moves at a different speed, symbolizing how we all progress at our own pace in life. This analogy will guide us as we come together as a community, regardless of our individual speeds.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be welcoming new faculty, preparing for Shine Week, and getting ready for the new school year. Our school calendar is available on Veracross and our website, providing key dates and events to help you navigate the year smoothly. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with us through the PCA community Facebook page or send us feedback.

We are excited and called to support your children and partner with you as parents and grandparents. As we prepare for the upcoming year, we are committed to helping your children grow and flourish in their faith, academics, and personal development. Life may present challenges, but together, we will navigate them as a community.

We’re praying for you and look forward to seeing you on campus soon. God bless you!

Three people walking outdoors; two are holding hands and carrying a white bucket.
Water Challenge: To save families upriver who are at risk of cholera, get as much fresh water as possible (55 gallons) to the dock to the rescue boat, which leaves in 20 minutes! Work as a team to figure out how to shuttle the water from the fresh water source to the cistern near the dock–and each bucket weighs over 40 pounds.  
A group of people in casual clothing stands on a grassy path in a field. They appear to be looking at something being lifted or carried. Trees are visible in the background.
Casualty Evacuation: In a former war zone, and minefields have been left behind. One of the mine-clearers has stepped on a mine and needs rescue. Figure out how to get to him, then get him on a litter and evacuate him to the helicopter pickup site in 15 minutes to save his life–and don’t wander into the minefield! He weighs 180 lbs!
Four people pulling a weighted sled on a paved path near parked vehicles and trees.
Helping Hands! Help a mute farmer need get his goods to market so he can secure a good stall. But his wagon broke and his goods are scattered. Find the farmer, then figure out how to transport his goods to market (weighing over 400 pounds) before the doors open and all the best stalls are taken–that is less than 30 minutes!
A group of people sits on grass, listening to a person kneeling in front of them. The scene takes place outdoors on a sunny day with trees and a road in the background.
Learning to leader more effectively requires reflection and after action reviews. Here is the team after one of their challenges helping the lessons they just earned sink in.
A group of people sit around a campfire at night, with their faces illuminated by the firelight.
Sometimes reflection is directed, and sometimes it is open to the moment. Time around the fire provides another time to connect and let our experiences sink in.

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