LEAD @ Laurier Summer Retreat
If you're looking to build upon your leadership skills and solidify a plan to become a leader at Laurier, then the LEAD (Leadership, Education and Development) @ Laurier Summer Retreat is for you!
Join us on campus July 27 (Waterloo students) or July 28 (Brantford students) for a full day of engaging leadership activities, meeting fellow incoming students, and connecting with senior students, the Students' Union, faculty members, senior leaders at Laurier, and more!
Milton students...join us on your (brand new!) campus for a half-day retreat on August 8!
We will be adding more details to the schedules below over the next few weeks. While you sit on the edge of your seat awaiting more details, here's a sneak peek into the events and activities we are planning for you!
Registration
Registration is now live!
Waterloo: Early bird tickets are available for $45 until July 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Spots are limited, so buy your ticket today! Regular admission tickets will be available for $60 from July 22-23. Ticket price includes access to all events, light refreshments, catered lunch and dinner, exclusive LEAD @ Laurier swag, and so much more!
Brantford: Tickets are available for $45 until July 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Spots are limited, so buy your ticket today! Ticket price includes access to all events, light refreshments, catered lunch and dinner, exclusive LEAD @ Laurier swag, and so much more!
Milton: Early bird tickets are available for $30 until August 4 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Regular admission tickets will begin on August 5 at midnight for $45. Ticket price includes access to all events, light refreshments, dinner, exclusive LEAD @ Laurier swag, and so much more!
Event Schedule
Check-In
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Grab a nametag, grab some coffee or tea, and meet your new classmates!
We'll have a few icebreaker activities available so that students can get to know each other before we really dive into the day's activities.
Keynote: Leading Yourself and Others
10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m.
We’ll kick off the day with a session led by one of our award-winning leadership faculty members, Dr. Rosemary McGowan! This session will have you exploring what it means to be a leader and will help guide you to discover the true leader inside of you.
Student Group Meet and Greet & Lunch
12:00-1:30 p.m.
Wondering how to apply your leadership skills and get involved as a new Golden Hawk? Grab some lunch and connect with representatives from our various clubs, committees, and Faculty Associations through the Wilfrid Laurier Students’ Union.
Interested in becoming an official leader in the Laurier Community before September? You’ll be able to join a club or association right away, so you’re set up before classes even begin!
Breakout Session 1: Getting Involved at Laurier
1:30-2:30 p.m.
In this interactive session, you'll get connected with representatives from the Wilfrid Laurier Students' Union and Residence (for those living on-campus) or LOCUS (for those living off-campus). Representatives will give you an overview of all the great ways you can get involved in your first year, from House Councils to Students' Union Committees.
Breakout Session 2: Leadership 101
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Join the Laurier 101 team for an introduction to all the different ways to lead as a Golden Hawk. In this session, we will discuss different foundations of leadership, and you will discover that there is no one set way to lead. You'll get to explore your own strengths, consider how you can bring your strengths into a leadership setting, and learn that there is a great leader in everyone!
Let's Get LEADing: The Pixel Project
4:00-5:30 p.m.
It's time to put all of your leadership skills to the test! Teamwork, problem-solving, and a little bit of creativity will be the name of the game for this fun activity.
Group Wrap-Up
5:30-6:00 p.m.
We'll come together as a group one last time to reflect on our day together and celebrate a job well done!
Dinner followed by Lawn and Chill
6:00-onwards
After a jam-packed day of activities, the Students' Union will host an evening event with lawn games and more, so you can chill with your new Golden Hawk besties.
Check-In
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Grab a nametag, grab some coffee or tea, and meet your new classmates!
We'll have a few icebreaker activities available so that you can get to know your fellow Golden Hawks before we really dive into the day's activities.
Keynote: Leading Yourself and Others
10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m.
We’ll kick off the day with a session led by one of our award-winning leadership faculty members, Dr. Bruce Arai! This session will have you exploring what it means to be a leader and will help guide you to discover the true leader inside of you.
Student Group Meet and Greet & Lunch
12:00-1:30 p.m.
Wondering how to apply your leadership skills and get involved as a new Golden Hawk? Grab some lunch and connect with representatives from our various clubs, committees, and Faculty Associations through the Wilfrid Laurier Students’ Union.
Interested in becoming an official leader in the Laurier Community before September? You’ll be able to join a club or association right away, so you’re set up before classes even begin!
Breakout Session 1: Getting Involved at Laurier
1:30-2:30 p.m.
In this interactive session, you'll get connected with representatives from the Wilfrid Laurier Students' Union and Residence (for those living on-campus) or LOCUS (for those living off-campus). Representatives will give you an overview of all the great ways you can get involved in your first year, from House Councils to Students' Union Committees.
Breakout Session 2: Leadership 101
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Join the Laurier 101 team for an introduction to all the different ways to lead as a Golden Hawk. In this session, we will discuss different foundations of leadership, and you will discover that there is no one set way to lead. You'll get to explore your own strengths, consider how you can bring your strengths into a leadership setting, and learn that there is a great leader in everyone!
Let's Get LEADing: The Pixel Project
4:00-5:30 p.m.
It's time to put all of your leadership skills to the test! Teamwork, problem-solving, and a little bit of creativity will be the name of the game for this fun activity.
Group Wrap-Up
5:30-6:00 p.m.
We'll come together as a group one last time to reflect on our day together and celebrate a job well done!
Dinner followed by Lawn and Chill
6:00-onwards
After a jam-packed day of activities, the Students' Union will host an evening event with lawn games and more, so you can chill with your new Golden Hawk besties.
Check-In & Welcome
2:30-3:15 p.m.
Grab a nametag, grab some snacks, and meet your new classmates! We can't wait to welcome you to our brand-new Milton campus.
Session 1: Getting Involved
3:15-4:00 p.m.
In this interactive session, you'll learn all about the Milton Student Leadership Council, the different roles available, and what the council will accomplish during the year. If you're looking for a leadership position in your first year - you won't want to miss this session!
Session 2: Avoiding Burnout
4:00-4:45 p.m.
Join us for a session all about beating burnout! In this session, we will share tips to help you manage stress, balance your workload, and take care of yourself as you navigate your university experience. Learn practical strategies to stay motivated and avoid burnout while making the most of your first year.
Let's Get LEADing: The Pixel Project
4:45-5:15 p.m.
It's time to put all of your leadership skills to the test! Teamwork, problem-solving, and a little bit of creativity will be the name of the game for this fun activity.
Dinner and Social
6:00-8:00 p.m.
After a jam-packed afternoon of activities, grab some dinner and enjoy some games and opportunities to chill with your new Golden Hawk besties.
Things to do in the Community for Parents and Supporters
LEAD @ Laurier is a students-only event and guests are not permitted.
If your parents or supporters are in the area for the day while you attend LEAD, encourage them to check out this list of activities to help them keep busy while you're on campus.
Looking to grab a bite to eat? Waterloo has an array of food to eat stemming from many different cultures, including some unique ones special to the city including Bao Sandwich Bar, Ennio’s Pasta House, Smoke’s Poutinerie (founded by a Laurier grad), and Korner Kitchen. When it’s time for dessert we definitely recommend trying Waterloo’s iconic ice cream hot spot Four All Ice Cream.
Looking to do some shopping? Check out Waterloo’s Conestoga Mall or the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market for fresh produce and food and some neat knick knacks.
Looking for some fun activities? Waterloo has a number of great activities located throughout the city for those looking to pass some time! KW Escape is one of Waterloo’s great escape room adventures! Check it out for a fun filled time. Kingpin at Bingemans is also a great place and connected with a Boston Pizza so you can have fun and grab a bite! If you want to be brave, try your hand at axe throwing at Bad Axe Throwing, an added bonus is that it is close to campus. If you’re looking for something more passive, consider checking out some older and classic movies at Apollo Cinemas located in Downtown Kitchener. This is also a great destination if you want to support more local restaurants and shops!
Looking to take in the scenery? Waterloo has a great trail system that allows folks to take in the scenery and enjoy views of the Grand River. You can find Waterloo’s trail map on the City of Waterloo Trail Webpage.
Looking to grab a bite to eat? Brantford has a wide variety of places to eat, including some unique ones special to the city including Sociable, Nine North, and Zander’s. When it’s time for dessert we definitely recommend trying Brantford’s iconic ice cream hot spot Dairee Delite.
Looking to do some shopping? Check out Brantford’s Lynden Park Mall.
Looking for some fun activities? Brantford has a number of great activities located throughout the city for those looking to pass some time! Escape Key is one of Brantford’s great escape room adventures! Northfield Gold Centre is one of Brantford’s hot spots for mini putting, or for those looking to practice their golf swing on the driving range! If golf isn’t your sport, try your hand at bowling at Echo Bowl, an added bonus is that it is close to campus. If you’re looking for something more passive, consider checking out some of the hit summer flicks at Galaxy Cinemas located in the Brantford Commons plaza. This is also a great destination if you still have more shopping to do!
Looking to take in the scenery? Brantford has a great trail system that allows folks to take in the scenery and enjoy views of the Grand River. You can find Brantford’s trail map on the City of Brantford Trail Webpage. You can also visit the Bell Homestead National Historic Site where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone!
Looking to grab a bite to eat? Milton has a wide variety of places to eat, including some unique ones special to the city including Locanda, The Eighth Note and Thai House. When it’s time for dessert we definitely recommend trying downtown Milton’s iconic ice cream hot spot Rock Star Ice Cream.
Looking to do some shopping? Toronto Premium Outlets is just a ten-minute drive from campus, and is a great spot for scoring some deals.
Looking for some fun activities? Milton has a number of great activities located throughout the city for those looking to pass some time! Mission Possible is one of Milton’s great escape room adventures! If you want a place with variety, Champs Family Entertainment Centre has bowling, billiards, an arcade, and much more. If you’re looking for something more passive, consider checking out some of the hit summer flicks at Cineplex Cinemas, just a quick drive down the highway.
Looking to take in the scenery? Nestled right in the Niagara Escarpment, Milton is a great town for hiking and trails. Connect to the Bruce Trail and check out some great lookouts through Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area, or enjoy the views from below at Lake Kelso.