MI National Guard Child and Youth Programs

Let's do another leadership drill with your teens at home! This drill is adapted from Civil Air Patrol (CAP) "Learn to Lead" Activity Guidehttps://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/L2L_Activity_Guide__Reduced_C6CAF79_7248B911E4E79.pdf

Drill 2: One Thing is Like Another

Focus: Problem Solving & Critical Thinking

The Setup: Pick up a random, ordinary object from around the house, like a plain paperclip, a rubber band, or a water bottle.

The Action (3 Minutes): Set a 60-second timer. You and your teen must race to yell out as many abstract leadership metaphors for that object as possible.

Example for a rubber band: "A leader knows how to stretch a team's potential without snapping them," or "A leader is flexible when sudden changes happen." See who can come up with the most creative connection!

The 2-Minute Debrief: "Sometimes the best solutions require us to look at a regular problem from a completely different angle. How can thinking outside the box help you handle a tough challenge or a sudden change at school?"

Let's do some leadership drills with your teens at home! This drill is adapted from Civil Air Patrol (CAP) "Learn to Lead" Activity Guidehttps://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/L2L_Activity_Guide__Reduced_C6CAF79_7248B911E4E79.pdf
Drill 1: The Non-Verbal Match (Adapted from "Time for the Shoe")

Focus: Active Listening & Non-Verbal Communication

The Setup: Grab 4–6 small household objects (like a set of keys, a TV remote, a coffee mug, and a pen) and place them on a table.

The Action (3 Minutes): Tell your teen this is a completely silent exercise. You will point to an item, and without speaking or pointing back, your teen has to guess your "hidden objective" for that item based entirely on your non-verbal cues (e.g., you want them to pick up the keys and pretend to unlock a door, or pick up the pen and hand it back). Switch roles so they have to lead you silently! The 2-Minute

Debrief:💬 "When you couldn't use words, what non-verbal cues (like eye contact or gestures) did you have to focus on to get your message across? Why is reading body language a critical skill for a leader?"

Summer break is a great time to reflect—and we want to hear from YOU! Whether your family joined us for an event or you’re just learning about our programs, your feedback matters. Help us improve and expand services for Guard youth and families across the country. Take the Feedback Form now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ARNGCYS-Feedback-FY26