Each fall and spring, Summit’s high school students step beyond the classroom for LEAD (Learn, Engage, Analyze, Discover) Immersion Week – an intentional pause in the academic calendar designed to bring learning to life off-campus. Rooted in Summit’s mission, LEAD experiences challenge students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings while building confidence, independence, and a sense of purpose.
Throughout the week, students engage in a thoughtful blend of community service, outdoor leadership, life skills, and mentorship – often in partnership with organizations and places that define our region. Experiences may take students to the trails of Black Balsam or Chimney Rock, into service work with Asheville-based nonprofits, onto college campuses like WCU or Duke, or even to Colorado and Costa Rica. Collectively, students experience learning as something active, relevant, and deeply connected to the world around them.
These are not one-off outings but meaningful, place-based experiences. Students might spend time supporting local initiatives, learning from professionals in the field, or developing practical life skills from first aid and outdoor preparedness to financial literacy and personal responsibility.
Each experience is designed to connect students more deeply to both their community and themselves. The true value of LEAD is not found in any single experience – it’s in what students carry forward. Over their high school tenure at Summit, these immersion weeks help shape how students think, solve problems, and show up in their communities. They return to campus not only with new skills, but with a clearer understanding of who they are and how they can contribute.
This May, as Summit celebrates its fifth graduating class, those lessons come into focus. Our seniors leave not only with strong academic foundations, but with the confidence to navigate what comes next – whether that path leads them to further education, workforce opportunities, or hands-on experiences beyond the classroom.
LEAD is part of that preparation. It reinforces that learning doesn’t happen in isolation and that growth often comes from stepping into the unfamiliar. It reminds students that their education is not just about what they know, but how they engage with the world around them.
At Summit, we believe education should prepare students for life in all its forms. Our LEAD Immersion Weeks, and the journey they support, ensure our graduates are ready to move forward with curiosity, capability, and purpose.
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