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WILL members commit to participate in all WILL activities, which typically take place twice a month, usually on Saturdays or school holidays. During the WILL Year, participants are together at least 275 hours, which would equal 1 ½ hours per school day if we met every day. Extended trips, such as the Wilderness Expedition or Chesapeake Bay Adventure, are exceptions (see below). No WILL activities interfere with the members' regular school schedules. And all activities—whether behind the scenes at the Kennedy Center, nutrition and healthy eating choices, music from other cultures, the college admissions forum, service project, or high adventure on the Chesapeake Bay or Appalachian Trail—enlarge the life experiences and build character and the leadership potential of our members.

Each WILL Year looks similar to what is discussed below but has its own special essence. The activities and adventures described below trace the experiences of the 2007-08 WILL Class. Prior years’ adventures can be found by clicking on the “Retrospective” page for the year desired, found at the bottom of this “Programs” page.

1. Challenge/Ropes Course - On two wonderful fall Saturdays, October 27 and November 3, 2007, WILL kicked off its 2007-2008 year with a challenge/ropes course. The day featured various challenges that help to form a cohesive WILL unit built on trust and teamwork. We began with ice breakers and other getting-acquainted activities and then moved to "low ropes" challenges designed to build trust and foster teamwork and communication among newly acquainted WILL members. The afternoon's "high ropes" challenge reinforced the morning’s lessons and called for WILL members to reach beyond their comfort zones for new horizons.


"I thought to myself many times to climb back down, but I didn’t." — Briyana	"I learned how to face my fear of heights. It wasn’t really easy, like some problems in my life, so that means I can improve." — Christian

2. Parents Orientation - Early in the fall, WILL held several orientation sessions for parents and new WILL members. See "Parents" page for details (click here).

3. On Board the Susquehanna to Learn Our Role in the Health of the Bay - On the two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, WILL members boarded the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's (CBF's) boat, The Susquehanna, to learn about the importance of the Bay to the region, the integral role that the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers play in keeping the Bay healthy, and how our lives on land impact these vital waterways. WILL members teamed up to perform different water quality tests and then described their results to the group. We also pulled fish from the rivers to learn how to identify and handle them, an exciting new experience for most WILL members. The Susquehanna is a workboat originally designed for crabbing and dredging oysters on the Chesapeake. It was a great way to spend a fall day—and educational, too.

4. WILL's Holiday Party - Each December, WILL members and their families gather together to celebrate the holiday season with a festive party. Members arrived early and decorated the party room in true holiday style. The families then joined for a tasty meal and festivities which included a special, personal gift for each WILL member to commemorate the first part of his/her year-long WILL adventure. On December 15, 2007, 100+ WILL members and their families celebrated this special day together.

7. Nutrition/Wellness and South American Music - On February 2, 2008, we added a new and exciting element to our program—wellness and nutrition. The first half of the day, Monica Silvestro, a renowned Certified Holistic Health Counselor (Monica’s website address is www.yourintuitivehealth.com), engaged WILL participants in a lively discussion about healthy eating choices, portion size, reading packages for nutritional content, the benefits of organic over processed foods, and ended by teaching us how to make a terrific organic burrito and lunch. In the afternoon, we once again had the good fortune to learn about the roots of South American music and to experience the music of Cuba and other Latin American cultures from Steve, Kike, and Miguel, a/k/a Sweet Saludos. This trio is renowned in the DC area and countries around the globe and has graced the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. WILL members had hands-on experience playing the instruments along with our musical ambassadors. It was a wonderful day of interactive learning and cultural exchange.

8. A Day at the Lanes - On February 18, 2008, Presidents Day, WILL members took advantage of a scheduled day off from school by bowling at DC's Lucky Strike bowling lanes. The day promoted group cohesiveness and, for many, was an invigorating new activity.

"I learned how to bowl, and had a lot of fun." — Alley

"One of the main reasons we went bowling was just to grow closer together by experiencing a fun outing as a group." — Ashley

9. Nutrition/Wellness and Persian Music - On March 1, 2008, WILL continued the new nutrition/healthy eating decisions element of the program and expanded the music and cultural awareness aspect, adding Persian music. Monica again led us in an invigorating discussion of healthy eating decisions. We watched and discussed selected portions of the acclaimed movie Super Size Me. In the afternoon, we were joined and entertained by SAMA, a well known Persian musical group. WILL members experienced, for the first time, the wonderful and time-honored music from this historic culture. We all enthusiastically learned to play the Daf and Tombak. It truly was an amazing day!

"We are the future, and the older generation wants us to grow up healthy and strong." — Donald

"One aspect of the WILL program aspires to is for us to make positive decisions, and a part of that is taking care of your body.." — Ashley

10. Spring Break on the Bay - During spring break, we spent three days and two nights with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) at the Karen Noonan Center, one of the CBF’s four Environmental Education Centers on the Bay. The Karen Noonan Center is a former hunting lodge which has been converted to an educational facility for the CBF. During our stay at the Noonan Center, WILL members continued to build on their environmental/ecological education and understanding of the Bay and its watershed, begun in the fall. We learned more about sediment and nutrients, global warming and erosion and their impact on the Bay, the benefits of filtration provided by trees and grasses, and why the marsh is so important on many levels. We continued to build the group into a cohesive team. We explored and removed debris from barrier islands, dredged on an oyster bar, set crab pots, made s'mores and told stories around a roaring campfire, canoed, went on a night hike, stargazed (an incredible first time experience for many away from the city lights), did leadership initiatives and played fun games like predator and prey in the marsh, and generally expanded our growing knowledge and appreciation of the Bay's importance to our region and of our role in the Bay's future. The trip to the KNC provided a wonderful opportunity for WILL members to be out of the city and to have many new experiences, including seeing magnificent sunsets and sunrises, ospreys, and bald eagles.

"I think we accomplished our goal because we worked in groups, learned new things, and got out of our comfort zone." — Marakey

11. College Admissions Forum - On April 26, representatives from American University, Penn State, Trinity University (DC), and Washington and Lee introduced WILL members and their families to the "mysteries" of the college admissions process and what colleges look for in prospective students. At this annual forum, WILL members are able to introduce themselves to the college representatives, who are always eager to get acquainted with exceptional young men and women early in the student identification process. The forum also provided a good discussion about the financing of college tuition, led by an experienced person from the student loan industry.

“I learned that a lot of opportunities are getting wasted because too many students don’t try to find or use them.” — Christian

“I learned that even though colleges look at your art portfolio (for art majors), they also look at your grades.” — Keami

12. Kennedy Center – May 10, WILL members were graciously hosted by Mickey Berra, Vice President of Production, for a unique view behind the scenes at The Kennedy Center. Mickey has worked at The Kennedy Center since it opened, rising from stage hand to his current position of running the production side of the Kennedy Center—without question, no one knows the inside of the Kennedy Center better than Mickey. It was an amazing day, as we learned what it takes to bring a production to the stage, from load-in to opening night. We saw stage crews hard at work and seamstresses making costumes. We played with props from shows and stood on the very stages in the Opera House and Eisenhower Theater where the most famous artists and performers in the world have performed. We visited the Sheer Madness set and ate in The Kennedy Center Mess. We all owe Mickey many thanks for making this exceptional day happen.

13. Service Project on the banks of the Anacostia - On May 17, WILL members participated in a full-day service project working with the Anacostia Watershed Society near the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on the Anacostia River. We learned to identify native and invasive plants in the area and then we removed invasive plants so that native plant species could again thrive along the banks of the Anacostia River. This project exemplifies the relationship WILL endeavors to establish with the City: to play a regular role in the upkeep and survival of such a vital resource of our Nation's capital. WILL believes it is essential for its members, as leaders, to understand and appreciate the importance of giving back to one's community.

"The most important thing is that we have to take care of nature." —Jose

14. Scavenger Hunt on the National Mall - On June 7, WILL members had an exhilarating and educational day learning about our Nation's history, depicted in many monuments and memorials, and finding hidden gems in the rich museums along the Mall. The day started with a leadership exercise—a week in advance of the event, WILL members were divided into teams and had to develop plans to arrive at the Mall together and find Steve at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Once there, each team received a distinct list of historic items and works of art to locate—like the fascinating sculptures in the Sculpture Garden at the National Art Gallery—and questions to answer including: how many columns surround the Lincoln Memorial and what they represent (do you know?); on what date was the first American was killed in the Vietnam War; what do the stars on the Wall of Freedom at the WW II Memorial represent; what is the name of the boat in Winslow Homer's Breezing Up; what is the weight of the Hope Diamond; and how many lions are in Reubens' Daniel in the Lions' Den? The invigorating day concluded with a de-briefing and congratulatory lunch for job well done.

15. WILL Expedition – The long-anticipated Expedition arrived during the summer. This year, WILL's size necessitated three 7-day Expeditions, one in July and two in August. In conjunction with the Baltimore-Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound Center, WILL members explored the furthest reaches of our physical, mental, and spiritual boundaries as we backpacked along the Maryland and Pennsylvania sections of the famous Appalachian Trail. We pushed beyond our perceived limits to develop greater confidence in ourselves and greater trust in each other. We also learned to appreciate even more the benefits of working as a team. Most importantly, we learned that, with commitment, we can reach the goals we set for our lives. We also learned how to properly pack our packs, as we carried all our gear and provisions on our backs, we purified our water, cooked our food, went rock climbing, and participated in other fun and informative initiatives, including the famed Outward Bound Solo. We learned how to read a map, use a compass, set up a campsite, and apply "leave no trace" ethics and techniques so that wildlife and future visitors can also enjoy the unaltered great outdoors..

"I went rock climbing. Domonique and Jamil were in possession of my life." — Dylan

"Wonderful! That’s how my expedition was." — Jose

"The WILL/OB Solo is a time for reflection – looking inside yourself, thinking about who you are, where you are in your life, and where you want to go." — Christian

16. In between the Expedition and Graduation – August 22, WILL members gathered for the last time before graduation. We had a special tour of the U.S.Capitol, including seeing the catafalque, the simple bier of rough pine boards nailed together and covered with black cloth built for Lincoln’s coffin and used when others have lain in state in The Rotunda. We went onto the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, an extremely rare opportunity for anyone. In the afternoon, WILL members had another extraordinary experience—we saw an exhibit of hidden treasures from the National Museum of Afghanistan. This was an incredible once in a lifetime chance to see antiquities from this ancient and fabulous culture.

17. Graduation - On September 20, WILL members who successfully completed the year and their families gathered at Bell Multicultural High School to celebrate their accomplishments, their year of new experiences and experiential learning, and to honor their commitment to themselves, each other, and to WILL. WILL graduation is both a joyous and reflective time for everyone.

As noted, each WILL year is a little different. Along with the activities and adventures described above, past events have included a visit to the 3rd District Metropolitan Police Station (with a ride in a police motorcycle sidecar!), a tour of the Pentagon, a visit to the Discovery Channel, and a DC United soccer match.