Area F advisors gathered for an unforgettable day of connection, collaboration, and creativity at this year’s Leadership Adventure event. Hosted in partnership with the Area F Council and the incredible advisors and students of Great Oak High School, the event featured a full agenda designed to inspire both high school and middle school ASB programs. New and experienced advisors alike found the day uplifting, insightful, and filled with practical tools to bring back to their campuses.
A Warm Welcome and Powerful Start
The day kicked off with registration, check-in, and a continental breakfast that gave participants a chance to mingle before the program began. The opening Step Team performance set the tone with energy and excitement, leading into keynote speaker Juan Carbajal, who encouraged students and advisors to embrace the adventure of leadership with purpose and passion. Icebreakers followed, creating an atmosphere of fun and engagement right from the start.
Gallery Walk: Real Conversations, Real Solutions
One of the most impactful sessions was the Gallery Walk, which encouraged participants to explore leadership challenges and share solutions.
High school leaders discussed topics like:
Fundraisers that take little effort
Leadership lessons that stick
Activities that build campus culture beyond dances and rallies
Creative ways to connect staff to school spirit
Middle school participants focused on building strong foundations for their programs, with discussions such as:
Building relationships with administrators and staff (Who Will You Take on Your ASB Adventure?)
Supporting mental health through ASB activities (The Ultimate Adventure: Navigating the Middle School Landscape)
Creating sustainable ASB programs (Getting Ready for Future Adventures Starts Now)
Using technology like 5 Star to boost student engagement while supporting PBIS
Meet the Pros: Learning from the Best
After a short break, participants rotated through three “Meet the Pros” sessions, hearing from some of the most experienced voices in student leadership.
High school advisors and students learned about building bridges between students and staff (Greg Dowden), budgets and assignments (Sara Daddario), and the art of teaching students to be managers (Eric Burlingham).
Middle school sessions included Liz White’s popular “fantasy draft” staff involvement strategy, Tara Fry’s insights on building culture from the top down, and Dilene Pulsipher’s session on the power of ASB advisor collaboration.
Sessions open to both groups featured a wide range of topics—from DJing your own rallies (Chad Barajas) to diversity fairs (Becca Cook) to student engagement strategies with 5 Star (Estee Davisson).
CADA Slam: 15 Ideas in 30 Minutes
The day concluded with the always-anticipated CADA Slam – Area F Advisor Edition. Fifteen presenters had just two minutes each to share quick-hit ideas that could be implemented tomorrow, next week, or next month. Ideas ranged from mental health check-ins and intramurals to event debriefs using AI, campus calendars, and even dancing balloon people to create school spirit.
This rapid-fire session left attendees inspired and eager to try new approaches on their own campuses.
Why This Event Matters
The Area F Leadership Adventure was more than a professional development event, t was a chance for advisors and students to recharge, connect with colleagues, and remember why student leadership matters. By providing a mix of practical strategies, meaningful discussions, and creative inspiration, this event continues to shape the future of leadership education in California. A big thank you to the Great Oak Family – Don Skaggs, K Baron, Erin Andrade and Lisa Balka – for hosting, leading and developing the event with help from the Area F Council, they could take this show on the road.
