Queen City High School STARS take Disney

Several years ago while looking for learning opportunities outside our immediate area, GT Coordinator, Mandi Stringer, discovered that Disney offered guided field studies known as the Disney Youth Education Series.

She wanted to offer students learning experiences that couldn’t be obtained within the four walls of a classroom but provided meaningful opportunities for growth in visionary, servant and entrepreneurial leadership.

Knowing that good leaders need to possess all three types of leadership skills and that our students are our future leaders, Mrs. Stringer turned this opportunity into a reality.

Disney’s YES program allows students to use their theme parks as a learning laboratory for a hands-on, educational adventure.

December marked the fifth year that junior and senior members of the QCHS Gifted and Talented program were up and at the parks each day before they opened to the public to participate in this innovative learning opportunity.

After looking through the choices, this year’s group elected to take the “Disney Leadership Strategies” and “Energy and Waves Physics Lab” classes during their trip.

“Disney Leadership Strategies” focused on the creation of the attraction, SOARIN’, and the importance of visionary leadership.

Students explored the relationship between good leadership and successful business strategies while discovering the value of communication, training and empowerment when creating an environment conducive to performance excellence. SOARIN’, one of Disney’s most popular attractions, also teaches a lesson in perseverance.

The original idea was scrapped by all the imagineers and team, but one imagineer refused to give up. He continued to work on the project and found a solution to make it happen.

Because one man refused to give up, SOARIN’ takes millions of guests each year on a hang gliding adventure around the globe to visit many natural and manmade wonders of the world.

“Energy and Waves Physics Lab” centered on the attraction, The Haunted Mansion. Students discovered how energy is transmitted by light and sound waves, how these waves affect the Disney Guest experience and day-to-day life and how light and sound can be manipulated.

After learning about the intricacies of “Pepper’s Ghost Theory”, students journeyed underneath The Haunted Mansion to observe how reflection was used by imagineers to create the ghosts for this attraction and watched the process play out as Disney guests toured the eerie, haunted estate in Magic Kingdom.

As the students enjoyed some free time in the parks, it was easy to see why Walt Disney World is known as “The Happiest Place on Earth”.

Perhaps more importantly, Disney should be known for helping to educate our youth and impact the leaders of tomorrow. Walt Disney once said, “Our greatest national resource is the minds of our children,” and Disney’s commitment to the education of future generations through the YES program is a testament to the legacy that he left behind.