Leadership Comes to Life at Camp Marshall 2026
Seventeen high school students—including one who traveled from the New York City metropolitan area—gathered at historic Dodona Manor last week for the third edition of Camp Marshall, a four-day immersive leadership experience hosted by the George C. Marshall International Center.
With mostly beautiful early summer weather (minus a little Tuesday rain), campers arrived eager to learn, grow and challenge themselves. Building on lessons and feedback from previous years, Camp Marshall continues to evolve, creating an even stronger experience for participants.
Throughout the week, students put leadership into action through hands-on team challenges that strengthened communication, collaboration and problem-solving. In the popular "Keepy Uppy" activity, teams worked together to keep a giant inflatable globe in the air, while the egg drop challenge tested creativity and engineering skills with each team's design protecting its egg from a drop off the top floor of Dodona Manor.
Campers also completed a service project by creating a new pollinator garden on the Dodona Manor grounds, planting flowers and installing a handcrafted sign reading "Marshall Corner" that will welcome visitors for years to come.
Thanks to Blaire Ring at Second Ave Photography for these beautiful photos of the pollinator garden!
Students explored the life and legacy of General George C. Marshall during an engaging session led by Marshall Center historian Rachel Thompson, gaining a deeper appreciation for the selfless service, integrity and visionary leadership that defined his remarkable career.
Guest speakers Alexi von Keszycki, an expert in anti-money laundering and financial compliance, and Robin Milton, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Mercury Systems, shared lessons from their careers and discussed the importance of ethical leadership in today's workplace.
The program concluded with a capstone leadership challenge in which student teams presented proposals addressing real community issues. Their ideas ranged from improving health literacy for middle school students and expanding peer mental health mentorship programs to protecting green spaces throughout Loudoun County.
Pete Janhunen works with a group of students on their capstone project at the end of Camp Marshall.
"With each edition of Camp Marshall, we're finding new ways to make the experience even more engaging and impactful for students," said Pete Janhunen, Director of the Ethical Leadership Program. "Seeing them build confidence, embrace challenges and work together is what makes the program so rewarding."
Registration is now open for the Marshall Center's upcoming Ethical Leadership Conference sessions on September 18–19 (two-day program) and November 3 (one-day program). We encourage students, parents, educators and community partners to help spread the word.