Christopher Bywaletz, 13, of Dawsonville was selected to join a prestigious group of other students enrolled in K-12 online schools across the country to participate in the national Making Waves Leadership Camp.

The camp was a three-day camp at George Mason University in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., from July 27-30. 

The camp was sponsored by K12 Inc, the nation’s leader of curriculum and K-12 online school programs.

The camp is centered on the concept that in order to create the ripple that becomes a large and powerful wave, a leader first must step forward and throw a stone.

In addition to making loads of news friends and sharing lots of laughs, the students attended workshops with the goal of empowering them to make a difference in the world around them. Encouraged to turn their passions into action, campers took courses on:

• Making a difference;

• The power of motivation and communication;

• Confidence in public speaking;

• Defining and taking positive risks; and

• Creating and bringing a charity or civic project to life.

Highlights of the camp included a keynote speech by Josh Shipp, a nationally recognized inspirational youth speaker.

Students across the country, who use the K12 curriculum through public virtual schools, applied to participate in this leadership workshop.

Seventy were selected to attend this all expense paid camp.

K12 provides kids a unique and exciting educational experience.  Online public schools provide personalized, one-to-one learning opportunities where education is customized to meet every child’s individual needs and learning styles.