The Learning Team Retreat is the kick-off for your learning team experience! These teams are an integral part of your first year Wharton experience. The primary goal of the retreat is to introduce you to your team and provide you with many opportunities to build a firm foundation for success. You will work closely with your learning team during your first year to increase your leadership and teamwork skills and to complete assignments in your first year core classes. The retreat experience is intended to help you begin to build a great learning team. To that end, please be sure that you have submitted your Personal Operating Principles Assignment and Consent Form to the Leadership Program Office in G47 JMHH.
The Learning Team Retreat is an alcohol-free event. The camp and the Wharton School cannot assume liability for activities that include the consumption of alcohol at the camp. Please do not bring any alcohol onto the camp premises.
The retreat will be held at Camp Green Lane, located outside of Philadelphia. Students will be transported from campus to the camp and then back to campus via motor coach.
The teams are established once the class has been finalized. The Graduate Division creates 12 teams per cohort using a stratified random assignment procedure with citizenship and gender as the stratification variable (each team consists of 5-6 people including at least one female student and one international student). Lists are reviewed for balance after the selection process. The common purpose of the retreat is to get to know this learning team.
Leadership Fellows are second year students who are invited and selected in the second semester of their first year. The Leadership Fellow has a variety of roles: learning coach, teaching assistant and facilitator of the retreat. Your Leadership Fellow is assigned to your learning team prior to the retreat and will serve as an invaluable resource and guide as you begin working with your team during the first semester. The Leadership Fellows can help your team address team issues and navigate the Wharton environment.
The Leadership Fellow Coordinators and the Leadership Program staff design the retreat. Other members of the Wharton community involved in the retreat include Wharton Graduate Division staff, Wharton Student Affairs staff, Teaching Assistants and Faculty. All staff, fellows and faculty members are here to support you in getting a great start!
The retreat is primarily designed for you to launch your team; therefore, most activities will be team based. Activities include team-building exercises, a team venture project and various competitive games. The purpose of these activities is to begin to get to know your teammates, further define your approach to your team, and build a foundation to work together effectively.
Most of the corporate programs you are familiar with take place in corporate centers and golf resorts. Camp Green Lane is a summer camp, food is served group-style and there is no alcohol.
If you have attended a management development program in the past you may find some of the team exercises familiar, but unlike these programs you are now working with your peers in a leaderless group. Exercises are designed to help your learning team get to know one another, have fun and successfully begin your Wharton experience.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact the Wharton Leadership Program. We look forward to meeting you soon and kicking off a great school year!
