For eight Whitesboro Intermediate School (WIS) fifth-graders, summer vacation meant more than sleeping in and taking a break from school.

It meant stepping outside their comfort zones, making new friends and discovering what it means to be a leader.

This summer, the students traded their backpacks for overnight bags and headed to Lone Star Leadership Academies, where they spent a week exploring Texas, tackling challenges and building confidence that they'll carry with them into sixth grade and beyond.