The Shelton Challenge is a six-day, residential program built on the Shelton Leadership Center’s core values, and is designed to help high school students enhance their capacities to become values-based leaders. This immersive program is designed to transform potential into real-world skills through mentorship, self-reflection, and shared discovery. 

Our Approach

DEVELOP

Throughout the Shelton Challenge, students will immerse themselves in daily classroom sessions, where they’ll learn about and develop an array of effective leadership skills essential for leadership roles. These sessions foster dynamic discussions, peer reflection, and mentorship with Challenge Instructors, enhancing their leadership acumen through active engagement.

ENGAGE

Students will put their learning into action during engaging, hands-on activities, such as high and low ropes courses, a local community service group project, a culminating graduation ceremony and presentation, and a range of team-building exercises and practical applications. Each day provides an opportunity for students to actively apply what they’ve learned to a variety of activities.

LEAD

Upon completion of the Shelton Challenge, students will align their personal values with their leadership style, empowering them to effectively lead within their local communities and organizations. Moreover, they’ll gain an understanding of navigating leadership among groups and individuals with differing perspectives.

The program invites emerging leaders to be part of an engaged community for the week and participate in activities designed to teach leadership concepts such as ethical decision-making, civic and social responsibility, effective communication, collaboration, and goal setting. Are you up for the Challenge?

Summer 2026 Dates

Week 1: Sunday June 14 – Friday, June 19

Week 2: Saturday, June 27 – Thursday, July 2

Week 3: Sunday, July 12 – Friday, July 17

More information

Interested in returning to the Shelton Challenge or joining our Volunteer Staff?

If you’re passionate about developing the next generation of leaders, we welcome you to volunteer on our summer staff. We offer a variety of volunteer roles each summer, and even if you haven’t participated in the Shelton Challenge as a student, there’s a place for you on our team!

Learn more and apply

Other Shelton Challenge Sites

The Shelton Leadership Center partners with communities across North Carolina and beyond to provide this leadership experience to pre-college students. Students who participate at one of these sites receive the same opportunities and experiences they would at the Red Hat Shelton Challenge, though customized for their particular needs and spaces. Partners are trained by Shelton Leadership Center and provided with all the resources to deliver the program at their site. If you are interested in attending a Shelton Challenge at one of our other sites, please visit their websites below:

NC Wesleyan University, Rocky Mount, NC

McNair Educational Foundation

Thank You to Our Supporters and Partners

The generous support of many partners makes the Shelton Challenge experience possible!

We would like to thank:

• Red Hat, Inc.
• Shelton Challenge Alumni and Friends

Meet our Shelton Challenge Staff

PW

Parker Watson

Assistant Director for Pre-College Programs & First Year Experiences

prwatso3@ncsu.edu

Shelton Challenge News

February 14, 2024

Alumni Feature: Matthew and Marian Baroncelli

For program alumni Matthew and Marian Baroncelli, the Shelton Challenge is more than just a leadership experience. It is a long-standing part of their family. Both Matthew and Marian attended…

January 17, 2024

NC State Employees Can Contribute to a 20-Year Legacy with the Shelton Challenge

There are many ways that NC State employees can be involved in the 2024 Red Hat Shelton Challenge. For over 20 years, the Shelton Leadership Center has produced this youth leadership development program…