Lone Star Leadership Academies are weeklong (Sunday-Friday) summer camps for outstanding Texas 4th-8th graders. Young leaders from across Texas meet in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston for a week of fun, learning, leadership development, and visits to unique and historically significant Texas destinations. Each day students explore notable Texas sites, learn about unique careers from professionals at sites visited, and develop their leadership abilities during leadership groups with their facilitators. Staff to student ratio is 1:10. Because of the academic nature of the program, adult facilitators are Texas teachers. In addition to improving their leadership abilities, participants gain self-confidence and independence and develop new friendships with other high-achieving students from across the state. Upon completion of the program, each participant receives a Lone Star Leader Certificate of Merit to be added to his or her academic achievements.