Garthwait Leadership Center

Helping others recognize their potential for leadership and their responsibility to serve.

The Garthwait Leadership Center offers a menu of opportunities and services to develop your leadership skills. Start your leadership journey at Gettysburg College here.

Featured programs

Ascent Experiences — Ascent Outdoor Pre-Orientation Program

Ascent is for incoming students interested in learning skills and connecting with peers in a novel and dynamic environment. Experiences are led by trained student facilitators, and students often end the experience feeling capable, connected and more prepared to begin their time at Gettysburg.

About the Ascent Experiences

Leadership Certificate — Lead ethically and effectively

A one-year program that provides first-year and second-year students the opportunity to tap into their leadership potential. Explore how your talents, skills, values, and interests inform your leadership journey at Gettysburg and beyond.

About the Leadership Certificate

Group Facilitation Fellowship — Learn to facilitate groups

The Group Facilitation Fellowship is an experience open to 18 first or second year students selected through an application and interview process. You will develop group leadership, individual leadership and outdoor leadership facilitation skills.

About the Group Facilitation Fellowship

Outdoor Trips — Participate in a unique experience

Outdoor trips can provide a rich context for cultivating leadership. Our trips stimulate self-awareness, communication, decision-making, and reflection. We offer day to week-long experiences backpacking, hiking, kayaking and rock climbing.

Learn about our Outdoor Trips

Request a Custom Group Workshop