A young girl with curly hair writing on a poster with a black marker. The poster contains a motivational quote about connection and conversation written in different colors. The girl is wearing a light gray hoodie and a black vest, and is focused on
A man giving a presentation in a classroom, with a whiteboard and colorful posters behind him and a blue water bottle on a desk in the foreground.
People listening to a man speaking inside a warehouse or manufacturing facility with shelves and boxes in the background.
Three women walk and talk along a paved path near a lake, with picnic tables, grass, and trees in the background.
A group of women sitting around a table in a classroom or workshop setting, with motivational posters on the wall behind them. One woman is speaking to another, and there are water bottles and papers on the table.
A young man with glasses and a beard, wearing a maroon polo shirt with a name tag that says Joshua Behnke, stands outdoors with arms crossed, smiling, in front of green plants and trees.
Group of people holding hands in a team-building activity outdoors in a park on a sunny day.
A group of people standing outdoors in a semi-circle around a man in military uniform.
Four people wearing safety glasses are standing and talking in a warehouse, with shelves and workers in the background.

SCIL Curriculum

The SCIL curriculum covers wide-ranging topics that focus on leadership and community development. Each day has its own leadership topic, with smaller community topics and themes sprinkled throughout the sessions. Topics include authentic leadership, diversity, emotional intelligence, economic development, local government, and much more.

  • First Step on the Journey: SCIL Overnight Retreat at Durward’s Glen

  • Leading between the Lines

  • Contrast Makes the Picture Better:  Seeing Diversity in Different Light

  • Made from Scratch: Real Leadership is Home-Cooked

  • Another Side of the Story: Featuring Segments on Addiction, Incarceration and Self-Evaluation

  • The Shadow Side of Leadership: Conflict

  • Economy and Destination as Attractor Factors to Sauk County

  • Legacy of Leadership 

  • Celebrating Success

Follow along with the 2025-2026 cohort

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Follow along with the 2025-2026 cohort 〰️

September

The Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) Class of 2026 kicked off their program with a two-day retreat at Durward’s Glen Retreat and Conference Center. The retreat, which took place on September 11 and 12, combined a variety of team building activities and guest speakers to explore qualities of leadership and help foster connections between participants. The program’s 20 participants, called “SCILsters”, come from across Sauk County, and bring together a variety of backgrounds. Throughout the nine-month program these SCILsters will visit Sauk County businesses and learn first hand from community leaders. Read more.

October

The Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) hosted its October session, “Leading Between the Lines,” on Thursday, October 9, bringing together emerging and established leaders from across the county for a day focused on connection, communication, and collaboration.

The morning began at 6:8 in Sauk City, where participants were welcomed by Morgan McArthur, UW–Extension Sauk County, and John Ramthun of 6:8 with the session “When Leadership Comes Calling.” Attendees also toured the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry, guided by Kris Ballweg, who shared how local volunteers lead through service and compassion. Read more.

November

 On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) met at the Frank Fischer Senior Center in Lake Delton to expand participants’ understanding of culture and its relevance to leadership.The group started the day by sharing an artifact that reflects their personal culture. Many of the items shared were founded in food and family. It was a unique experience for all to practice sharing a piece of their identity with others and offering an opportunity for connection with people in the group. This connectedness is a valuable piece of the SCIL process and is an important building block of any leader. Read more.

 

More about the Community and Leadership topics in the Program