The CLA curriculum starts after parents drop-off their student. Participants will hear from engaging speakers and participate in activities within small groups. Each small group is paired with UA student facilitators, and Capstone Council members will provide mentorship throughout the program. Participants also have meals together and engage in fun down-time programming, too. CLA finishes with a closing ceremony in which parents are invited to attend. Participants will leave CLA with new friends, mentors, and equipped with tools they can employ to be effective and ethical leaders in their school and communities.

Parents are responsible for getting their students to and from Tuscaloosa. Once on campus, CLA takes care of all needed transportation.

Parents and participants will receive an email outlining times and locations for pick-up and drop-off. Please remind students to use a personal email address when filling out all participation forms. If it is one week prior to CLA and you have not yet received an email with this information please contact: capstoneacademy@ua.edu or mgsnell@ua.edu

Check-in will be around 1 pm on Sunday, March 8 and check-out will be around 3 pm on Monday, March 9.

CLA uses a combination of UA student facilitators, UA Staff, and Capstone Council to provide supervision throughout the program. Additionally, participants should not be surprised to see UA security personnel while at CLA as they provide support and assistance. Participants, facilitators and staff are expected to wear nametags during all CLA activities.

Participants should wear school-appropriate clothing. It may be cold inside buildings and students will walk to different activities. If the weather looks inclement, plan accordingly with an umbrella or raincoat.

Sunday: Wear a t-shirt from your High School (or another shirt you choose)

Monday: Wear your CLA t-shirt (we will give you this and it will be crimson in color)

• Clothing (see above for information about what to wear)
• Comfortable shoes for walking
• Pajamas
• Toiletries
• Snacks/drinks/refillable water bottle for your room or to carry with you in your bag
• Backpack/tote bag
• Notebook
• Pen/pencil
• Any needed medication with proper forms

Each participant will be assigned a roommate and they will share a fully-furnished hotel room containing two beds, a desk, a chair, a television, and a dresser.  Each room also has an en-suite bathroom. All bedding and towels are provided. Students may request roommates by February 1, 2026 by emailing requests to mgsnell@ua.edu. The participant list will be shared with students upon completion of the online participation forms due January 15, 2026.

Parents will drop-off luggage at the hotel between 12-3 pm on Sunday, March 8. The luggage will be securely stored in one room until participants can access their assigned hotel rooms on Sunday evening. Students will retrieve their luggage from the storage room and take it to their assigned room. It is suggested that students pack in one easy-to-carry duffel or small suitcase.

CLA will provide dinner on Sunday, and breakfast and lunch on Monday for all participants. Small snacks will be available at other times. Students with special dietary concerns or allergies should note them on the participation forms, and staff will attempt to provide suitable options. It is suggested that picky eaters and those with special dietary issues pack snacks and drinks to have available as needed. These items should be packed in the backpack/tote bag that students keep with them during the day, not the luggage that is dropped off at the hotel. Students are welcome to bring a refillable water bottle or cup as there are refillable water stations throughout campus.

Participants and their parents will fill out a medicine management form to note all medications participants need to take while at CLA. This form will be completed online in Ryzer as a part of the participation forms due by January 15, 2026. All medications must be noted on this form and medications should be brought the day of CLA in a ziplock bag with the correct forms.

No, all meals and activities are free for participants. Vending/retail will be available for snacks and drinks beyond what is provided if students wish to bring money for this purpose. Many things on campus are cashless, but do accept Apple Pay and credit/debit cards. Participants will receive a CLA t-shirt, but there may be time in the schedule for interested students to purchase souvenirs from the campus bookstore.

Participants and their parents will be invited to informational Zoom sessions during February. For additional questions email capstoneacademy@ua.edu or call Melissa Snell at 205-348-3117.