A total of 10 Wakatipu High School pupils from year 12 and 13 were selected for the apprentice leadership summit because they already lead, or aspired to leadership, in the arts, sports, social, creative, or academic arena, Summit youth worker Nathan Baxter said.
Everyone took turns to be project manager in two teams of five.
All were given leadership inspiration and guidance and set challenges by guest speakers in the weekly three-hour sessions, in the Queenstown Lakes District Council chambers.
ASB Queenstown manager Joel Peasey is "the boss", who decides which team wins, although in a slight change from The Apprentice, no-one is fired.
Guest speakers so far have included Wakatipu Rugby Club coach Kelvin Middleton, who talked about being a leader in all aspects of life.
MedRecruit managing director Dr Sam Hazeldine discussed "self mastery" first to become a leader.
In a test in giving clear instructions as part of leadership, project leaders were shown how to create a complex paper dart in private, then rejoined their teams and told them how to make the dart.
Orphans Aid International director Sue van Schreven this week challenged the teams to devise a successful street collection lasting 90 minutes in aid of Christchurch.
Council arts and events facilitator Jan Maxwell was scheduled next week to advise young leaders on project management and task them with organising a function for Queenstown Young Professionals (QYP).
QYP members will choose the winning concept and both teams will join forces to work to organise the function, an additional challenge of working with former rivals.
Mr Baxter said he hoped there would be opportunities for participants to exercise their newly-honed leadership skills after the course.
Which team won was not as important as the participants understanding and practising the fundamentals of character, morals and values in leadership, he said.
