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 You may have noticed our summer camp staff and children on one of their outings and wondered, “How do those staff manage all of those kids at once?” One reason is that they have lots of help from the young people enrolled in the Youth Leadership Program.
The Youth Leadership Program is designed for youth ages 12 to 15 to assist in developing and strengthening leadership skills through participation in fun learning experiences and practical training within Recreation Department programs.
The Youth Leadership Program also builds self confidence and is based on the premise that the youth of today will serve as the leaders of tomorrow. Youth Leaders receive training for specific leadership responsibilities and have follow up evaluations to improve their skills and nurture their leadership characteristics.
Our mission is to motivate and train potential young leaders, to enable them to take an active role in their community. This will result in strong leaders who have hope for the future and the tools to influence a positive and active community.
All participants involved in the Youth Leadership Program must first submit an application form and attend an orientation session with their parents. This session will give an overview of the program, and provide an opportunity to ask questions to help decide whether or not this program is for them. Following the orientation session potential youth leaders will be selected for the program. Once enrolled, Youth Leaders will be given a schedule at the beginning of the summer which involves active participation in:
- Volunteering
- Training Sessions
- Social Activities
- Community Events
A typical week in the Youth Leadership Program may consist of:
•A Monday morning team meeting and a volunteering session at a sports camp
•A Wednesday night social such as rock climbing
•A Friday afternoon training session on various topics that will help build strong leadership skills
The Youth Leadership Program is a commitment for the summer however, makes allowances for family vacations, sport involvement etc.
A young person who had completed the Youth Leader Program was asked why he wanted to assist with our programs. His answer was, “I want to be a part of my community, I want to make a difference”. That young person is now one of our newest program instructors.
For more information on the Youth Leadership Program contact your local recreation centre.
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