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Youth Leadership Program2006Update |
By Megan Dalton, Shelton High School
While most teenagers spend their summers lounging around the pool, casually sipping lemonade, the 27 Valley high school students that make up the Youth Leadership Program put their summer to good use by discussing and planning events for the coming months.
The Youth Leadership Program, which started in 1990 with a grant from the community foundation from greater New Haven, has had over 300 Valley youth participants over the years, all of whom possessed the necessary qualities of great leaders. This year is no different.
This year’s program began just a few months ago when a group of high school students disembarked on a teambuilding retreat to Camp Jewell in Colebrook, CT in early April. During that 3 day trip, that group of high school students quickly transformed into youth leaders. They were put out of their usual comfort zones, where they had to learn how to trust and communicate with each other in order to successfully solve problems, after only just meeting. It was truly an amazing experience, which will never be forgotten. Confidence was built, bonds were formed, and Youth leaders were created.
Since attending Camp Jewell, the Youth leaders aren’t wasting any time in using the skills they learned. Nearly every week, the Youth Leadership Program holds a meeting in which they make important decisions and discuss upcoming events. Examples of important decisions that are made include electing officer positions, assigning committees, and determining when the next meeting should be.
The first event that the group participated in as a whole was volunteering at the Postal Carriers Food Drive at the Derby Spooner house in May. There were two different shifts in which members could come for, but almost everyone stayed the entire day, helping out and collecting food, showing that true leaders exceed the expected.
When summer arrived, the Youth Leadership Program swung into high gear with the approaching matter of deciding upon their big fundraiser for the year. After many great ideas were proposed by various Youth Leadership members, they finally settled on one: a talent competition.
The event, which has been named Valley Idol, will allow middle and high school students from the Valley to audition and show off their talent whether it involves song or dance or musical instruments. The entire competition is going to be organized by the Youth leaders, who have divided themselves into committees involving aspects such as advertising, auditions, and decorations. Valley Idol will be held on November 17, 2006 in the evening at Seymour Middle School. Along with Valley Idol, the Youth leaders decided on holding two car washes to help raise money. They will be held sometime in August and September.
Besides the fundraisers happening in the fall, the Youth Leadership members have another task at hand. Every year, a needs-assessment is performed by the Youth leaders in order to determine the needs of Valley youth. They will be sending out a Request for Proposals to organizations who will submit requests for grants that help fund programs focusing on the needs of Valley youth. It is then up to the Youth Leadership members to determine which programs deserve a grant. They have a budget of about $3000 each year for grants. However, this year will be the first time that the Youth leaders will be raising their own money for the grants.
Overall, it seems like it will continue to be an exciting and extraordinary year for the Youth Leadership Program.
