Leadership and Learning at Youth Odyssey

New Youth Leaders in Training

Congratulations to our newest Youth Leaders in Training! This January, Youth Odyssey’s Youth Leadership Program inducted nine new members. The staff at Youth Odyssey chose these students for the Youth Leader Program based on their outstanding leadership skills and level of program participation. We’re super proud of this group!

As Youth Leaders in Training, students will be invited to help at school programs, ropes courses, camping trips, and service projects. By completing program responsibilities, Youth Leaders in Training can work towards becoming full-fledged Youth Leaders.

Youth Leadership Program OrientationYouth Leaders in Training
“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”Harvey S. Firestone

Growth and Development

Examples of program responsibilities for Youth Leaders include facilitating games and belaying climbers. At camping trips, Youth Leaders may set up tents, teach fishing lessons, lead a hike, cook a meal, and more! Through these activities, students continue to strengthen their life skills and leadership potential. Because it’s true, as Harvey S. Firestone said, “The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”

Mentorship from staff affords regular opportunities for evaluation and feedback. Coaching helps students stay on track in the program and in the course of their personal development. In addition, Youth Leaders in Training get to explore their strengths of character through self-evaluations like the True Colours Personality Test. (Click the link if you’re curious and discover your own personality type!)

What It Takes

To be eligible to become a Youth Leader in Training, students must participate in Youth Odyssey for at least two cycles. When selecting eligible students, Youth Odyssey looks for personal characteristics such as enthusiasm, good listening skills, and a positive attitude.

Promotion to full Youth Leader is based on active involvement in the program. Students must show improvement in their individual growth areas. Youth Leaders also demonstrate an eagerness to continue forward. Youth Leaders embody the words of John F. Kennedy: “Leadership and learning and indispensable to each other.”

“Leadership and learning and indispensable to each other.” John F. Kennedy
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Journey Awaits

Once students have been promoted to Youth Leader, they become eligible for additional trips and activities. For example, Youth Leaders get to attend extra weekend and week-long camping trips. For example, we recently took a weekend trip to Enchanted Rock. And soon, we will be going on a spring break trip to the Wichita Mountains!

We could not be more excited about the journey that awaits our new cohort of Youth Leaders in Training. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Where are you headed? Who will you become?