Leadership Development Crews
Leadership Development Crews offer a unique and exciting opportunity for individuals to refine their leadership skills. These crews are typically smaller than other summer crews and are composed of college-age individuals who want to become stronger leaders. Becoming a leader is no easy task, however, and this crew experience will challenge individuals to step into a realm of discovery and growth.
Corps Members
June 19 - August 29, 2010
Unpaid vacation July 19 - July 30
Crew Leaders
May 24 - August 30, 2010
In a nine-week, residential session that follows the structure of Roving Crews, Leadership Development Crews will work in partnership with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation to conserve Vermont's natural resources. Past projects include trail stabilization and maintenance at Kettle Pond in Groton and the construction of a 40-foot bridge in Dorset.
In addition to technical projects, Corps Members also take part in a rigorous experiential curriculum, where they learn leadership theory and skills, and explore individual styles through hands-on workshops. Each Corps Member will have the chance to lead their crew for one week as a culmination to their education and training. As a whole, this crew will place particular emphasis on taking responsibility for all aspects of leading others, in an effort to train Corps Members for future VYCC Crew Leading positions. It is an intense learning opportunity based on instruction, discussion, action and reflection.
As emerging leaders, the Corps Members on Leadership Development Crews will finish the summer with an enormous amount of confidence, an increased technical skill set and a better sense of who they are as they re-enter the world.
The VYCC offers two Leadership Development Crews: one comprised of both males and females, and one comprised of all females.
Female Leadership Development Crew
The All-Female Leadership Development Crew offers young women the chance to discover their leadership skills and explore the conservation field in an environment focused on support, encouragement, and empowerment. Because conservation and other technical trades are more traditional fields, typically dominated by men, studies have shown that all-female programs can be highly effective in building confidence in women and inspiring them to enter these technical arenas. Females on this crew will be pushed to explore and learn together, and will expand their comfort zone to experience intense leadership and technical challenges. Female Corps Members will benefit from the mentorship of one highly-trained female leader, who will add a gender and empowerment focus to the curriculum through discussion, facilitated workshops, sharing and support.
Co-ed Leadership Development Crew
The Co-Ed Leadership Development Crew offers young men and women the opportunity to live and work together as they discover their leadership skills and explore the conservation field in an environment focused on support and challenge. The Crew will be led by a male/female pair of Crew Leaders and all members of the crew will be expected to contribute their perspective in an open and thoughtful way. The challenge of working together in a safe and respectful community will give Corps Members a powerful experience to carry with them as they return to their home and school community.
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Crew Leaders
Leadership Development Crew Leaders must train, manage, counsel, and educate the crew in both work and group living settings in the backcountry. They must have a strong desire to train Corps Members in technical projects, low impact camping skills and high success group dynamics. In addition, they must be able to teach a rigorous leadership curriculum and give constructive feedback to individuals who are discovering their leadership style. Leaders must be self-reliant, self-motivated and exhibit sound judgment, while also skilled in the logistical aspect of crew leading, (e.g. safely driving a passenger van each day to the worksite or on recreational trips). To lead the charge, visit our Crew Leader Positions page.
1.800.639.8922
802.434.3969 x200
info@vycc.org.
Apply Online!
I believe that VYCC is a great organization that reaches and empowers many young people. The Corps Members of the Leadership Development Crew ended this summer with a new sense of confidence and empowerment. I believe this growth in Corps Members is what makes VYCC such an amazing organization. – Mary, 2008 Leadership Development Crew Leader