LEAP Program
The Learn, Earn, and Prosper (LEAP) program provides youth who are blind or visually impaired the opportunity to gain the skills needed to become independent, confident, and productive young adults, while making friends and having fun! The LEAP program is a great balance of learning new skills and enjoying all that Vermont’s outdoors has to offer in the summertime — for instance sailing, hiking, or canoeing!
Corps Members
Session 1: June 21 - July 17, 2010
Session 2: July 24 - August 22, 2010
Crew Leaders
May 24 - August 23, 2010
The 2009 LEAP program consists of two, four-week long intensive sessions in the summer led by two experienced Crew Leaders.
Session 1
The first session of the LEAP experience has four major pieces: Job training, Career Development, Independent Living Skills, and Volunteer Outreach.
Job Training
Corps Members will develop job skills by participating in a vocational training program at ReSOURCE, a local non-profit in Burlington, Vermont. Through this program, Corps Members will learn both professional and interpersonal skills while helping ReSOURCE accomplish its mission of waste reduction, job skills training, and poverty relief. Corps Members will work in one of the following departments:
- Small Appliance Repair
- Office Administration
- Building Materials and Trade Center
- Computer Repair
- Household Goods Store
Career Development
In conjunction with Linking Learning to Life Corps Members will explore future education and career opportunities as well as learn practical skills necessary to achieve personal goals. Workshops may include, but are not limited to:
- Budgeting and Money Skills
- Resume Creation
- Interviewing skills
- VSAC informational
- Internet use and safety
Independent Living Skills
The LEAP Crew will live together in an apartment-style suite and through the month learn skills that are essential to living independently. Corps Members will learn to use adaptive equipment to cook meals, shop for groceries, use public transportation, do laundry, live as a community, and explore the local area.
Volunteer Outreach
One day a week Corps Members will volunteer with a local organization, giving them the chance to give back to the community. Volunteer opportunities may include volunteering at a local soup kitchen, dog walking for the humane society or gardening for Shelburne Farms.
Session 2
The second session of the LEAP program will consist of working with an inclusive group of youth and two experienced Crew Leaders to complete high-priority conservation projects. This session will focus on education, leadership, teamwork, interpersonal skills, and personal development. Corps Members will together live in large, rain proof lean-tos on VYCC’s beautiful property in Richmond, Vermont and embrace the basic aspects of backcountry camping.
Past LEAP Projects
- Constructed a Sensory Trail for the Audubon Society
- Built 110 feet of cribbing on the VYCC’s property
- Planted, weeded, watered, and harvested in the VYCC’s garden
Apply Online!
- LEAP is a partnership between the VYCC and the following organizations: