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These activities are specifically designed to help youth prepare for the Junior Youth of the Year selection process. By exploring basic leadership concepts and practicing essential skills, youth recognize, engage and develop their leadership strengths.
Activity 1
Youth identify strengths and qualities that qualify them for Junior Youth of the Year. They set a goal for a quality they would like to have in the future.
Activity 2
Youth discuss the importance of public speaking. They identify tips for speaking well. They demonstrate the tips in a brief speech.
Activity 3
Youth discuss the importance of speaking up/speaking out. They identify topics and techniques to help them speak confidently. They demonstrate speaking about a topic or an experience that has been meaningful to them.
Activity 4
Youth define what it means to lead. They identify the qualities that a leader exhibits. They demonstrate leadership qualities through skits to illustrate leadership in action.
The population of teens in the United States today is approximately 21 million. All young people have the potential to be leaders in schools, workplaces and communities, yet only a few are encouraged or given a chance to demonstrate leadership in meaningful ways. While there are plenty of opportunities for leadership development in the adult years, many successful leaders report that experiences they had early in their lives are what helped them in leadership roles as adults. What is clear is that leaders do not develop overnight; a lifetime of experiences strengthen an individual’s personal leadership as they mature and grow. Here are the advantages to educating young people in leadership.
What youth bring to leadership roles
What youth gain from leadership development
Since 1947, Youth of the Year has recognized and celebrated the extraordinary achievements of Club teens. Stories of outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle have made it America’s premier leadership and recognition program for teens. BGCA has since enhanced Youth of the Year to provide a comprehensive leadership development experience. Through Youth of the Year, youth gain the leadership knowledge and skills they need for success in 21st-century life, work and educational settings.
| Youth of the Month (YOM) | All agesLeadership Recognition Program Youth of the Month is a year-round recognition program and entry point for the Youth of the Year leadership experience. It introduces youth of all ages to important leadership concepts and showcases their achievements in the Club, at school and in the community. Youth selected as Youth of the Month are recognized for service and leadership at the Club level, then can advance to either the YOY or Junior YOY program. | |
| Junior Youth of the Year (JYOY) | Ages 10-13Leadership Readiness Program Junior Youth of the Year gives younger youth the training and practice they need to develop their leadership skills and be considered for Junior Youth of the Year at the local (Club and organizational) level. The program cultivates junior leaders, giving them the foundation they need for more advanced leadership development, academic excellence and post-secondary success. | |
| Youth of the Year (YOY) | Ages 14-18Leadership Development Program Youth of the Year develops teens’ leadership skills and abilities through experiences in and out of the Club. Each year, youth who embody excellence in the areas of academics, character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles are recognized at the local, state, regional, and finally, at the national level. One exceptional Club/Youth Center teen is selected to be the National Youth of the Year (YOY), serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth as well as a voice for the nation’s young people. |
| Youth of the Month (YOM) | Junior Youth of the Month (JYOY) | Youth of the Year (YOY) |
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Purpose | Leadership Recognition | Leadership Readiness | Leadership Development |
Age levels | All ages | Ages 10-13 years | Ages 14-18 years |
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As with all BGCA programs, Youth of the Year places youth at the center of learning – putting youth first and allowing them to focus on what matters, connecting with them to support social-emotional development, celebrating who they are and where they are in their lives and providing meaningful experiences that respond to the unique strengths, needs, interests and identities they bring to the Club.
Building on this approach, Youth of the Year helps youth discover and develop their leadership ability by focusing on three essential areas: self, other and community. Youth become leaders who are able to create meaningful change in themselves, in preparation for working in collaboration with others toward the shared goal of making transformative change in their community.
Self-Leadership | Leadership With Others | Leadership in the Community |
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Self-leadership involves self-awareness; youth get to know themselves, acknowledge their unique experiences/backgrounds and become aware of their emotions and personal values.
The ultimate goal of self-leadership is emotional wellness, which involves recognizing, understanding and responding to emotional needs to gain an overall sense of positive well-being. | Leadership with others has to do with understanding one’s own perspective, appreciating the perspectives of others and being able to communicate effectively with others to encourage collaboration within and between teams. | Leadership in the community means taking positive actions toward a shared goal – actions informed by youths’ self-awareness and their ability to collaborate with others. As youth seek to understand community needs, listen and engage with people from diverse perspectives, they learn that they can leverage their self-knowledge to collaborate with others in making transformative change in their communities. |
Through the Youth of the Year Leadership Development Suite, youth develop their strengths in self-leadership, leadership with others and leadership in the community, building a strong foundation for personal growth, collaboration with others, and the ability to take positive action in the world around them. As adults and peers work together, they become allies, sharing ownership and responsibility and contributing their unique strengths toward a goal of creating change. Youth also prepare to meet the workforce challenges of tomorrow by exploring their interests and passions, developing their employability skills and applying their knowledge to real-world experiences. (See “Leadership and Service Core Program Area Pathway” in the Appendix.)
