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These quick-start activities can be used at any time to help youth gain a basic understanding of leadership. They include a variety of experiences for different age groups and can be facilitated in 30 to 60 minutes with minimal leader preparation.
Activity 1
Youth recognize basic qualities of leadership. They describe what the qualities mean in their own lives.
Activity 2
Youth define identity. They recognize elements that make up their personal identity. They identify 10 to 15 words that describe who they are. They design a word cloud that expresses their unique identity.
Activity 3
Youth define goals. They list the qualities of a SMART goal. They describe one goal they have for the future. They also identify specific steps that will help them achieve the goal.
Activity 4
Youth define personal strengths. They recognize the value of personal strengths. Youth identify their strengths and how they contribute to their families and schools, the community and the world.
Activity 5
Youth define culture and stereotypes. They identify unconscious stereotypes they have about certain groups of people. They recognize the connection between culture and stereotypes.
Activity 6
Youth identify the kinds of things leaders do. They apply what they know about leadership qualities to specific individuals at the Club. They also recognize leadership qualities in themselves.
Activity 7
Youth define self-advocacy. They recognize the relationship between self-advocacy and leadership. They demonstrate advocating for themselves.
Activity 8
Youth define inequality. They recognize the fact that different factors influence equality or inequality (race, gender, ethnicity, etc.). They describe what it feels like to experience inequality.
Activity 9
Youth define social justice. They identify current social-justice movements. They interpret their understanding of social justice by expressing their ideas in a poem or song.
Activity 10
Youth define conflict and cooperation. They recognize the value of conflict resolution in leadership. They describe the role of cooperation in addressing conflict.
Activity 11
Youth define social responsibility. They identify an issue that is important to them. They describe why it matters and what they can do to make a difference.
Activity 12
Youth define social justice and advocacy. They describe the three steps for being a social-justice advocate. They identify an issue they care about. They learn about the issue.
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.)
