Leadership Development Crews offer a unique and exciting opportunity for individuals to refine their leadership skills. These crews are typically composed of college-age individuals aspiring to become stronger leaders and are generally smaller than other summer crews. Leadership is not an easy task, therefore, this experience challenges individuals to enter a realm of growth and discovery.
In order to conserve VermontÕs natural resources, Leadership Development Crews work in seven-week session as specialized roving crew, in partnership with the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation. Trail stabilization, construction of 40-foot bridges and maintenance of lakes are examples of projects in the past.
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. Every Corps Member has an opportunity to lead their crew for a whole week around the end of their training. Holistically, these crews will impart emphasis on being responsible of all elements of leadership so as to train Corp Members for future Leading Positions. This is a wonderful chance to learn by means of thought, verbal communication, teaching and action.
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 consisting of all females.
By means of all-female programs, female crew leaders will develop substantial self-confidence as well as discovering their own individual style of leadership in a supporting and encouraging environment. Female Leadership Development Crews are an example of such training programs. The fields of conservation are extremely dominated by males. Studies suggest that these programs are most effective in giving aspiring Female Crew Leaders to gain the necessary self-confidence and technical skill required for the job. These young women will be forced to expand their comfort zones, pushed to look into this field and learn from each other. One of the support structures are highly trained female who will bring gender and empowerment focus to the curriculum in the form of discussions, workshops and sharing.
The Co-Ed Leadership Development Crew gives young men and women the chance to discover their leadership styles by working together in the conservative field in an environment characterized by support and challenges. All members of the crew will be expected to contribute their perspective in an open and thoughtful way. Working together safely and respectfully is a challenging experience Corps Members will take back to their respective communities.
Part of the responsibilities of the Leadership Development Crew is to train, manage, counsel, and educate the crew in the different living conditions of group and work 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. Furthermore, they will have to teach a meticulously stringent leadership curriculum and provide beneficial criticism to individuals who are still developing their personal 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).