Middle School Leadership
Committed to developing youth leadership
VREC is committed to developing youth leadership through various programs we offer. In many regards, our long-standing Student-Led Mini Grant Program is fundamentally a “youth leadership program.” In addition, we have developed several different programs to support middle school leadership over the past five or six years and are now looking to expand opportunities for both younger and older students in 2024.
Leadership Connections & Exploration Days at NorthWoods
Northwoods hosted 140 students over four days for our 8th Grade Leadership Connections and Explorations program. These days provided an opportunity for 8th graders to explore the natural world, develop their leadership skills, and connect with other 8th graders from across the VREC region. The following schools participated this year: Brownington, Orleans,Hazen, Hazen, Twinfield, Canaan, Barton, Craftsbury & NCUJHS
Students from each school were divided into three mixed groups. Groups then rotated through each activity: The Leader Within, Teambuilding on the Challenge Course & Sense of Place on Northwoods new All Person’s Trail.
Once again VREC partnered with Northwoods Stewardship Center to provide leadership training for 8th grade students. This year we took a more inclusive approach and opened up an opportunity for cohorts from schools to participate in activities on three separate days at Northwoods. We had students from: Albany, Sutton, Lowell, Burke, Coventry, Barton, Canaan, Walden, Blue Mt. and NCUJHS.
Learn more about our partnership with NorthWoods Stewardship Center.
Northwoods Education Director Andy Cappello engages students in a discussion around a sense of place.
Students develop problem solving, communication & leadership skills on the challenge course.