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Leadership Growth Crews: A Conservation Program

By George Dodson


Individuals have a unique and exciting opportunity to refine their leadership skill by becoming part of Leadership Development crews. These crews are typically smaller than other summer crews and are composed of college-age individuals who want to become stronger leaders. Becoming a leader is no easy task, however, and this crew experience will challenge individuals to step into a realm of discovery and growth.

In order to conserve Vermont?s 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. Projects in the past include maintenance of lakes, construction of 40-foot bridges and trail stabilization.

Aside from technical projects, Corps Participants are subjected to an intense, experiential curriculum, in which they learn skill and leadership theory, and analyze unique skills as a result of workshops. At the end of their training and training, Corps Member have a chance to lead their crew for a week. As a whole, this crew will place particular emphasis on taking responsibility for all aspects of leading others, in an effort to train Corps Members for future VYCC Crew Leading positions. This is a rigorous opportunity to learn by means of discussion, action, reflection and instruction.

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.

There are two Leadership Development crews: one co-ed and one only female.

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. Because conservation and other technical trades traditionally typically dominated by men, studies have shown that all-female programs can be highly effective in building confidence in women and inspiring them to enter these technical arenas. Young women on this crew will be pushed to explore and learn together, and will expand their comfort zones to experience intense leadership and technical challenges. These Crew Members will undoubtedly benefit immensely from the mentorship of well-trained female crew leaders who will bring gender and empowerment focus to discussions as well as assisting in sharing and support.

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. The challenge of working together in a safe and respectful community will give Corps Members a powerful experience to carry with them as they return to their home and school community.

Leadership Development Crew Leaders must train, manage, counsel, and educate the crew in both work and group living settings in the backcountry. It is essential that they have a strong drive to train other Crew Members in technical projects, effective group dynamic techniques and low environmental impact camping methodologies. Furthermore, the individuals will teach an exacting leadership curriculum and provide constructive feedback to individuals. Lastly, the Leaders will have to display proper judgment and handling of logistics, in addition to being extremely self-motivated.




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