Teaching Leadership Development Crews about Conservation

Leadership Development Crews is a unique and exciting opportunity for individuals seeking to improve their Leadership job skills. These crews are typically smaller than other summer crews and are composed of college-age individuals who want to become stronger leaders. Leadership is not an easy task, therefore, this experience challenges individuals to enter a realm of growth and discovery.

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.

Apart from technical projects, Corps Members undergo an experience-based, strenuous curriculum in which they learn skills and leadership theory, and explore different leadership styles by means of hands-on 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. It is an intense learning opportunity based on instruction, discussion, action and reflection.

By the end of the summer, Crew Members in Leadership Development Crews will attain a lot of confidence, technical skills and a better understanding of themselves.

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. All-female programs, studies suggest, are highly effective in instilling confidence in women and encouraging them to enter the conservation and other technical fields, especially because these fields are traditionally male-dominated. As a result, the program focuses on expanding the participants comfort zones and helping them overcome difficult leadership and technical problems. 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. Crew members will be expected to elucidate their respective take on the subject in thoughtful and clear manner. Corp Members who have the invaluable experience of working together safely and respectfully will return to their home and school community empowered.

Crew Leaders who part of the Leadership and Development group will be given the freedom to train, advise, handle and educate the crew in group living and work setting in the hinterlands. This jobs requires are burning desire to teach and train Corps Members in technical projects, group dynamics and the latest camping techniques. 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. Therefore, they must exhibit self-reliance and motivation, make sound decisions and be proficiently skilled in logistical areas of crew leading including but not limited to safe driving of passenger vans to and from the worksite and other recreational trips.