First Annual WildLink Youth Leadership Summit

WildLink is pleased to officially announce the details of our first annual Youth Leadership Summit. We have spent the better part of two years working with teachers and other professionals to plan this event, which we hope will open more doors of opportunity to growth and learning to our WildLink alumni and their peers.

Ghandi once said,"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

At WildLink, we know that today's leaders come in all shapes and sizes. With so much going on in the world leaders emerge as opportunity demands. Learning how to lead and how to work with communities for positive change can be powerful and important skills to know.

The Youth Leadership Summit is aimed at developing leadership skills and inspiring youth to step out as leaders in their local communities. This day-long workshop will be a fun, social environment in which to play and learn the skills involved with community change.

The morning will be spent with a fast-paced decision making game of community change. Youth leaders will have to identify key stakeholders in their fictitious communities and develop strategies to move the stakeholders towards supporting their change efforts. Communication and cooperation among leadership team members is key to success in this game.

Once the youth have been introduced to and practiced community change strategy, they will be given a relevant, current issue from their real-life community. The teams will research the issues and come up with an action plan to move their community towards equitable resolution of the issue.

Games, picnics, new friendships and social opportunities will round out the leadership summit. The youth will go home with new skills and knowledge as well as new friends and inspiration that they hold the power to take an active leadership role in their community.

Where: Fresno's Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies
When: Saturday, April 22, 2006
Who: teachers, and interested students (including but not limited to WildLink alumni)
How much: free, including lunch!

Interested in coming? Whether you're a teacher or student, let me know! I'm happy to provide you with any information not included below. You can contact me at mandy_vance@partner.nps.gov, or call me directly at (209) 372-0607.

Remember, the sooner you contact me the better; space is limited! We are also looking for chaperones and facilitators, so if you're interested in playing one of those roles, let me know.

We hope to see you there!

WildLink Adventures in Sequoia-King's Canyon

Reedley High School's Generation Green Program joined John of the Sequoia Filed Institute and Stephanie of Creative Outdoor Recreation Edventures for a fantastic eye-opening four-day adventure into Sequoia National Park’s wilderness in October. 12 students made deep connections with their environment, and pushed themselves to new self-discovery in both the physical and mental realm.

This was the first expedition of the school year for the Sequoia-King's Canyon branch of WildLink, which is conducted by the Sequoia Natural History Association and Creative Outdoor Recreational Edventures.

Click here to read more stories and see images from this expedition.