We Work To...

Prepare new generations dedicated to responsible citizenship;
Enable persons to direct their lives to achievement and responsible citizenship;
Strengthen the leadership available to local communities;
Speak on behalf of children and youth;
Influence the course of education;
Touch the future through the hands of youth.

YLA Experiences are to Make Differences in How We Live as Demonstrated by...

How we behave
How we treat others
How we solve problems
How we accept our responsibilities
How we enjoy our rights
How we live in a globally interdependent world
How we create better futures
How we become lifelong good citizens of our communities.

Our Programs:

YLA Chapters - local youth civic leadership chapters where teens learn how to plan, organize, and carryout - through trial and error - how to make their schools, communities, and world better.

Youth in Government - where else do teenagers take over their Statehouse in Ohio or Capitol in West Virginia for 3 days? YLA's youth legislature and supreme court bring the perspective of today's youth into state government.

8th Grade Youth & Government Seminars - introduce teens to state government in 3 active days of onsite interactions with state leaders.

Model United Nations - offers windows on the world as teens gain an international perspective and recognition of how international issues impact their communities.

Horseshoe's Teen Entrepreneurship and Leadership Summits at Camp Horseshoe in WV and soon at Cave Lake in OH enables teens to envision things never thought possible. Teens return home with the resources to become their best.

Adventure Camp for children and the Governor's Youth Opportunity Camps for low income 7 to 12 year olds are fun, educational, and provide a positive life skill development opportunity.

Alumni bring commitment, experience and new support to all our youth programs. Our Alumni Program offers many ways to stay involved, to share leadership advancing with all our programs and to offer YLA experiences to many more young people. Graduation doesn't have to mean the end of your relationship with YLA. Reach out to us at yla@ylaleads.org following graduation to stay involved so you too can help future generations of leaders succeed.

2024-2025 YLA Affiliations

By Ohio-West Virginia Youth Leadership Association

2024-2025 YLA Affiliations