{"id":1492,"date":"2025-12-03T18:34:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T18:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudounsoilandwater.com\/?page_id=1492"},"modified":"2026-01-22T16:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T16:38:14","slug":"youth-conservation-leadership-institute-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/loudounsoilandwater.com\/index.php\/youth-conservation-leadership-institute-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth Conservation Leadership Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Youth Conservation Leadership Institute (YCLI)<\/b><\/span> is a recognition program for students in 9th- 12th grade that focuses on volunteer service and environmental stewardship. YCLI began as an expansion of Youth Conservation Camp to keep students engaged in the environmental topics introduced at camp.<\/span> YCLI offers self-motivated and enthusiastic high school students interested in environmental conservation and stewardship an opportunity to build leadership skills and connect with local mentors involved with environmental issues. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Students in 9th-12th grade <\/span>may apply <\/a>to be a part of this program. Program participants are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service with a conservation focus as well as participate in a book discussion and submit required progress reports throughout the year. The hours may be done as part of a single project or a series of projects but all projects must be approved by the YCLI Program Coordinator. YCLI participants work with the YCLI Program Coordinator to come up with a project that the YCLI Participant wants to focus on. Participants must be self-driven individuals able to set their own goals, evaluate their set milestones, and be motivated to move their projects forward. The YCLI Participants are paired with a mentor to help them with their project. Mentors can be Soil & Water Conservation Staff, Natural Resource professionals, 4-H agents, etc<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

TO APPLY: submit this application<\/a> to <\/span>byron.minson@vaswcd.org<\/a> by October 2nd, 2025. Applicants will be notified in mid-late October, with the first Kick-Off meeting to be held in late October 2025.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Past projects have included:<\/b><\/p>\n