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Co-operative Young Leaders Program

Co-operative Young Leaders (CYL) is a series of week long summer camps for young people ages 13 to 18. The unique program brings youth together from across Ontario, to learn about and practice communication and leadership skills through a variety of games, team-building and community-focused projects, and using the principles of co-operation as a foundation for all activities.

Since its inception in 1967, over 3,500 young people have gone through the program, thanks to all the amazing co-operatives and credit unions that have supported it over the years!

We bring together youth from across Ontario with established co-operative mentors in a relationship that embraces and enhances their leadership potential.

CYL is an experiential learning program that integrates the co-operative principles with team-building practices, empowering youth to be explorers, trailblazers and visionaries, while equipping them with the change-making tools they need to excel in the world. they develop self-confidence, learn from inspiring guest speakers and have a lot of fun with camp-like activities set in a non-judgmental environment.

Benefits of participating in and supporting the CYL Program include:

  1. Educating youth on co-operatives and the values and principles inherent in the model.
  2. Developing communication and leadership skills that youth can apply in all aspects of their lives.
  3. Instilling a sense of confidence and greater purpose among participants.
  4. Providing adults with a unique professional development opportunity that helps strengthen their co-operative or credit union.

Program overview

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CYL introduces youth to a different way of living and doing business as they prepare to go out into the world, and increases their engagement with the co-operatives and credit unions in their community when they return home - and hopefully throughout their entire lives!

If you're interested, fill out the form below.

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