Leadership Development Crews is a unique and exciting opportunity for individuals seeking to improve their leadership skills. For the most part, these crews are smaller than other summer crews and are usually made up of young adults seeking leadership skills. The crew experience force individuals to enter a realm of discovery and growth, after all, becoming a leader is not easy.
In a seven-week session as a specialized roving crew, Leadership Development Crews will work in partnership with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation to conserve Vermont's natural resources. 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. Holistically, these crews will impart emphasis on being responsible of all elements of leadership so as to train Corp Members for future Leading Positions. This is a rigorous opportunity to learn by means of discussion, action, reflection and instruction.
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 types of Leadership Development crews: one has both males and females while there other is females-only.
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 participantsÕ 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.
Young men and women have an opportunity to live and work together in the Co-Ed Leadership Development Crew where they can learn about their leadership skills and further explore the conversation field in a challenging and supportive atmosphere. All members of the crew will be expected to contribute their perspective in an open and thoughtful way. Working together safely and respectfully is a challenging experience Corps Members will take back to their respective communities.
Part of the responsibilities of the Leadership Development Crew is to train, manage, counsel, and educate the crew in the different living conditions of group and work in the backcountry. It is essential that they have a strong drive to train other Crew Members in technical projects, effective group dynamic techniques and low environmental impact camping methodologies. 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.