Youth Leadership Butler (YLB) Program
The Youth Leadership Butler (YLB) program was developed in 1993 as a part of the strategic planning process for Leadership Butler. It is one of three programs driven by the Leadership Butler Board of Trustees. The other two include the LB Adult Program and the alumni association. The youth program is a collaborative effort between Leadership Butler and the Butler County Extension-Youth Services office.
The YLB program provides hands on training in issues that face the youth of Butler County, Kansas. Sessions are set throughout the county to give the students the opportunity to see communities and enjoy experiences they may not otherwise be able to experience. These youth meet a diverse group from across Butler County and make friendships that last.
Facilitators from Leadership Butler Alumni Association, and other resources, provide a learning experience to increase the student's knowledge of leadership skills and capacities that fit into the student's hectic lifestyle.
YLB is geared toward the junior classes of Butler County High Schools. The program involves a class of approximately 18-20 kids representing each of the 10 public school districts. Class members are selected by nominations from school administrators, counselors, peers, YLB alumni or Leadership Butler Alumni. Nominations are solicited in the early spring, applications are submitted by April and selections for the fall YLB class are made by the end of the school year. When students are nominated, they are generally in their sophomore year of high school. The students then participate in the program during their junior year.
The program begins in September and meets for 7 sessions, through October. The sessions are held in the evenings to ensure the students attendance does not interfere with their school work. The sessions are held weekly and generally run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Area businesses and annual contributions from each of the schools pay for meals for each session. The pilot program of YLB was completed on a budget of approximately $1500.00 and there is no cost to the participants of YLB.
Curriculum content for YLB includes segments on team building, learning-thinking-working styles, volunteerism and philanthropy, drug and alcohol awareness, community profiles and the group's class project. If possible, teams are set to do a community profile on each city in the county. Pictures are taken of the city and the kids make presentations to the rest of the class. Time is also set aside for the class to identify their class project.
In 1998, Butler Community College agreed to offer 1 hour of college credit for youth participating in the YLB program. In order to comply with the college, the YLB program was reviewed and tweaked to ensure it meets necessary requirements.
Following completion of the course, class members are recognized during a formal banquet and celebration ceremony. A guest speaker talks with the class and they receive certificates and class photos. Also during the celebration, the class introduces themselves and then presents their chosen class project.
The class project is designed to allow the youth the opportunity to learn and develop leadership skills by seeing a project through from start to finish. Volunteers from the LB Adult Alumni are asked to serve as mentors for the project. Some past projects include establishing a Big Brothers/Big Sisters for Butler County liaison with Camp Butler 2000 (a county program for at risk youth), Butler County Youth Council, Mentoring project with educable mentally challenged students in the county, Mandatory drug testing proposal for Butler County Schools, a teen alcohol mentoring program for 8th grade students, and a public service announcement about alcohol and the effects of alcohol.
After completion of the course, the group is invited to go on the annual Topeka Trip with the LB Adult group. The trip is generally scheduled in February and allows LB and YLB participants the opportunity to visit the House and Senate where they are introduced. They tour the Capitol building, meet with Butler County Legislators for lunch and tour the Museum of History.
Cool! I am interested in YLB, but what is expected of me?
* Participants are expected to attend all sessions. Absences from a session could result in termination from the program.
* All sessions will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at approximately 9:00 p.m.
* Participants are responsible for transportation to and from each session.
* Meals are provided at each session.
* There is no cost to the student for participation in the program, unless college credit is requested and the participant is responsible for any fees associated with the college credit.
* The nomination and application process is open to any junior who is willing to complete the application process.
* YLB is committed to a policy of non discrimination and handicap accessibility.