Youth Leadership Conference

Why should I attend?

1. It’s completely FREE – students are sponsored by SREC.  
2. Experience the campus lifestyle in a fun, engaging environment.  Students will live in residence halls, eat in the dining hall, and attend sessions in campus classrooms.
3. Add some fun to your summer by hanging out with other teens as you work together to demonstrate the power and value of cooperation.
4. Gain real-world skills.  Learn about co-ops, improve leadership skills, practice interviewing skills, hear from motivational speakers that discuss topics relevant to you, and so much more!  
5. See what makes the cooperative business model different and apply this knowledge to fun and challenging activities.  

Don’t just take our word from it, check out this video from YLC’s 2023 event.  

WECA Youth Leadership Conference 2023 on Vimeo  

Additional Opportunities – Youth Board

Students that attend YLC will learn how they can run to be on the youth board. Six students get elected to youth board every year. Students must be nominated by fellow YLC attendees (similar to how people run for our board of directors) and complete an interview. On the last day of YLC, it’s announced who will be on youth board for the following year’s event. These students get to plan and conduct the following year’s event, and get to go to Washington D.C. for Youth Tour the following year.

Youth Tour is like YLC, but on a nation-wide level by gathering students all throughout the United States. Students get to tour different areas of Washington D.C. and interact with students throughout the nation. Even if you aren’t elected to Youth Board, students who attend YLC still have the opportunity to go on Youth Tour by completing an essay after YLC and submitting to the cooperative.