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 St. Louis, Wednesday, July 12, 2006 – Nineteen Red Cross youth volunteers from the St. Louis area recently attended a three-day Leadership Development Camp sponsored by the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter at the YMCA’s Trout Lodge. The selected youth are active members of YouthCorps, contribute to at least one community service project and Red Cross teaching opportunity each year, and are certified in CPR, First Aid, and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
The American Red Cross Leadership Development Camp is designed to boost the self-esteem of young volunteers, while emphasizing the importance of leadership and teamwork in achieving goals. The participants completed a number of physical activities including a high ropes course and an alpine swing. After each activity, advisors reinforced the skills needed to achieve the challenges. By the end of the week, through various learning opportunities conducted inside the classroom and outdoors, the youth volunteers learned that leadership is the ability to push themselves, to think on their feet, and to support and trust each other. Funding for this opportunity was provided in part by tax credits through the Youth Opportunity Program.
“The Leadership Development Camp enables youth to become leaders now and in the future by showing them how to apply the skills and values learned to YouthCorps, school activities, and their communities,” said Deane Adam, director of youth services for the St. Louis Area Chapter.
The following youth from area schools attended Leadership Development Camp:
• Belleville West:
Hannah Engel
Alexandria Hercz
Sarah Lowe
Jamie Renneker
Brittany Rigney
• Bishop DuBourg:
Lauren Naegeli
Kelly Potter
Tracee Schestak
• Crossroads School:
Jae Blackmon
• Gateway Institute of Technology:
Jessica Wyatt
• John Burroughs:
Nicole Carter
• Metro High School:
Allison Haungs
• O’Fallon Township:
Bridget Adams
Justin Kerns
Stacy Lambert
Kara Thomas
Kristen Whiteside
• Timberland:
Joshua Buehrig
Maria Chandler About the Red Cross YouthCorps Program:
The American Red Cross YouthCorps Program is designed for middle school and high school teens. YouthCorps trains individuals in the programs and services of the American Red Cross during after-school group sessions held once a week. Training focuses on health and safety and disaster preparedness, and the Red Cross curriculum is then taught throughout area schools by the YouthCorps members. YouthCorps is also active in community outreach through various service projects.
To start a YouthCorps group in an area school, students need a school sponsor, a classroom where the group can meet, and at least six middle school or high school students interested in peer teaching and service projects. For more information about the Red Cross YouthCorps program and other youth services provided by the St. Louis Area Chapter, please call 314.516.2717, or log on to the Chapter’s website at www.redcrossstl.org.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides emergency and preparedness assistance more than 407,000 times each year. The Red Cross depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and 100 staff to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois.
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