About YCLI
What is Youth Conservation Leadership Institute?
Youth Conservation Leadership Institute (YCLI) is a recognition program for High School students that focuses on volunteer service and environmental stewardship. YCLI began as an expansion of Youth Conservation Camp in an effort to keep students engaged in the environmental topics introduced at camp. YCLI offers high school students interested in environmental conservation and stewardship an opportunity to build leadership skills and connect with local mentors involved with environmental issues. YCLI is a unique opportunity for high school students to receive experience and engage in networking opportunities to prepare them for future education and career paths.
How it works:
Students choose projects that they are interested in to carryout in their community.
As a participant in the Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, students will be required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service with a focus in the natural resource’s conservation field. Students are encouraged to focus work with the local Soil & Water Conservation District but any work that contributes to pollution prevention, natural resources conservation, and promotion of environmental literacy will be accepted. All projects must have a confirmed mentor which may be a local SWCD, government agency, community leader, or similar local organization.
Eligibility:
YCLI is open to any Virginia high school (9th-12th grade) student committed to the entirety of the program including:
- Completion of at least 20 community service hours to be approved by the VASWCD staff.
- Submission of one interim and final report/presentation on the community work completed.
- Read an assigned book on environmental leadership for a group discussion