Junior and Senior Leaders
YMCA leadership programs are founded on our long-standing commitment to youth development, community engagement, and personal growth. With deep roots in our local communities and the foundation of inclusivity, healthy living, and social responsibility, the goal of YMCA leadership development is to guide and inspire young people, fostering a safe and supportive environment for leadership growth.
Leader Skills
Junior and Senior Leaders will cover a total of 10 skill categories, each diving into specific areas of each skill:
Skill Categories
- Self-Awareness
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Decision Making
- Responsibility
- Adaptability
- Ethics and Integrity
- Motivation
- Organizational Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
Junior Leaders: Grades 7-9
- Self-reflection
- Active listening
- Collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Flexibility
- Understanding fairness
- Setting personal goals
- Task prioritization
- Empathy
Senior Leaders: Grades 9-11
- Emotional regulation
- Public speaking
- Conflict resolution
- Critical thinking
- Accountability
- Resilience
- Ethical decision-making
- Self-discipline
- Delegation
- Networking
Junior Leaders
Our JL program is designed for emerging leaders or individuals new to leadership roles. It focuses on the fundamentals of leadership through interactive workshops, case studies and self-reflection, with the goal to build a strong foundation.
Jerry McCaw Family Centre YMCA
Register for summer session
Chatham-Kent YMCA
Fall session coming soon
Senior Leaders
Our Senior Leaders program is designed to be more advanced. Focused on individuals who are ready to develop more strategic leadership skills, this is accomplished through leadership challenges, and hands on learning.
StarTech.com YMCA
Spring session currently running
Stoney Creek YMCA
Spring session currently running
Family YMCA of St Thomas Elgin
Spring session currently running
Jerry McCaw Family Centre YMCA
Register for summer session
Want to know a little more about the program? Reach out to maggie.calderone@swo.ymca.ca for more information and current/future cohorts in your community.