Youth Leadership Douglas County (YLDC) is a one year high school program. Through experiential classes we will build and expand leadership potential.

This program is designed for high school students and focuses on learning leadership skills by meeting with community leaders. One day each month students actively participate in seminars and activities that engage and educate them about the community and their place in it. Each month’s day-long session explores a different aspect of leadership in our community with an eye toward building interest in local issues. By learning about the community, students will develop their leadership potential through actively participating in ropes courses, law enforcement training activities, interviewing with various media personnel, visiting Sky Ridge, Centennial Airport, and meeting with their local legislators and county commissions. Each session offers an interactive opportunity for personal exploration and growth around such topics as working together as a team, getting in front of the TV camera, how to handle credit and personal finance, and even how a bit of improvisational skill can come in handy. The classes run August through May.

The organizers of YLDC strongly believe that no one person can lead alone. Therefore, we start the year out at the Highlands Ranch High School’s Ropes Challenge Course, where we teach students about working together to establish a foundation of team work and they learn about the theme of the YLDC class, I’ve Got Your Back. School attendance on these days is excused (parents please call the school to excuse your student’s absence), but students are responsible for any school work missed.