Leadership Training
Our youth programs are distinguished from others by the lifelong continuity of the Red Cross, starting with Kindergartners (First Aid for Children Today and Masters of Disaster) and continuing through adolescence into college and finally into adulthood. In our experience, we are more likely to achieve our outcomes for young people by interacting with them at various stages of their development, rather than through a single encounter. The cumulative impact of our program is enhanced by collaborating with other agencies, who work with young people. By offering our courses through them to their clients, it is more likely that both agencies will achieve the desired outcomes and services will not be duplicated.
The following five activities are the core of our Youth Leadership Curriculum:
Babysitter’s Training provides individuals, ages 10 to 15, with the information and leadership and decision-making skills necessary to provide safe, responsible care for children in the absence of parents or adult guardians.
Guardstart provides 11-14 year olds with leadership and decision-making skills in conjunction with water safety skills to better prepare those aspiring to be lifeguards at age 15. Students participate in classroom leadership activities and have opportunities to put their skills to use as water safety aides in the Chapter’s summer swim lessons.
Youth Leadership Retreats are attended by middle school students and provide leadership activities like decision-making skills and conflict resolution in conjunction with safety training. Participants also have opportunities to practice all learned skills throughout the weekend (e.g., on an adventure hike where emergency first aid and leadership skills must be used to deal with made-up scenarios that happen along the way).
Red Cross Clubs are a national initiative to increase young people’s involvement in their communities. Clubs provide community service, service to the school, service through the local Red Cross and even service to the world through various projects overseen by the Chapter and a Club advisor. In addition to learning leadership through community service, Club members are encouraged to become Red Cross instructors and interact with younger peers.
By providing meaningful roles for older participants, as instructors and leaders, we come full circle in our youth programs.
