The C5 program is a five-year youth development program that empowers young individuals from under-resourced communities to realize their full potential as leaders and change makers. Through a combination of outdoor adventures, leadership training, career exploration and college access programming, mentorship, and community service, the program provides participants with the skills, support, and opportunities needed to thrive academically, personally, and professionally.
During the first two summers in the program, Leaders spend two weeks at summer camp and 9 days in the backcountry. During the last two summers, they move away from the camping experience and spend 1 – 2 weeks exploring options for their future. The Leadership Development component of the program meets four to six times during the school year for a structured program that supports the curriculum — a seminar, cultural event, work-place visit, or a community service project. Participation in these events is mandatory.
One of the most difficult tasks involved in operating a program such as C5 is selecting the youth who will participate — not because there are so few young people who would benefit from it, but becaustivities, community service, and preparation for continuing education and career development.e there are so many. Our selection process is targeted and intensive, designed to select a diverse group of young people who will benefit from our intensive and ongoing leadership development program. Through our nominating partners in each city — middle schools and youth-serving organizations — we receive applications from approximately 200 high-potential seventh grade students who demonstrate a desire to succeed, maintain a B (+ or -) average and possess some leadership skills. They have also been identified as having multiple risk factors in their lives that make success more difficult — poverty, single-parent or no-parent home, prevalence of drugs and/or gangs in their neighborhoods, etc. Through a rigorous application and interview process, each site selects and enrolls 72 rising eighth graders each year.
Recently Updated
Recently Updated