The Natural Leaders Network is an initiative of the Children and Nature Network whose vision is a world in which all children play, learn, and grow with nature in their everyday lives. This year, the Natural Leaders Network has partnered with Great Outdoors Colorado to bring this great opportunity to individuals within the Inspire Youth Councils. Great Outdoors Colorado’s Inspire Initiative is a five-year strategy aimed at inspiring Coloradans, particularity kids, to appreciate, enjoy, and take care of our great outdoors. At Legacy Camp, participants will further their knowledge and skills in community organizing, using their voice, and working to turn their passions into action. This training will help participants grow as leaders within the Inspire Initiative and within the movement of reconnecting children and families to nature.     

2016 Natural Leaders Colorado Legacy Camp Information:

WHO: 18-24 year olds to fill 40 slots, two from each of GOCO’s 20 Inspire Coalitions

WHEN: Friday, September 30 – Monday, October 3

WHERE: Keystone Science School - 1053 Soda Ridge Road, Keystone, CO 80435

APPLICATIONS DUE: August 15, 2016 (enrollment is open now)

Your Commitment

In the 12 months following your training you will be asked to commit to organizing and leading four events in your community; examples of those events include organizing a day to get kids outside, co-leading a habitat restoration project, working on a special event with your Inspire Coalition, or working towards community organizing.

Participants will:

• Become a part of the Natural Leaders Network web of support, which includes over 200 young leaders who have been through this training.
• Receive professional development in:
  • Community Organizing
  • Leadership Skills
  • Action Planning
  • The Power of Personal Narrative (telling your story)
• Gain information from our various partners to expand your network.

Cost:

All leaders accepted into the program will receive scholarships for participation. The only fee leaders will be responsible for is the cost of travel to and from Keystone. Inspire Coalitions can use the value of that mileage as match to their Inspire planning grant.  We strongly encourage carpooling with leaders from nearby communities.

Accommodations and Activities:

Legacy Camp will be held at Keystone Science School in the mountains of Keystone, CO. The training will take place over three nights. We will be staying at the Keystone Science School, which provides dorm style rooms (two bunk beds per room). We will be spending time indoors and outdoors, as well as having an outdoor outing. If there are any reasons why a participant may be uncomfortable sharing a room, please let us know and we will try to accommodate.

We hope you will apply! We are taking applications for 40 participant slots in this year's Legacy Camp. So get yours in now!

Application form: Enrollment is now open for the Colorado Legacy Camp. Click this link for the application.

Applications are due on August 15th. Final decisions on participants will be made by the end of August 2016.

If you have any questions while filling out this application, please email leaders@childrenandnature.org.

If you would like to receive this information in Spanish, please contact Erika Meyer at emeyer@goco.org. If English is your second language, Great Outdoors Colorado will provide interpreters for the training as necessary. Please let us know.