Since 2006, members of the seven Youth Leadership Councils have been gathering annually for the National Youth Leaderhip Training Retreat. Each year, these young people meet to learn skills in leadership, communications and project planning to help them gain the skills they need to be effective leaders in their Roots & Shoots groups and communties.

The Council members gathered for their 2010 Retreat in New Orleans at the University of New Orleans. They participated in workshops on effective communciation, project planning and continued their work planning the 2010 Youth Leadership Campaign (more details soon!). They also had the opportunity to visit the French Quarter and get a little taste of New Orleans.

The highlights of the Retreat were a keynote lecture with Chris Bashinelli, of Bridget the Gap TV, and their service project helping contribute to an interactive oil spill map with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. Their service project was so successful that USAToday, and the Times Picayune covered it.

Want to participate in the National Youth Leadership Training Retreat next year? Become a member of a Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Council today, and get the opportuntiy to join us in 2011.