Next Gen Leadership Cohort

Next Stage Leadership for High School Seniors

Are you a high school senior interested in a meaningful leadership development opportunity? Join YouthWorks’ Next Gen Leaders Cohort! This program is designed to help high school seniors (2023 Graduates) grow in faith and develop leadership skills through a weeklong mission trip experience in Duluth, Minnesota, and a yearlong online leadership program!
 

Next Gen Leadership Cohort members will spend time focused on:  

  1. Leadership Development
  2. Cross-cultural Education 
  3. Faith Formation 
  4. Personal Development 

The Details

The Cohort starts with a weeklong YouthWorks mission trip experience that includes daily service opportunities and participation in daily devotions and gatherings. Cohort members will participate in daily leadership development exercises that will help them better understand how they are motivated and wired and may come to see how God will use them in ministry and in the world.

After the mission trip, the cohort will meet virtually four times throughout the next year to continue leadership training and development led by the Next Gen Leadership Cohort Facilitator. 

The Next Gen Leadership Cohort is open to 2023 high school graduates. Interested graduates can submit a recommendation from their youth leader or pastor along with their application to apply to the Next Gen Leadership Cohort. 

What's the cost?

The cost for participating in the Next Gen Leadership Cohort is $650. This includes:

  • YouthWorks weeklong mission trip experience (daily leadership development exercises, service opportunities, and more)
  • Virtual cohort meetings (4 times throughout the year)
  • Training and leadership development materials
  • Access to the Next Gen Leadership Cohort Facilitator 

Participant Application & Ministry Leader Recommendation

Want to be part of the Next Gen Leadership Cohort?

Step 1:

Submit a participant application by clicking the button below and filling out the form. 

Participant Application

Step 2:

Have your Ministry Leader (Youth Leader or Pastor) submit a recommendation on your behalf. Click the button below and send them the link to fill out the form. 

Ministry Leader Recommendation

FAQ

The application process is two-fold: Pastors/Youth Leaders Recommendation and Participant Application. We will reach out to you via email after reviewing your application.

In Duluth, Minnesota, from Saturday, July 15 – Friday, July 21, 2023.  Other participants on site that week will be middle schoolers, so cohort members will be actively leading Middle School Youth. 

You will be responsible for arranging travel to Duluth. We will provide you with specific details about where, when and how you will meet up with the cohort.  

This is a volunteer position and is not paid.  Cohort participants must pay $650 for their weeklong experience; we encourage nominating congregations to provide partial or full scholarships for the experience. 

Our Next Gen Cohort members will participate in all facets of a YouthWorks mission mrip experience. They will help lead and facilitate meals, assist at service projects throughout the day, support a team through site tasks and help lead teenagers through programming. Learn more about the  YouthWorks schedule! 

  • Cohort members participate in an informal virtual meet-up to meet each other and the Next Gen Leadership Cohort facilitator.  
  • Cohort members will participate in a mission trip in Duluth from Saturday, July 15-Friday, July 21.  
  • Cohort members + Facilitator will meet online in August, November, February, and May. There may be assignments or activities to be completed prior to Cohort meetings. 

Questions can be e-mailed to nextgen@youthworks.com 

YouthWorks will provide Next Gen Cohort members with both virtual and in-person training covering everything from how to complete YouthWorks specific tasks to general leadership skills and faith forming practices.    

In Duluth, you’ll stay in a church and shower at the local YMCA.  Participants are encouraged to bring an air mattress, sleeping bag, etc. as they would for a traditional YouthWorks trip. View the YouthWorks packing list here.

Absolutely! We’ll be happy to provide documentation of your hours served. The Next Gen Leadership Cohort would look great on a college or job resume, too!

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