L-R: Belle, Haley, Rachel and Laura.
They call it being “on the mountain.” It’s Black Mountain, NC specifically where the Blue Ridge Leaders’ School (BRLS) is located. Figuratively, it’s a mountain they set out to summit for a week: a mountain of self-awareness, getting out of your shell, leadership and creating lifelong friendships.
Created in 1922, “the purpose of Blue Ridge Leaders’ School is teen leadership development through YMCA health and physical education. Blue Ridge Leaders’ School is not a camp. Rather it is a physical education training school profoundly structured with high standards of behavior, physical participation and individual performance.”
BRLS is made up of distinguished teen leaders from Y Teen Leaders Clubs across the nation, who come together to learn from YMCA professionals and one another. Teen Leaders Club teaches basic leadership skills when it comes to spirit, mind and body along with volunteer opportunities to apply the learned skills. This year 90 Tampa Y students headed to the mountain.
Austin Kirsch is our 2024 Honor Leader! Congratulations Austin.
Congratulations to Austin Kirsch from our Northwest Y for being selected as a 2024 Honor Leader at Blue Ridge Leaders’ School. Honor Leaders are an elite group of teens who stand out among the staff, volunteers and their peers as the best of the best. “Being an Honor Leader comes with the privilege and responsibility of returning the following year. There, they will teach fundamental leadership classes to first-year leaders on the mountain” among other duties.
For the Wolfe sisters: Laura, 18, Rachel, 17, Haley, 14 and Belle, 13 who have been visiting BRLS for a range of four years – for Laura – to her first time – Belle, the school has been “life-changing.”
A YMCA New Tampa employee too, Laura who just graduated high school works the family programing and wellness floor. She shares what the Y and BRLS mean to her.
“We’ve been a Y family since before I can remember. Teen Leaders Club changed my life. It opened doors to a lot of opportunities, working with community organizations like The Legacy, senior care facility. I made friends from different states. Both the Leaders Club and Blue Ridge helped me with my mental health when I was struggling. The kindness shown to me helped with my stress and anxiety,” she notes.
“I recommend joining the Leaders Club for both personal and professional growth. We’ve learned to interview for jobs, and have learned so many life skills.”
Rachel, who also works at the Y in the childcare department, and is heading to grade 12 this fall, visited Blue Ridge for the third time this summer.
“You can’t fully describe what the mountain is like. I used to be shy, but I am more social now. We’ve taken the Colors personality test to learn more about ourselves; and took classes to learn with children, with special needs as well. It’s about inclusion. Leaders Club gives you a sense of community. Laura and I were home-schooled so we missed socializing. Leaders Club is a welcoming and understanding environment for all.”
Haley agrees. Her second year at Blue Ridge, she too became more social because of it. She is heading into grade 10.
“I also learned I didn’t have to change for other people. Being myself is important. I love the volunteer opportunities provided by Y programs. I was a volunteer volleyball coach for one season.”
Her first time at Blue Ridge, Belle volunteers for the Stay and Play program at the YMCA and plans to become a future employee. She enjoyed learning about a variety of things at Blue Ridge.
“I learned about myself and others. And about the YMCA, leadership, plus character development. We played games to get out of our comfort zones and learned how to teach little kids at the Y. My experience was really good,” noted Belle, who will start eighth grade next month.
Anne Jeffrey, Senior Program Director at the South Tampa Y helps organize the Blue Ridge trip for Tampa Y students. She dubs the school a “truly transformative experience.”
“Many teens arrive on the mountain nervous to be away from home, shy and reserved, questioning their decision to come and leave with confidence, friendships and the desire with a passion to do good in the world for others!” Jeffrey explains.
Thank you to all BRLS/Teen Leaders’ Club youth for choosing to learn, grow and improve our world. Learn more about the school.
Published Monday, July 17, 2023.