Hope's LdOut³ Leadership Training Program

"Being in this program has taught me...what it takes to be a leader. I learned that being a leader is easier said than done. [But] the most valuable part of this experience was building relationships with the younger students and the other [Hope students] in the program....[As] a more cohesive group I believe we are able to realize the potential that we have to make an impact on the campus and the community." -- Nate King

"We definitely think that the leadership training offered for our high school and middle school students was a positive experience. We intend to repeat the experience next year." -- Leslie Russell, Youth Pastor, Fellowship Reformed Church

Press Release: CFL receives HYP Grant for LdOut³ Program

Press release: Grant Students to Visit Campus through Leadership Program

Article originally printed in the spring 2011 RCA Today, copyright Reformed Church Press, and is reposted with permission

August 2011 News From Hope, LdOut3 Article

Fall 2011 Magazine of Michigan Assoiciation of School Administrators, LdOut3 Article

Youth Learning Leadership by Leading

Our youth represent the future of our organizations and it is from their ranks that our future leaders must come. It is our responsibility to give youth the training and real-world experience to help them lead with vision, values and confidence. LdOut³ uses an innovative model to train three “generations” of youth to become servant leaders by leading others.

LdOut³ challenges Hope College students to provide leadership training for 11th graders who provide leadership training for 7th graders who develop a service project to meet a need within church or community--and then, we hope, are offered leadership positions within their organizations.

The LdOut³ Plan

The Participants:

• 4-5 Hope College students
• Teacher or church youth group leader
• Approximately 15-11th and 7th graders, selected by church/school leaders who work with these age groups.
  

The Strategy:

Hope College students conduct highly interactive one-hour meetings with 11th graders (and 11th graders with 7th graders) for five weeks. This is a developmental process which prepares 11th graders to train 7th graders to offer a service project. The following themes frame the training experience.

• Week One: Developing trust through vulnerability and openness; stresses teamwork and bonding
• Week Two: Working through team conflict and promoting buy-in of the project’s mission
• Week Three: Teaching accountability and individual responsibility
• Week Four: Presenting life lessons in accountability and developing project phase
• Week Five: Creating strategic plan for implementing project’s goals/mission
  

Eligibility

Students do not have to be enrolled in the leadership minor or certificate programs, or in leadership courses, to apply. However, the LdOut³ experience meets the service learning requirements of the leadership minor.