CYL - For Parents
On this page...
- Welcome to the CYL program
- Why a camp based on co-op principles?
- Who leads the sessions?
- Why do we need a sponsor?
- FastLinks at right with more information
WELCOME TO THE CYL PROGRAM
The Co-operative Young Leaders Program (CYL) provides a fun and stimulating learning environment to engage young people in the co-operative and credit union sectors. Our goal is to develop the next generation of co-op and credit union leaders, and to provide young people with valuable communication, social and confidence-building skills. CYL is an integral part of On Co-op's youth and lifelong learning strategy.
Along the way, we help young people gain self confidence, learn more about themselves and how to interact with others. The positive, supporting, and safe environment allows young people to grow, to share and to experience new things - knowing they won't be judged or labelled. THAT IS THE CYL MAGIC. It is truly a camp like no other!
Each summer, CYL offers more than 180 participants ages 14 to 18 from across the province an opportunity to participate in top quality co-operative education delivered by trained volunteer facilitators who are active leaders in the co-operative and credit union sectors. These live-in, week-long sessions are co-ordinated by On Co-op and sponsored by Ontario co-ops and credit unions, co-op sector stakeholders, as well as the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation.
THE CYL MAGIC
This summer experience brings young people together from all across Ontario to learn about - and practise - communication and leadership through co-operative activities.
CYL is a quality training and education experience for young people. Through the innovative curriculum, participants are encouraged to strengthen their self-confidence, solve problems, define personal goals and become an active member of the co-operative and credit union sector. All exercises and activities are participatory in nature and emphasize teamwork and group development. Sessions are collaborative, and participants are encouraged to share in the day-to-day leadership and management of the program.
Participants learn a greater awareness of the co-operative and credit union sector, and the unique ways these organizations do business. This welcoming of young people into our co-operatives leaves a lasting impression.
Each of the program days is structured around specific themes combining recreation, learning opportunities and fun. Daily themes include self-awareness, communication, team building, conflict resolution/decision making, leadership, co-operatives and credit unions.
WHY A CAMP BASED ON CO-OP PRINCIPLES?
One of the main objectives of CYL is to provide a learning environment to involve young people in the co-operative and credit union sectors in Ontario. It provides opportunities to learn about themselves and the co-operative way of getting things done, all while having fun!
There are seven international principles of co-operation (click here to view them). CYL introduces those principles through its activities, discussions, guest speakers and field trips. Participants learn what a co-op does, how it is different (and often similar) to other models of business enterprise. They talk about the co-op or credit union which sponsored them to camp. And they listen to their facilitation team, who primarily come from co-op and credit union environments.
Participants also create and run their own co-operative during the week. Called the 'Snack Shack', the co-op store is run like a true co-operative with a board of directors, members, meetings and parliamentary procedure - and of course, adherance to the seven co-op principles. In 2008, more than $600 in surplus was generated. In 2007, three of the CYL sessions donated their surplus to support a cause in Ghana.
Learning sometimes seems secondary to the fun participants are having, but our 40+ year history has shown that this innovative way of learning by doing (and having fun!) works.
Co-operatives and credit unions are often called “hidden secrets“ because the sector rarely trumpets its successes or differences loudly. The more our young people know about co-operatives, and the co-operative way of getting things done, the greater the chance they will become more engaged in the sector - by joining one or more co-ops, by shopping for co-op products, or by living the co-op principles. Ultimately, these young people will be forming the next generation of young leaders - whether in the co-op sector or the 'traditional business world'.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT NETWORKING
CYL also fosters a youth network, beyond what young people experience in their local school or sports circles. These relationships form across the province, not just from their own towns; and remind participants that the issues they are facing are the same as others across the province - in rural and urban communities, north and southern Ontario, and so on. It CYL teaches young people that they're not alone. And reminds them of that every time they get an e-mail or Facebook message from a fellow participant months after their session has finished. And it really hits home when they come back to the next year of camp and experience an instant rapport with a person they haven't physically seen in 12 months.
WHO LEADS THE SESSIONS?
The program is facilitated by volunteers from Ontario's diverse
co-operative and credit union movement. The Facilitators freely share their talents to develop our future co-op leaders.
- Participants are guided by 'Facilitators' not directed by counsellors. Participants remain engaged in the program and learn by doing and practising, and helping the others.
Click here to learn about the facilitation approach used at CYL.
Another benefit of having young people go through all three years of CYL is that they 'graduate' from CYL and get a certificate. Many graduates of Senior are invited back the next year as Interns to provide further leadership opportunities. Many then come back as facilitators. This also demonstrates to the participants the opportunities that the program can provide. Interns complete the circle, bring their own CYL experiences to camp, and reinvent it for the next generation.
WHY DO WE NEED A SPONSOR?
The CYL program is self-financing. Corporate sponsorships and participant sponsors pay the majority of the costs associated with the camp, keeping costs affordable.
Each participant, or his/her family, is asked to pay a participant fee to attend the camp. This fee, in addition to the amount given by the participant's sponsor, ensures that the participant really wants to be at CYL, understands the nature of the camp and will work towards developing or enhancing their leadership skills.
Every participant requires a sponsor. This is generally a co-operative or credit union that you already have a relationship with. Perhaps you bank at a certain branch of the credit union, you get your phone service through a telecommunications co-op, you shop at an agricultural co-op, or you live in a housing co-op. Once you seek their support, this organization will pay their share of the registration fee, usually about three-times what the participant would pay.
CO-OPS SEEK YOUNG MEMBERS TO SEND TO CYL
The sponsoring co-op generally recruits potential CYL applicants very early in the year, often by March. They are always looking for youth members, or the children of members to send to camp. Sometimes the CYL applicant will have to meet with a branch manager, submit a letter saying why he/she wants to attend camp, or sometimes all that's required is a completed CYL application form. Each co-op or credit union is different.
Once the CYL applicant has been approved by the sponsor, they generally take care of sending in all of the paperwork, your participant fee and their sponsorship fee. On Co-op then reviews the application, approves it and contacts both the sponsor and the participant. Once you know you're going to CYL camp, visit your sponsor and get information on the organization. You'll have the opportunity to talk about your sponsor during one of your days at camp.
Once camp is over, most sponsors will request that you attend a board meeting, a manager's meeting or a members' meeting and talk to the group about your time at camp. Or perhaps they'll ask that you send them a letter or write a short article for their newsletter. It makes sense - they invested time and money in your application, and they want to hear what great things you did, what you learned and what you plan on doing with your great new co-op skills.
And if they don't ask you to do anything once camp is over? CALL THEM and suggest that you do something. (It's a leadership camp after all...) They'll be pleasantly surprised, and you've probably made a great decision they won't soon forget.
I DON'T HAVE A SPONSOR
If you went to CYL previously, talk to the branch or the co-op which sponsored you last time. Maybe they don't realize that CYL is a multi-year program, and that each level builds on the one before it... until you graduate and become a certified young leader!
If this is your first time going to CYL, contact some of the co-ops in your area. You can find them by searching the internet for your town and the words “co-operative“ or “credit union“. We suggest visiting www.coopsontario.com. Then, introduce yourself and make a good sales pitch for sending you to camp.
If you still can't find a sponsor, contact On Co-op, and we'll try to link you up with a co-op or credit union in your area. Be prepared, though, because we'll ask who you've already contacted (remember- it's a leadership camp...).