Local teens came out to participate in leadership training, in order to join the Dryden Youth Council which is currently in the development stages. Photo by Ally Dunham

By Ally Dunham

Dozens of local teens came out to a leadership training session hosted by Hello Leadership owner, Dave Lyle on Jan. 13 at the United Church in Dryden.

“The leadership training is focused around developing a youth council for the city of Dryden. The youth council will be comprised of youth from each school in our area. The youth council will provide input to the Child and Youth Strategic Plan (CYSP),” said Andi Kidd, Community Projects and Program Developer for the city of Dryden.

“I am working with a group of young people from the Dryden area Strategic Plan Task Force. I am giving them some of the leadership tools they will need to have a voice that can be heard in a field of adults that are coming up with this strategy for youth,” said Lyle.

The students participated in a lot of hands on, high-energy, high-interactive activities, all focused around leadership, meetings, having their voices heard, and how to convey their messages.

“We have a chance for sharing with a cross section of youth from Dryden and the area. They are talking about such things as effective meetings, about what they would like to see as a vision for a task force, and where they would like to see the task force going,” said Lyle. “Also communication, conflict resolution, team building activities, that sort of thing.”

“The CYSP just completed a SWOT analysis where youth and adult allies together identified Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. From that information, we are in the midst of developing a survey by the youth. The survey will be distributed throughout the community, and youth and adults will be encouraged to complete the survey. That way the Plan can address the issues that will be brought forward,” said Kidd.

There are currently approximately 20 youth who have attended a training conference, the SWOT analysis training, as well as the leadership training, to formally prepare the young leaders with the tools they need to go to council as the first official Dryden Youth Council.

“Training in leadership, communication, decision-making skills, so that when they do go to council as the first official task force, or Dryden Youth Council, they’ll be armed with the skills they need to communicate effectively with decision makers in the community,” said Kidd.

The youth council should be operational by early June, and is being assisted by the 12 adult allies from the community.