The C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California is a comprehensive, five-year youth leadership development program targeting students in the eighth grade and mentoring them throughout their high school years. We develop “make a difference” adults by working with youth from economically challenged and ethnically diverse backgrounds, helping them to achieve higher education, their biggest dreams and goals, and to become leaders in their communities.
The Program and Outcomes:
The C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California is a uniquely-designed, outcome-based program. We believe that a year round, multi-year experience is vitally important for supporting a young person's development. The specific program has been designed around five key outcomes:
- Form POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS with Youth and Adults
- Live and work successfully in a diverse community – DIVERSITY
- Graduate high school and pursue higher education – GRADUATE HS AND GO TO COLLEGE
- Make a positive contribution to his or her COMMUNITY.
- Develop LEADERSHIP and navigation skills in the areas of, Self Awareness & Confidence, Communication, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Organization and Group Effectiveness.
As such, activities at each age stage of the program are unique and continue to build on previous experiences to help the young person grow, stay in school and succeed. To help achieve our goals, C5 delivers five years of intensive experiential leadership education in camp settings, year-round leadership activities and seminars, community service forums, and preparation for college education and career development.
The Five-Year Progression:
Year One – Learning to take the Lead (8th grade)
Objective: Develop self-confidence, coping skills and supportive relationships through their involvement in a challenging outdoor adventure program.
How do we do this? Eighth graders begin the first year of the C5 experience with a team-building program that helps them focus on the adventure that lies ahead. Youth participate in a two-day high ropes challenge course program where they will begin to learn about the importance of strong leadership and teamwork. During their first summer, participants travel to Hyattville, Wyoming for a four-week summer leadership camp, Camp Paintrock – “Leadership U”.
At camp, they learn more about themselves and others, developing fundamental leadership skills while experiencing the best of camp life. Youth also participate in a variety of adventure activities including a three-day trek to Yellowstone National Park. During the school year, students are involved in the C5 “Pathways Program,” which includes both group and one on one learning experiences and volunteer 30 or more hours of community service. Participants will also carry out their personal leadership plan in preparation for the vital transition into high school.
Year Two – Leadership in Practice (9th grade)
Objective: Continued development in the areas of: self-confidence, problem solving, decision making and group effectiveness, as well as an introduction to the C5 College Preparatory Program.
How do we do this? During their freshman year in high school, teens continue to develop and practice the skills learned during their first year. Youth will have an opportunity to apply their newly developed leadership skills in challenging “real world” settings. Throughout the year, youth prepare for their upcoming summer experience, through a variety of single day planning programs and a three-day camping trip. The yearlong preparation will culminate with the 12-day “C5 Bridges/ Paintrock Leadership Challenge (PLC).” The PLC is a backcountry leadership adventure that is designed to test their newly developed leadership skills.
The summer adventure, to the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming, provides real challenges as campers make decisions, solve problems and learn to work together effectively. On returning, they spend time reflecting on the trip and sharing their experiences with younger campers. While the main focus of the second year is placed on preparing for the PLC program, C5 teen leaders will also participate in a variety of seminars focusing on higher education. Seminars by college counselors and education professionals will help the C5 teens identify “next steps” on their pathway to College success. In addition, youth will continue their focus on the community by maintaining their 30-hour service commitment.
Year Three - Exploring My Future (10th grade)
Objective: Continued application of leadership skills and exposure and preparation to higher education.
How do we do this? During their sophomore year in high school, participants explore choices for post-secondary education and careers through “The Road to College”, a 7-10 day college campus tour visiting regional schools. The youth elect a group of their peers to serve on the “Road to College” planning committee. This committee will collaborate with the C5 Directors and play a key role in deciding which region and group of Universities will comprise that given year’s tour.
Along the way, the teens may engage in a volunteer service project in one of the communities they visit. This project is meant to help them extend their community outreach and gain a better knowledge of communities in which the schools are located. During the school year, they visit additional colleges and trade schools. The volunteerism requirement continues at 30 hours.
Year Four – Visionary Leadership (11th grade)
Objective: Focus on learning how to make a difference in their Community - (advocacy versus service), Diversity, Leadership and Higher Education
How do we do this? As students further reflect on the importance and understanding of C5’s focus on service and leadership in their community, participants engage in a weeklong service learning leadership project. C5 youth will spend a week on a college campus or at a local University run camp, learning how community officials make decisions and how needs are met in the communities where they live. They have the opportunity to meet the people who are making a difference in their home communities, to create potential solutions to the unique problems faced by their communities, to develop a multimedia presentation about their experience and to lead/teach others about the importance of giving back.
These C5 youth will continue their college prep though seminars focusing on the college application process, attending college fairs and programs that target the parents of C5 teens helping them begin to feel comfortable in the process as well. The volunteerism requirement continues at 30 hours.
Year Five – Looking Ahead and Giving Back (12th grade)
Objective: Focus is placed on Graduating High school, College application, Leadership and Giving Back
How do we do this? In the final year, students culminate their experience by completing their personal leadership plan and portfolio, engage in a major volunteerism project, and perhaps most importantly, take part in a series of college application, financial-aid, scholarship and planning for college success workshops. For some, the final year will also include an opportunity to give back to the program and participate in our C5 Counselor in Training program, (CIT). As a CIT, C5 youth come back to camp for an opportunity to learn about the program as a potential future staff member and to work with first year campers as they commence their C5 adventure. The volunteerism requirement continues at 30 hours.