Leadership Training Conference (LTC) - 2025
Conference Fees
Student Y Member – $295
Non-Member – $305
Registration is closed.
Come back next year!
Registration closed.
Conference Details For Registered Students
Program Overview
The Leadership Training Conference (LTC) is an inspirational, motivational, and FUN character development conference that builds servant leaders through a focus on personal discovery and skills development. Through in-depth guided discussion, small group activities, and team building, teens hone leadership skills and explore their own values away from the pressures of their daily lives.
In a rare space where teens can truly be themselves, students have fun, forge lasting bonds with peers from throughout the Commonwealth and return home better prepared to be effective servant leaders in their home, school, and community.
To better accommodate the size of the conference, our Bluegrass (middle school) and Commonwealth (high school) programs will be combined at the beautiful campus of Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky. All middle school students will remain in their own conference groups and sleeping rooms. They will not be combined with high school students except for our large group sessions and meal times where staff and volunteers will be present if they need anything. Additionally, middle schoolers will participate in the middle school version of the program in their own small family groups.
Character Development Curriculum
Throughout LTC, in addition to engaging in fun camp-like activities, students focus on our five pillars of character development: Responsibility, Relationship Building, Emotion Management, Empathy and Personal Development. The related activities engage students in learning to:
- practice self-exploration and goal-setting
- understand leadership styles
- celebrate diversity
- build empathy
- discuss community and social issues
- build and strengthen relationships
- expand perspectives
- explore personal development
- address issues in their communities
Why Attend LTC?
After attending LTC, students showed an increase in:
- believing they have the ability to build lasting relationships.
- self identity awareness.
- level of familiarity with goals and ambitions.
Most importantly, our students have FUN! From shaving cream fights to slip 'n slides, LTC particpants not only learn they build friendships and have a great time! (Think of it as a summer camp where you learn without realizing that you are learning).
LTC Dictionary
LTC is a fun and transformative experience where teens across Kentucky engage in various activities both inside and outside that range in energy levels and all aspects of our character development curriculum above. Below is an LTC “dictionary” to provide some more information on these activities:
- Family: Students will be placed into groups of 10-12, along with 1-2 adult facilitators at LTC, where they will be guided through the program written by a YMCA staff member.
- Friendship Rock: Students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and create new friendships at LTC, so the Friendship Rock is passed from one student to another as a symbol of a new friendship.
- Morning Madness: Each morning, students being with energetic icebreakers and games to wake up and get excited for the day.
- Morning Meditation: In addition to morning meditation, students will be led through a quiet meditation to take time to reflect on their goals for the and mentally prepare for the day.
- “Participate, Don’t Anticipate”: Throughout LTC, students will often hear KYYMCA staff and volunteers repeating this phrase in order to encourage students to live in the moment instead of thinking ahead to what might be coming next!
Dates, Fees and Registration
| Conferences | 2025 Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| LTC Bluegrass (Grades 6-8) | June 7-10 | TBA |
| LTC Commonwealth (Grades 9-12) | June 7-10 | TBA |
Conference Fees
Student Y Member – $285
Non-Member – $295
Registration is now closed - check back in Spring 2025!
Conference Details For Registered Students
Discounts & Scholarship Info
The Kentucky YMCA is committed to ensuring access to our programs for all interested students.
Scholarships
If you were awarded a Needs-Based Scholarship during the 2024-25 academic year, that same discount percentage will be applicable to your registration for LTC 2024.
Click here to apply for a Needs Based Scholarship https://www.kyymca.org/programs/ltc/scholarships/
Scholarship applications should be submitted by no later than April 25, 2025. Any applications received after this date may not be applicable to LTC 2025. Please contact Nicole Hankins at nicole@kyymca.org for assistance.
Pioneer Discount
A Pioneer Discount is available on a limited basis to those students who are the first from their schools to attend LTC and will cover a maximum of five students from each school that qualifies. On time registration is required, and only one discount is allowed per conference, including need-based scholarship. This discount will be $50 and is only offered to students attending a school in Kentucky. To find out if your school qualifies, please contact a member of Y-Staff!
