National Youth Leadership Organizations
American Youth Foundation
President: Robert S. MacArthur
2331 Hampton Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 646-6000
Fax: (314) 772-7542
www.ayf.com
The American Youth Foundation (AYF) is a national, not-for-profit organization that develops leadership in young people and the adults and institutions that serve them. AYF promotes youth and adults achieving their personal best, leading balanced lives, and serving others. AYF offers the International Leadership Conferences, I Dare You Leadership Award, team leadership training, diversity and gender workshops, adventure-based experiential education, and residential camps.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
1230 Peachtree St., NW
Atlanta, GA 30309-3494
(404) 487-5700
www.bgca.org
Boys and Girls Clubs of America leads a network of 1,600 local facilities that serve more than two million youth. Their primary focus is on youth from disadvantaged circumstances, providing character development programs for children 6-18 in areas such as leadership development, health and fitness, and educational enhancement.
Camp Fire Boys and Girls
4601 Madison Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64112-1278
(816) 756-1950
Fax: (816) 756-0258
www.campfire.org
These clubs include self-reliance courses, youth leadership/teens in action, and school-age child care. Members participate in one or several of these programs, which focus on teaching self-reliance skills and good citizenship.
Hugh O'Brien Youth Foundation
10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 410
(310) 474-4370
Fax: (310) 474-5426
www.hoby.org
Outstanding sophomores meet with recognized leaders in business, government, science, education, and the professions. Seminars take place at the community, state, and international levels.
Junior Achievement
One Education Way
Colorado Springs, CO 80906-4477
(719) 540-8000
www.ja.org
Junior Achievement is a non-profit economic education organization that seeks to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, understand business and economics, and be workforce ready.
Junior States of America
60 East 3rd Ave., Suite 320
San Mateo, CA 94401-4032
(800) 334-5353
Fax: (415) 347-7200
www.jsa.org
Through school-based chapters, regional conferences, and academic summer programs, this student-run organization helps youth learn how to actively participate in public affairs.
Key Club International
3636 Woodview Trace
Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196
(317) 875-8755, ext. 273
www.keyclub.org
High school service organization sponsored by local Kiwanis Clubs.
National 4-H Council
7100 Connecticut Ave.
Chevy CHase, MD 20815-4999
(301) 961-2800
Fax: (301) 961-2894
www.fourhcouncil.edu
The mission of the National 4-H Council is to build partnerships for Community Youth Development that value and involve youth in solving issues critical to their lives, their families, and society.
National Council on Youth Leadership
689 Craig Rd., Suite 10
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 567-4818
(800) 477-NCYL
www.ncyl.org
This program gives high school juniors the opportunity to develop leadership skills by learning about community health resources and using those to promote healthy lifestyles among their peers.
Back to Chapter Resources page