Youth Leadership Training School
50th Anniversary
Youth Leadership Training School (YLTS) began as one of the first, major activities undertaken by the Youth Committee. It was first held in July 1956 on the campus of the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.At that time, it was called Youth Leadership School, and was attended by 50 full-time students, and 25 additional part-time participants.In 1968, Youth Director Frank Gaskell changed the location to Nichols College, and the location was again changed to Stonehill College in 1978 under the direction of Richard and Donna Caldwell.
Due to declining participation in 1970s, Youth Director Paul Wieliczki moved YLTS to Camp Middlesex in 1980. Holding YLTS at a campsite made it cheaper for those attending and nearly doubled attendance. Attendance continued to grow in the early 1980s, seeing over 100 campers in 1981.Youth Directors Roland and Judy Veaudry moved YLTS to Camp Marshall in 1988.
In 2000, YLTS was almost cancelled due to new state guidelines regarding the running of camps, but the Youth Department was successful at meeting the requirements in time.In 2001, YLTS moved back to its original format: a college campus. Some campers welcomed the return to Nichols College, and because the Youth Committee did not need to provide meals, it made their job easier. Although YLTS had moved to a camp setting originally to save costs, it was actually less expensive to move back to a college campus in 2001. YLTS has continued to be held at Nichols College since 2001, and has been seeing an increase in the number of new campers over the past few years.
The program at YLTS has always featured fun activities and educational classes. Grange-related classes, including ritualism, code reading, drill, resolution writing, and program planning, made up the bulk of classes throughout most of the years of YLTS. Although these classes are still held, they no longer make up the bulk of the schedule. Other classes, such as sign language, crafts, nutrition and drug and alcohol abuse prevention, were added to the program in more recent years. The concluding banquet and dance were always popular events each year throughout the history of YTLS. So were competitive events such as skit writing contests, taking the district royalty tests, and song writing contests. Campers also enjoyed taking part in the annual field events, later replaced with “the Big Game.”
Throughout the years, one thing has always held true about YLTS.It has always been an excellent chance for Grange youth across the state to meet new people, and make new friends that will last a lifetime.
