CREATE A LOCAL YOUTH ADVISORY CABINET

Why create a local YAC? One of the most important things about Camp Fire USA is remembering that it is not for adults; just look at the mission: Camp Fire USA builds caring, confident youth and future leaders. It shows you right away that youth should have a say in things, and Camp Fire USA is ready to give you that opportunity!

A local Youth Advisory Cabinet (YAC) in your Camp Fire USA council plays a key part in promoting Camp Fire USA and serving the community. Being connected to both the youth and adults in the council greatly helps with supporting programs that can be initiated and promoted by the YAC. When youth members within the council need someone to talk to about new ideas or suggestions, the YAC is always there to listen to those ideas and bring them up to the board of directors to see that they are taken into consideration.

Without a local YAC in your Camp Fire USA council, you are passing up opportunity to connect more completely with the youth in your area. Being easy to set up and maintain, giving the youth a voice, and above all, being extremely adaptable to your community, a local YAC is one program that makes a council whole.

In a nutshell YAC will:

• Increase ownership of Camp Fire USA programs,
• Provide adult leaders with valuable youth perspective,
• Develop leadership, organizational, and time management skills,
• Increase communication between youth, adults and program coordinators, and
• Extend youth involvement with inclusive programming.

Get Started Today!
Learn how to start a Youth Advisory Council in your Camp Fire USA council with this cool kit: YAC in a Box!

Questions
If you have questions about establishing a local YAC in your Camp Fire USA council or any steps outlined in YAC in a Box, e-mail yac@campfireusa.org. We're here to help and want to hear about your successes!