🎓 Youth Leadership School (YLS)

The Youth Leadership School (YLS) is the Leadership Institute’s flagship training program—often called “the boot camp of politics.” This high-energy, two-day experience is designed for college students and young leaders who want to make a real impact on campus and turn their ideas into action.

At YLS, you’ll get hands-on training in campaign activism and leadership skills you can use right away 💡—whether you’re leading a student organization, hosting events on campus, or getting involved in political campaigns. Many students leave YLS ready to take their campus leadership to the next level and plug directly into real-world political work.

📚 What You’ll Learn

At the Youth Leadership School, you’ll learn how to:

Recruit, organize, and motivate volunteers on campus
Grow student organizations and make them more effective
Plan engaging events and meaningful activism projects
Bring high-profile speakers to your campus
Design signs and materials that get attention and media coverage

✈️ Scholarships & What’s Included

Thanks to the generous support of Leadership Institute donors, full scholarships are available for a limited number of students. Scholarships cover:

Flights to and from the training
Hotel accommodations 🏨
Meals and training materials
In select locations, a fun post-training excursion

Your registration also includes a one-on-one resume consultation to help you stand out for internships, campaigns, and future opportunities 📄.

To apply for a scholarship, select “Scholarship Attendee ” when you register with the link above.

🗓️ Schedule & What to Expect

Arrive: Friday evening
Program runs all day Saturday & Sunday!
Depart: Monday morning
Optional departure available Sunday after 6:00 PM
Monday Morning Excursion: Visit the Alamo!

If you apply for a scholarship, a member of our team will reach out during the application process. To be considered, your application must be fully completed, including the Public Policy Questionnaire. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If scholarships fill up, paid registration options may still be available—just contact our team.

Students are housed with one other student of the same biological gender.
Meals provided:
- Saturday: lunch, snacks, and dinner
- Sunday: lunch, snacks, and a reception

To see a full overview of the program schedule, visit leadershipinstitute.org/yls and scroll to the bottom of the page.

San Antonio, TX: Youth Leadership School