The goal of LYS is to develop students' raw leadership potential into skills that will help them to succeed as leaders, whether in business, government or the nonprofit arena. LYS delegates meet interesting people from across the state, learn how to achieve life goals, and compete in good-natured yet challenging projects. LYS enhances the leadership potential in each individual and provides leadership opportunities through hands-on experience.

LYS has been providing the highest caliber of leadership training for about 40 years. We welcome all high school incoming juniors and seniors throughout Louisiana. Students come to LYS via a variety of ways: selected by their schools, sent by their parents, recruited by past LYS delegates and staff and by LYS friends and family. The goal of LYS is to attract students of all talents, interests and backgrounds.

LYS is organized, staffed and directed by young professionals and college students who volunteer their time every summer. Each staff member has participated in the seminar as a student delegate and therefore understands the inner workings of the program. The staff is young, positive, and progressive and can easily identify with the hopes, feelings and trends of Louisiana's youth.

LYS is a unique leadership program. Although there are other summer camps, they focus on different areas of emphasis. LYS is different because it focuses on leadership skills, it is open to all potential leaders not just one group, and because it recruits a diverse group of students. LYS has impacted over 7000 young leaders over the past 40 years.

LYS is a 5 day, fun-filled experience for our delegates.  This high-energy schedule is led by experienced counselors and junior counselors who will work one-on-one with 15-20 students in a “home group.”  Days start early and go into the evenings, so this fun-filled packed schedule is full of events and action. You will meet many new friends and stay in an LSU dormitory with students from all over the state. 

*Times are approximate and activities vary daily

• Group Roll Call
• Breakfast
• Full Delegation Session, such as:
  • Communication Connection
  • Speaking Out Workshop
  • Louisiana – a Dream State
• Small Group Involvement Sessions, which involve 30-40 students and focus on:
  • Goal Setting
  • Parliamentary Procedure
  • Expressing your feelings through music
  • Teambuilding through physical challenge
  • A one-on-one communication
• Lunch
• Guest Speaker, including:
  • State or Federal leaders
  • Civic leaders
  • Corporate leaders
• Home Group Time, focused on specific competitions among home groups
• Group Competitions
• Political Party Meetings – Whigs versus Tories, where students run for LYS offices via a primary, caucus and general election.
• Dinner
• Evening Events, which include fun times such as
  • Cajun Cookout, with music by our favorite DJ
  • Final night banquet and dance
  • Home group time, with focus on preparing for the next day’s competitions.