Middle School Leadership

Committed to developing youth leadership

VREC is committed to developing youth leadership through various programs we offer.  In many regards, our long-standing Student-Led Mini Grant Program is fundamentally a “youth leadership program.”  In addition, we have developed several different programs to support middle school leadership over the past five or six years and are now looking to expand opportunities for both younger and older students in 2024.

VREC 8th Grade Leadership – Program Spring 2023

VREC integrates three pathways of innovate, advocate and partner into our work with schools, higher education, member organizations and the Vermont Agency of Education.

  • We support schools in their efforts to advance equity and inclusive practices.

  • We provide a strong voice through our collective advocacy for sound educational public policy and funding.

  • We recognize the achievements of students, educators and community members.

  • We promote the development of all components of effective community schools.

  • We amplify the stories of our school communities with an asset-based focus.

  • We communicate the research and data that illustrates an accurate picture of our rural schools within the context of Vermont and beyond.

Once again VREC partnered with Northwoods Stewardship Center to provide leadership training for 8th grade students. This year we took a more inclusive approach and opened up an opportunity for cohorts from schools to participate in activities on three separate days at Northwoods.  We had students from: Albany, Sutton, Lowell, Burke, Coventry, Barton, Canaan, Walden, Blue Mt. and NCUJHS. 

Learn more about our partnership with NorthWoods Stewardship Center.

middle school leadership day

Northwoods Stewardship Center Executive Director Maria Young reviews the day's activities for one of our Middle School Leadership days.

Maria Joins VREC Connecticut River Trip

This August, our Executive Director Maria Young joined as a guest paddler on the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative (VREC) Expeditionary Field Studies inaugural Connecticut River Trip.

NorthWoods and VREC team up throughout the year to brainstorm, convene, and host educational programs for local students. These opportunities have grown as John Castle took on the first full-time Executive Director position for VREC.  In May 2023, every VREC school was invited to a no-cost 8th Grade Leads program, hosted at NorthWoods. 

John and Maria's educational journey has shared many connections - having grown up on farms in the NEK, studied at Middlebury College, and spent formative years at Lake Region (Maria as student, John as Principal). Now, in their roles as educators and organizational directors, there is new opportunity to partner and support NEK students. 

Both John and Maria share a similar desire to connect students to place and community, to provide skills and inspiration for growth as a leader, and support for that journey.  A trip down the upper reaches of the Connecticut River is an opportunity to do just that!  This 4-day trip was guided by Parker Castle, founder of Northeast Kingdom Outfitters and Guide Services. Maria joined for a day on her favorite stretch - the Columbia covered bridge to Lyman Falls State Park. 

Vermont Rural Education Collaborative field studies river trip

Maria and her bowmate navigate Lyman Falls. With additional rebar and concrete from the old dam now removed by partnership efforts of the Connecticut River Conservancy and other groups, it is now a significantly safer stretch to run. Photo credit: Parker Castle