Career and Technical Education Students Head to the Pines
for Professional Development

Submitted by Ryan Hamilton.

From November 13-15, 350 students and teachers traveled to Lost Canyon Camp in Williams, AZ, for the SkillsUSA Arizona Leadership Training Camp (LTC). LTC is the premier leadership and professional development experience for SkillsUSA Arizona members. Students and their advisors networked with members from all across the state. Sessions challenged students to become better critical thinkers, team members, and leaders.

LTC was the third and final event in the series of fall leadership conferences. The three-day focus of camp was challenging the leader. Presenters from TRI Leadership Resources, Teen Law School, and Magically Speaking delivered powerful presentations to attendees. Students and advisors worked late each evening on a regional program of work that emphasized continuing the SkillsUSA mission with community service when they returned home.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving more than 300,000 high school and college students and professional members who are enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations. It has the active support of over 1,100 corporations, trade associations, businesses, and labor unions at the national level. Student membership in SkillsUSA offers leadership, citizenship and character development programs and activities to complement skill training. Its programs help students prepare to go to work and on to further education. SkillsUSA emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, high standards in trade ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety. It promotes understanding of the free enterprise system and encourages the development of patriotism through democratic practices in local chapters.