Youth Leadership Retreat 2025
In October 2025, youth from across the region came together at the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre for a weekend filled with connection and community. Our Youth Leadership Conference brought together young people from Rotary Interact and service clubs who are passionate about making a difference.
From team challenges in the forest to campfire conversations, the energy was inspiring. Thank you to every participant, volunteer, and mentor who helped make the weekend truly unforgettable!
What the Weekend Looked Like
Throughout the retreat, youth explored leadership through hands-on activities designed to strengthen teamwork, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving. Participants had the chance to:
- Engage in team-building activities in a natural outdoor setting
- Grow leadership skills through creative group challenges
- Reflect on their values, identity, and community roles
- Collaborate with peers to imagine stronger schools, better clubs, and new possibilities
- Receive mentorship from community leaders across Ontario
Workshops and activities included low-ropes courses, nature-based exploration, storytelling, talking-stick making, and personal and group reflection exercises. Youth also identified issues within their school communities and experimented with project ideas to help address them – turning insight into real, actionable change.
Why It Matters
This retreat gives young people the chance to slow down, reconnect with their motivations, and build meaningful friendships with peers who share their commitment to a better world.
Over the three days, participants:
- Reconnected with what inspires them
- Developed skills they’ll carry into school, work, and life
- Strengthened their confidence and emotional awareness
- Found support, mentorship, and encouragement for their next steps
Youth already have the passion to make a difference. This retreat gives them the space, tools, and community to turn that passion into leadership.
