What is YLTA?

“Youth Leadership Through Adventure” (YLTA) is a student-led program to plan and implement effective prevention and substance use/mental health awareness programs based on positive youth development.

Supported through a partnership with the North Country Health Consortium, the mission of YLTA is “to empower youth to lead and promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, reduce substance misuse, and improve the overall school climate in each and every school in the North Country of New Hampshire.”

As stated on the NCHC website, the goals of the YLTA program are to:

"Give each participant a sense of belonging through place-based service learning projects;

Empower youth to provide leadership, self-governance and to promote the benefits of a healthy substance-free lifestyle in their schools and communities;

Improve school climate so that positive and healthy substance-free lifestyle choices are supported through practices and policies;

Change community norms and culture where healthy substance-free lifestyles are promoted."

The Littleton High School/Daisy Bronson Middle School YLTA group meets every other week during TASC. Participation in YLTA also allows students to join in regional meetings with students from other schools in our area and attend biannual conferences and summer programming to foster youth leadership.

How has YLTA Contributed to Positive School Climate?

Past YLTA-sponsored events have included:

• Building-wide informational posters focused on vaping prevention

• Guest speakers to address substance use and making positive choices

• Distracted Driving – Students participated in a simulation during which they drove a car using virtual reality goggles that made it increasingly difficult to focus

• James Orrigo – Motivational speaker who traveled the country to pediatric hospitals to help students with serious illnesses create their own songs and stories. He spoke about the power of helping others and using their talents to support others.

• Climate Project- students in YLTA led small groups of their peers in activities that centered around creating a more positive school environment. High school students led groups of middle school students and students in each of the classes led groups of students in their own grade level.

• "Flush Flyers" and bathroom posters on social-emotional topics

Themes have included:

• Signs/symptoms of depression and how to get support

• Making healthy choices

• Substance use/misuse

• Bulletin boards focusing on positive school climate

This school year, YLTA student members have identified a goal of a positive school climate through team-building activities. Students will be working with other clubs, such as Student Council and the National Honor Society, to sponsor fun ways to engage students with their school environment and each other. Stay tuned for more information!