Youth Leadership Update - Part 1

Phelps Youth Leadership Committee Celebrates a Year of Growth, Impact, and Connection

After a year filled with creativity, commitment, and community impact, members of the Phelps Helps Youth Leadership Committee gathered for an end-of-year retreat at Centre de Villégiature Jouvence. More than just a celebration, the retreat offered a meaningful opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments, strengthen their connections, and look ahead to future youth advocacy work in the Stanstead area.

The Youth Leadership Committee is made up of local students who apply for the opportunity to take on leadership roles within Phelps Helps. Throughout the year, members help plan youth events, bring forward new ideas, and act as catalysts for positive change in their community. This year’s committee included five dedicated students representing all three local high schools: Alexander Galt, La Ruche, and Stanstead College.

Over the course of the 2025–2026 year, the group demonstrated exceptional commitment, planning and delivering three large-scale teen events while each contributing approximately 50 volunteer hours to youth programming and community initiatives. The retreat was designed as both a celebration of that dedication and a chance to recharge after a busy year of service.

Set against the natural beauty of Lac Stukely, the retreat blended reflection with adventure. Students stayed in a waterfront cabin and took part in activities such as pedal boating, canoeing, and a challenging parcours course. These shared experiences encouraged teamwork, resilience, and trust, while also giving members space to simply enjoy time together outside of their usual leadership responsibilities.

“It was really important for us to step back and recognize just how much these students have accomplished this year,” says Kristy Pyle, who oversees the Youth Leadership Committee at Phelps. “They’ve not only dedicated their time and energy to planning events, but they’ve also shown real leadership in listening to their peers and bringing forward ideas that reflect the needs of local youth. This retreat was about celebrating that growth as much as it was about having fun together. We are proud of them and we hope they are proud of themselves!”

Alongside celebration and team building, the retreat also focused on preparation for an upcoming presentation to Stanstead municipal council, the committee’s final mandate for their service term. Over the past year, members have been gathering insights from local youth about how they want to be supported by their community. These findings will be shared directly with town council, with the goal of helping shape more responsive and youth-centred programming and spaces.

Time was set aside during the retreat for the group to reflect on their work, organize their findings, and begin shaping their message for local decision-makers. The experience gave members both clarity and confidence as they prepare to represent youth voices at a community level. (Stay tuned to our next blog to learn more about how their presentation went!)

As the retreat came to a close, it served as a reminder of the value of youth leadership when it is supported, nurtured, and given space to grow. Through their dedication and collaboration, the Phelps Youth Leadership Committee continues to play an important role in strengthening connections between young people and the wider community.

Make sure to read part two in our Youth Leadership Update, HERE!