This Week's Program was . .
February 17, 2026
Our speaker today was Gina Fletcher. Gina is the Director of Youth Programs at Leadership Lake County. Gina incorporates lots of ice breaker activities when she is doing her youth programs, so what better way to start a presentation than with a little ice breaker and some candy?! Each member got to choose 2 pieces of candy. Gina asked yes or no questions and if you answered yes to the question, you had to pass a piece of candy to your right, if you answered no you kept the candy. It was fun to learn a few things about the people that were sitting at your table. Gina said these activities are great ways to get kids talking and having fun. It worked for the adult also : ).
Gina spoke quickly about all of the programs that Leadership Lake County provides. First, the Signature Class began in 1986 and it's for business professionals and like minded people who want to learn more about Lake County. In 2013 they started the Community Builders Program to get more of the community involved in Leadership Lake County. In 1997 they wanted to get students involved in LLC, so they began the Junior Leadership Program which is for 10th through 12th graders. This year will be their 30th class. In 2003 they wanted to get 7th and 8th graders involved and they began the Youth Academy. And this summer for the first time they will have a camp for 3rd through 5th graders, Camp LIT, Leaders in Training. Gina would really like to get that younger group more interested and excited about Lake County, leadership and learning. The camp will be a one week program in June. All programs are a unique behind the scenes look at many places in Lake County.
The Junior Leadership program meets 1 day monthly and culminates with a service project which is designed to be a community impact project. Gina highlighted some of the past service projects. Her favorite was when one of the classes planned a senior prom for students with disabilities and another was Paws for a Cause, the students set up 3 areas in Lake County where families who could not afford to feed their animals could go to get food and other items for their animals. Through Junior Leadership the participants learn how to serve and make great lasting connections while learning and experiencing Lake County in a way they may never have been able to up to this point.
SS Kids Fundraising project, is the main service project for the Youth Leadership Program. The participants in the Youth Leadership Program help collect and pack bookbags prior to school beginning in collaboration with the Salvation Army as their culminating activity. These students, like the Junior Leadership Program, meet once a month for 9 months, to learn the basics of goal setting, communication, time management and community service skills. Each month both youth groups focus on a topic: history, business, public safety and justice, health and human services, and government. The students have on site visits, guest speakers, and experimental learning experiences.
Please visit their website if you know of any students who might be interested in the youth programs offered, or if you are interested in learning about Lake County through the adult programs: https://www.leadershiplakecounty.org/
Gina Fletcher, Director of Youth Programs for Leadership Lake County.
Our next meeting is February 24, 2026 in the barn at the Lake County History Center. Our speaker will be Aurora Martinez from Morley Library.
