The ICO Youth Leadership Cadre provides for 15-18 year old ICO participants to become Assistant Trip Leaders. Up to eight youth per year will be selected to join a 3 night backpacking trip, receive a Sierra Club Membership, and engage in the Reno ICO/Sierra Club Outdoor Leadership Training, first aid training, and other supports, so that they can serve as Assistant Trip Leaders starting in September 2024. In addition to these outdoor experiences and trainings, each Cadre member will have a skilled outdoor mentor to support their growth and leadership.

As all ICO Trip Leaders must be 18 years of age or older, Youth Leadership Cadre members will gain experience in trip leadership and be ready to become Sierra Club certified trip leaders the moment they turn 18. Finally, to support these young people in building a lifelong addiction to outdoor adventure and leadership, we will work with Cadre members to support internships, and paid roles with our partners as they graduate high school and move forward in the world.

Soon, we will be contacting all ICO Trip Leaders, volunteers, and partner/agency leads to ask you to recommend youth to apply for the 2024 Youth Leadership Cadre. Please contact Troy Wilson or Rob Schamberg for further information or to get involved in this exciting program.

Reno Inspiring Connections Outdoors was founded in 2022 to promote youth leadership, youth outdoor experiences and skills, and to build the social and emotional skills of ICO participants. ICO focuses our efforts on providing these experiences to young people who would not otherwise have them.  We are thrilled to deepen this work with the introduction of the 2024 ICO Youth Leadership Cadre.