Exploring the Impact of Co-operative Youth Education Programs in Canada – The Perspectives of Alumni featuring Stan Yu

On December 3rd, join the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives for their next Co-op Conversations event: Exploring the Impact of Co-operative Youth Education Programs in Canada - The Perspectives of Alumni. 

Co-operative youth education programs have been offered across Canada for decades, providing experiential learning through day camps and weeklong retreats. These programs aim to build leadership, teamwork, confidence, and communication skills while introducing youth to co-operative values and principles. Thousands of young people have participated in programs such as Camp Kindling in Saskatchewan and Co-operative Young Leaders in Ontario. Despite strong anecdotal evidence of success, there has been little systematic research on their long-term impact.

To address this gap, in 2025 the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives partnered with several organizations to survey alumni of these programs. This Co-op Conversation shares early findings and discusses implications for youth engagement and the future of these programs.