The Centre for Land and Water Stewardship, University of Guelph, announced the Young Conservation Professionals leadership program (YCP) at the 2004 A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium. As part of the University of Guelph's Centre for Land and Water Stewardship, YCP is an intensive personal and professional development program designed to enhance the leadership and management skills of upcoming leaders in conservation and environmental fields.

The program is especially suited to agencies and organizations with limited professional development resources, limited budgets, and a pressing need for the next generation of leaders to "step-up". The YCP leadership program takes place over the course of one calendar year and includes three three-day residential retreats and up to six practical skills workshops between the residential events. All activities are focused on developing leadership and management skills.

YCP graduation ceremonies are held during the A.D. Latornell Conservation Symposium. Since program inception in 2005, YCP has enhanced the leadership and management skills of over 120 emerging conservation leaders.

For more information about YCP, please contact Peter Mitchell at claws@uoguelph.ca or Sonia Dong at soniadong@gmail.com. You can also visit YCP online at www.ycpleadership.ca.