2024 BLUE RIDGE LEADERS' SCHOOL
Session 1: June 15-22, 2024
Session 2: July 20-27, 2024
Welcome to the official application page for Blue Ridge Leaders’ School 2024! Please familiarize yourself with the information on this page as the application process contains several phases and changes from prior years. Be sure to download the Operations Guides at the links below, which outline important information for parents, leaders and advisors on everything you need to know prior to, during and following the week on the mountain.
Online Application Process Overview
January 15 – All enrollment materials and information will be posted on ymcabrls.org/apply.
Week of January 22 – Advisor registration how-to webinars will be held.
Beginning January 23 at 10 am EST – Club application and template will be open for clubs to apply. As part of the application, Advisors will upload an excel document with a list of leaders who will be registering with their club signed by the executive director.
After the Club application has been reviewed and accepted, advisors will receive an invoice for club delegation fee plus deposit along with a code for parents and a link where advisors can track registrations of their leaders.
- Advisors provide the registration link and advisor code to the parents of their leaders to register.
- All leaders need to be in the system no later than February 28th
- Club Fee – $100 per Club (Branch) plus $150 deposit for each enrollment in a single check or credit card via Square invoice (3% convenience fee applies)
Leaders’ Division – Total Fee $640
Enrollees must be age 13-18 as of May 31, 2024. Enrollees must be active members of the local Leaders’ Club or willing to serve as the nucleus of a developing club. All should have demonstrated personal leadership skills and proven that they are ready for more intensive training. All must be approved by the local YMCA Executive Director.
Seniors’ Division – Total Fee $680
Enrollees must be age 19 and up as of May 31, 2024, who possess high Christian character and leadership qualities. Seniors’ Division enrollees must be actively involved with the local Leaders Club and/or physical education department. All enrollees must be approved by the local YMCA Executive Director.
- The number of Senior Leaders per Club MAY be limited to less than 4 based upon space. Additional Senior Leaders will be automatically waitlisted if the club is enrolled.
- Each Club is encouraged to bring additional Senior Leaders to support the number of leaders attending.
Fees cover room, meals, school picture (Leaders’ Division) and supplies. Vending machines, store, school picture (seniors’ division), etc. are voluntary.
Deposit must be received within 15 days of acceptance. Final balances will be due NO LATER THAN May 23, 2024. If enrolled, Advisors may apply for Club Achievement.
See below timeline for dates relating to each step of the process.
Watch The Advisor Webinar
- Webinar 1: Monday, January 22nd at 7:30 pm EST
- Webinar 2: Tuesday, January 23rd at 7:30 pm EST
- Webinar 3: Wednesday, January 24th at 7:30 pm EST
Key Dates
- January 15, 2024: All enrollment materials and information posted
- Week of January 22, 2024: Advisor Webinars on Blue Ridge Leaders’ School 2024
- January 23, 2024 at 10am EST: Club Application opens
- Leader application link will be provided to advisors following acceptance of Club Application
- Initial Club Deposit due within 15 days of acceptance of Club Application
- February 28, 2024: Deadline for Leaders to submit registration
- March 1, 2024: Financial Assistance Application Deadline
- April 15, 2024: Financial Assistance Award Notification
- April 23, 2024: Any cancellations after this date are subject to full payment
- May 23, 2024: Remaining Club balance due
- May 31, 2024: Age Cutoff Date, your age as of this date is considered your “age at BRLS 2024”
- June 1, 2024: Deadline for Session 1 Club Achievement Submission
- June 15-22, 2024: Blue Ridge Leaders’ School – Session 1
- July 15, 2024: Deadline for Session 2 Club Achievement Submission
- July 20-27, 2024: Blue Ridge Leaders’ School – Session 2
Operations Guides
Fees
- Leader: $640 – fee includes school photo
- Senior Leader/Advisor: $680
- Staff Member: $150
- Observer (age 13+): $475
- Observer Child (age 3-12): $215
- Observer Infant (age 2 or lower): $0
- Club Delegation Fee: $100 per Club
- Club Deposit: $150 per participant, due within 15 days of acceptance of Club Application
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on a question below to view the answer. After reviewing the info below, if you still have questions about the application process, please email Brianne at briannep@yblueridge.org. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the online application forms, please click here.
Each Leader, together with their Advisor, will submit their application. Typically, clubs host “Club Application Meetings” where all leaders submit their online applications at the same time. Please contact your Advisor for more information on your Club’s process for submissions.
Each LEADER needs to have the following completed prior to submitting his/her application:
- A completed Parent Release Form (to be signed by advisor, scanned, and uploaded as part of the online application, and turned in to the advisor afterwards). Note: Parents and Advisors must sign this form prior to submission.
- A digital copy of a headshot (.jpg or .png) to upload as part of the Leader’s application.
Each SENIOR LEADER AND ADVISOR needs the following:
- A digital copy of a headshot (.jpg or .png) to upload as part of the Senior Leader’s / Advisor’s application.
Reminders for Advisors:
- Ensure that both pages of the Parent Release Form are completed and signed by the parent and advisor prior to submission of the application. Please collect Parent Release Forms for all Leaders and retain these for your records.
- Please make sure to carefully review each Leader’s application prior to submission and ensure class selections are completed properly.
- You will be provided with an Advisor Code that you will need to input on each Leader’s application prior to submission.
A preview of the questions you will see on the Leader Application can be found on this page under the heading “Informational Documents”. This will appear to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
A preview of the questions you will see on the Senior Leader Application can be found on this page under the heading “Informational Documents”. This will appear to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
We are requiring photos of everyone on the mountain for security, safety and identity purposes. Photos do not need to be high resolution, but do need to clearly display the individual’s face only.
The online Club Application must be submitted by advisors and accepted by BRLS before any of the club’s leaders and seniors can submit individual applications. The purpose of the Club Application is to officially “apply” for your club’s delegation and provide current information about the club’s YMCA, Association, Executive Director, Advisor and other important information. This application also tells BRLS how many leaders and seniors plan to apply from each club, and helps us to better plan for each session. Please refer to the Overview and Key Dates sections shown above on this page for all relevant dates and details.
A preview of the questions you will see on the Club Application can be found on this page under “Informational Documents”. This will appear to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
Each advisor will need to complete a Club Delegation Spreadsheet after all leaders and seniors have submitted their applications. Advisors must clearly indicate in the form who is authorized to attend BRLS and which seniors are cleared and/or waitlisted. The spreadsheet must be completed, signed by the advisor and the applicable YMCA executive, and uploaded as part of the Club Registration Form. Please refer to the timeline shown above on this page for all relevant dates.
A blank copy of the Club Delegation Spreadsheet can be found on this page under the heading “Forms & Submission Documents”. This will appear to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
Each club is permitted to bring 30 leaders. Additional leaders will be automatically waitlisted. All approved/waitlisted leaders must be clearly indicated on the advisor’s Club Delegation Spreadsheet.
- The number of Senior Leaders per Club MAY be limited to less than 4 based upon space. Additional Senior Leaders will be automatically waitlisted if the club is enrolled.
- Each Club is encouraged to bring additional Senior Leaders to support the number of leaders attending.
Once your Club Delegation Spreadsheet and all leader applications are received, we will contact you with the approved number of spots for your club and let you know whether your club has been enrolled. A club delegation fee in the amount of $100 plus a deposit in the amount of $150 per leader will be due within 15 days following acceptance of the Club Application.
Payments must be made in one lump sum by your YMCA to cover all approved leaders, seniors and the advisor. Payment can be made in two ways: (1) Send a check to Blue Ridge Assembly, Attn: Blue Ridge Leaders’ School, 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Please make sure you include your Club/YMCA name on the memo line of the check; or (2) by credit card via Square invoice. Note that a 3% fee will apply to your total if you elect to pay by card. If you want to pay by card, please indicate so on the Club Delegation Spreadsheet and we will send you a Square invoice.
You will be notified of payment deadlines for any outstanding balances due.
Note that cancellations after April 23, 2024 will be subject to full payment and will not be eligible for a refund.
No. We will email each advisor to confirm when your club has been officially enrolled or waitlisted for Session 1 (June) or Session 2 (July) and how many spots are confirmed.
Class & Clinic Descriptions can be found on this page under the heading “Informational Documents”. This will appear to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
Financial assistance is available to leaders on a needs-basis. Parents or legal guardians of leaders who are interested in financial assistance should submit a Financial Assistance Application by March 1, 2024. Financial assistance award notifications will be sent on or about April 15, 2024.
The link to the Financial Assistance Application can be found on this page under the heading “Forms & Submission Documents”. This will appear to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
If you have drops or need to make changes to your club delegation, please email Brianne at briannep@yblueridge.org. If any of your leaders have medical conditions that have changed, please email Brianne ASAP.
If I am on BRLS Staff but am also a club Advsior, do I need to complete a Senior Leader application?
No. If you are a club advisor and have already submitted a BRLS Staff application, you do not need to complete a Senior Leader application at the Application Meeting. However, you will still need to complete the Club Registration Form.
Beginning with the 2021 school, BRLS began adjusting the Club Recognition process. The new program is now called Club Achievement. Find more information on specific criteria at the link below. Once BRLS notifies club advisors that their club has officially been enrolled in BRLS, advisors can then submit their club achievement documents using the link shown at the top and on the right side of this page.
A link to the full Club Achievement Criteria can be found on this page, under the heading “Informational Documents”. This will appear to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
All background check forms can be found on this page under the heading “Forms & Submission Documents”. This will appear either to the right (if you are using a desktop browser) or below (if you are using a phone or tablet).
Quick Links
Informational Documents
- Class and Clinic Descriptions
- Preview of Leader Application Questions
- Preview of Senior Application Questions
- Preview of Club Application Questions
- Club Achievement Criteria
Forms & Submission Documents
- Club Application
- Club Delegation Spreadsheet (for advisors)
- Club Achievement Submission – SESSION 1 (for Advisors)
- Club Achievement Submission – SESSION 2 (for Advisors)
- Parent Release Form
- Financial Assistance Application (for parents)
- Staff Background Check Form (YMCA employee)
- Staff Background Check Form (non-YMCA employee)
- Staff Interest Form
Jeff will review all the classes to make certain they remain relevant to the back home YMCA’s and ensure that the Leaders’ School 6-year curriculum is balanced in Spirit, Mind, and Body. –Greg