JrNYLC
We got a packet in the mail today that says Shane has been nominated to attend the Junior National Young Leaders Conference this summer in Washington, DC. One of his middle school teachers nominated him for his scholastic achievements, maturity and character. It sounds like a pretty neat opportunity but it seems to cost an arm a leg to get out there. You have to pay your own way there and back, plus about $1840 for the conference itself. The conference is a week long event in and around Washington, DC. It includes some trips to surrounding landmarks and quite a bit of time in a conference setting where they spend sessions concentrating on a series of leadership traits and studying past oustanding leaders.
We’re proud he was nominated and that his teacher thinks he’s qualified for it. Wish it didn’t cost so much…..still undecided on what to do. We have to decide something by mid-April.
We would enjoy hearing from others that have attended the JrNYLC to hear their thoughts on if it was worthwhile.
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About Shallowbottom
I am a software engineer, married with two kids. I am a fan of Shallowater, Texas Tech, the Cubs and the Cowboys.
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I too am a mother who wants to speak to other parents who may or may not send their child to this event. It will be a great learning opportunity, however the price is the issue, along with my son who is only 11 being their by himself. If my husband and I decided to let him attend it will be for the summer session. I am looking for other parents who have had their children participate in this conference. I’m still on the fence…
It’s been a year…did you let your son go? Why or why not and if yes, what was the experience like? Thanks.
My son just flew out today! We were hestitant to send him at first as he was the only one from our area to be nominated and he had never flown before. After doing a lot of research and going through the discussion boards at the jrnylc website we definately wanted him to go. As far as the cost, it is pretty expensive. We were able to raise about $1100 dollars from a raffle and through family sponsors. He flew out of Salt Lake on Delta and the airline treated him very well as an unaccompanied minor, he was the first to board the plane and the last to depart and the representatives from jrnylc were right there to greet him. If you can afford to do it; I would definately recommend it. If I can be of more assistance please let me know. (You can also check out pictures of the sessions at: http://www.cylc.org/jrnylc/pictures ).
Hello parents ~ Our daughter was also nominated and we are really hoping she can attend. How did you do the arrangements? Were there other children at the same school that went? And what was their responce to the sleeping arangements and rooms? We are hesitant because she has never been away from us so many days?
Please feel free to e mail me direct at AmyRide94@aol.com
Thanks!
Terrill, if you happen back by after your son returns, please update us on the experience. We have a little more time to make a decision here since our son would not go until the summer session if he goes at all. I’d like to hear the impressions of someone who’s already been. I read alot of the same material online that you did and it does read like an interesting experience.
All – JrNYLC is the real deal. Our daughter attended 2 years ago and will also be attending the upcoming inauguration in January. Top notch organization and wildly impacting to our daughter. Cheers.
My daughter will also be attending this summer. We had 3 children from our school go last year and they said it was an experience they will never forget. They had a wonderful time and learned so much. We put together a raffle and are selling craft items donated by friends and family at a craft fair tommorow to help raise the funds needed. Good luck and congrats on the nomination.
Terrill,
My daughter is flying out from SLC this summer. The fight on the way there works slick, but not the on the way back if she has to fly out by 5:00. Could you tell me how you handled it?
Thanks.
My daughter just received her nomination letter this weekend. Both me & my husband are both happy and excited for her, but like the other parents have mentioned, we are also concerned about the cost and if it is worth it. The other thing that concerns me is that this will be the first time, she’ll ever be away from home (flying out from Las Vegas). So, it would be very helpful to hear feedback from previous participants, or comments from other parents who have considered or are considering it for their child.
Thank you.
My daughter will be attending this summer. I will also be flying to DC with her but will not be staying at the event hotel. I’m extremely excited about the event. I would love to hear from other parents and students concerning their experience at the conference. Congrats to all!!
just wanted to say hi to troi i realy hope this is the right troi who use to live in gulfport if so please e-mail if not im sorry and please disregard this post
All- my son just came back from Boston. It was his second trip. He is still friends with boys he met last year in D.C. Yes it is cost prohibitive, but worth every penny. he is more mature, happier and just more in control than ever. He is thirteen and very involved with school and the Boy Scouts. I would reccomend it to anyone who has the opportunity. He was selected for a reason. Bobbie
Hello there,
We are considering this trip as well and I was wondering if you could possibly provide some details about your negative experiences with the JrNylc in Wa DC. We would truly appreciate it! Thank you!
Jr. NYLC is not worth the ridiculous cost- it is a business like any. send your kids to volunteer somewhere for a week, not be instilled with a false sense of worth. If you’d like your kids to be tools this is the place to send them.
My son attended last July and it was a wonderful experience for him. I flew with him and stayed at the event hotel (The Westin). I saw him only once in passing all week and it was a great opportunity, not only for him to learn and see new things, but to make new friends. He also had to take on some new responsibilities…get himself up in the morning, remember what to wear based on the dress code for that day, keep track of his room key, camera, money, cell phone. He was only 11 at the time and I was amazed at how instantly mature he became. We were both nervous when I left him at the sign in table that first day. But by the time I talked to him that night before lights out…he already had experiences to share and friends to tell me about. The only “incident” that I found very concerning, after the fact ,was that the final night sleepover which was supposed to be inside a museum…suddenly turned into a bonfire campout in cabins in the woods and I was not informed ahead of time of the change. In fact I didn’t realize he wasn’t at the museum until the next day. However, it did seem to be well-supervised and there was a room check every night. He has been invited to the Alumni Event in Boston and will be attending in July.
My son (12) went on this trip in June 2008 and I moved the world to make sure he did not miss this opportunity. It was well worth it. Yes it was difficult to put him on a plane ride for 10 hours and send him in someone elses care but what a chance to experience things I never would. How could you not send you child? The planning brought us closer together and when he came back and shared everything, I learned some things I did not know. WIN WIN.
this is not true. I attended about a month ago. It was a trip to remember. Sometimes I think about making a difference, and how everyone wants to put their mark on this world. Well, when I went to JrNYLC, I learned it was possible. This may sound rediculous, but it’s true.
I am a student who went on this trip in March. The trip is not that prestigious and seems to be filled of rich kids whose parents are more interested in sending them, than the kids who attend.
It is not a big deal to be nominated and the reason why so few go is not because of prestige but because of the ridiculous price. If you allow your child to attend, expect to be bombarded with more “Conference” letters talking about all the “prestigious” programs than the organization runs, all for a handy $2,000 !
If you are going for the experience; take a family trip to D.C. If you are going for the prestige; try volunteering for a week in a Mexican orphanage rather than attend this scam-smelling “conference”.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my daughter attended the Inauguration through CYLC and it was a terrible and scary experience. They masquerade as a not-for-profit, but they are a business and this was never more evident than during this past program. In years past they took 2000 total from middle school through university age kids for their inauguration program. This year they took in 15,000 students. This is greed. And their greed put our children in danger.
They were unprepared to handle this quantity. They ran out of food. Kids averaged 3 hours of sleep a night. Most did not get to attend the Opening Ceremonies as promised. Most did not get to visit monuments as promised. Some did not get to go on the Potomac cruise as promised. Most did not get into the Smithsonian Institutes as promised. And many many students did not get to see the Inauguration as promised. But worse, she was alone and lost among the 2 million on the National Mall the day of the Inauguration for two hours until she found another JrPYIC group to join. Each faculty advisor had charge of 16 students (though they said it would be 14:1 — not much difference I know) and they couldn’t keep them all together. Originally there was supposed to be a roped-off area on the lawn for the children to “witness history being made,” but as they registered more and more children they were not able to accomodate them in that small area on the lawn. The Mall was a mosh pit and she felt there were times her feet didn’t touch the ground and she just went with the flow of people.
Our daughter’s health information and card was not collected during registration, we could not contact ANYONE at CYLC during the inauguration (and no one ever returned our calls) and are grateful that there wasn’t a real emergency because cellphones were mostly blocked during the inauguration.
The last straw was when our daughter was dropped off in front of the United Airlines counter at 8:30 am and told to “have a safe trip home.” They didn’t have her return flight information and would not accompany her through security and to her gate as we had been told. Her flight wasn’t until 1:45 pm and I spent that entire day on the phone with her as she sat in the busy airport the day after the inauguration alone. Never should she have been left alone….we were assured of 24-hour a day supervision. Her invitation required her to register by May 2008 … we found out that they held registration open through November. Who wouldn’t want their child to experience this moment in history. We were duped.
Below are some links to websites that you may want to read. Even if you are registered and paid-in-full for a program that is upcoming, from what I’ve read, you should be able to get a full refund without them holding onto any cancellation money. It looks like there will be a class action suit; this has already been in the Washington Post; a group of parents are talking with a reporter from the AP tomorrow; the “scam” has been reported on Fox News and 20/20 is collecting information. Many of the Senators who sit on the “Honorary Board” are stepping down because of this last conference fiasco.
Please, please take a look at these links I’ve posted below before you entrust your child to this business. And remember, they are not a Non-Profit. They are a business owned and operated by EnvisionEMI. Check out the Virginia Better Business Bureau too.
http://jrpyicparentcomplaints.webs.com
http://www.yicinfocenter.org
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703135.html
http://inauguralscholar.typepad.com/jrpyic_friends_family/?CFID=6062471&CFTOKEN=76498456
IT BOTHERS ME that you speak of this organization in such a critizizable way, because I’m going there this spring.
Christina, are we talking about the same program. The topic here is “JrNYLC- Junior National Youth Leaders Conference” and you are writng about the CYLC and recent inauguration. Are these the same organizations?? just confused
John I don’t mean to speak for Christina, but I do think the parent organization behind all those conferences (there are several) is the same. CYLC and JrNYLC do have the same parent org.
thanks shallowbottom for the reply and info; you and Christina are correct. I did more research on the internet and found what I needed. my son was invited to this although I think we will defer this summer. Although “scam” is probably too harsh a word, I don’t think the JrNYLC is as exclusive as they portray it to be. I take it to be a summer camp with social studies twist. It does seem that most students who have attended had a very positive experience.. thanks again. John
I am very concerned about sending my 11 year old daughter to Washington DC for the JrNYLC trip. Besides the $2k + airfare, which is really not a problem, I have concerns about my daughter being alone in DC with a bunch of strangers. I am not getting the big warm feeling that this is really anything that “special” other than a targeted advertising for a good group of kids for a field trip with parents who have the means to pay. IS there anyone out there who truly had a life changing experience that would do it again for their kid? Especially a girl.
Thanks
Tony
Hi Tony,
My daughter was 11 last year when she attended the conference. She had never been away from home and did beautifully. The organization is very professional and has the administration of the event down to a science-I felt that my daughter was in very safe hands. We sent her as an unaccompanied minor on United Airlines, which also worked out well. My daughter will attend the Boston Conference this summer as her experience was transformative. It was worth all the worry. Every child is different however, and only you can judge if your daughter’s readiness.
I went. I’m a girl. I had the time of my life!! It was great, I learned so many things and met so many new people.
My daughter is going to the JrNYLC in March 2009. I have done a great deal of research on it, including talking to many parents and past alumni. I am really surprised that I have not really heard any negative feedback, until this site. Of course you have the occasional few who are disgruntled, but hey that’s life…. I was in DC for inauguration and it was HORRIBLE everywhere, for everyone….way too many people, packed way too tight. I hate it that the child had a bad experience. If my child was left unaccompanied in the airport I would be upset as well. With that being said….The conference has been open for years and thousands of kids have had wonderful opportunities. As a parent I am not going to let one bad event outweigh all of the good that this group has done.
Even if it puts your child at risk?
Karen, how was your daughter’s experience? My son was nominated for this fall. He will be entering sixth-grade this fall. Thanks for your reply.
Sorry to be a naysayer, but here it goes: maybe you can learn from our mistakes, read more carefully and ask a lot more questions!!!
My daughter went 2 summers ago to JrNYLC in DC. This was our first experience with this program and we were all very excited when she received the invitation. We were mistaken in believing that she was chosen to participate based on leadership skills that she had. It is just a fancy marketing scheme. We paid too much $$ for our daughter to spend a lot of time riding on buses all over the DC/Baltimore area for approx. 7 days. A lot of time was also spent eating in restaurants after two hour waits, going to a major league ball game (unscheduled), other “museum” trips that could have been typical school field trips (Baltimore Aquarium). Two of the DC federal building tours didn’t “pan out” due to poor planning re: arrived too late at one place, photo op at White House is really a few blocks away with a view of the front lawn.
Please read the itinerary VERY CAREFULLY and do not get swept away in any sort of sense of PRESTIGE that you may think is being bestowed upon your child for their hard work. They are being recruited for your $$!!
The amount of time actually spent in discussions and workshops about leaders was minimal.
There was a problem between the two roommates who were sharing the room with my daughter. They were stealing money and keys from each other. My husband and I wanted to get my daughter out of the room with these other two girls and it took nearly two days for us to get the problem fully resolved with proper phone calls. This is something that I would have expected that as a parent would be resolved immediately by chaperones. Instead, the problem escalated late into one night and we were not able to get a call back from the chaperone until the next morning. I don’t expect an 11 year old to be able to iron out all the issues with strangers. It was very unsettling to be several hundred miles away from your child and not have the chaperone taking care of the problems quickly.
Save your money and take your family on your own vacation or investigate some of the good programs that Johns Hopkins advertises for kids.
MY DAUGHTER WAS NOMINATED AND WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE $$ TO SEND HER TO JrNYLC. I’VE TRIED TO FILL OUT THE SCHOLORSHIP APPLICATION AND SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. I GET ALL THE WAY TO THE ESSAY AND THE APPLICATION NEVER ALLOWS ME TO GET TO THE SIGNATURE PAGE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION. HAS ANYONE
HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? I FEEL LIKE APPLICANTS ARE BEING
FOOLED BY THE CHANCE OF COVERING SOME OF THE COST AND MAYBE BEING INTENTIONALLY DISCOURAGED TO APPLY, MAYBE TO SEE IF PARENTS WILL JUST PAY THE WHOLE FEE!? I FEEL SO CONFUSED, AND I DONT WANT GIVE UP COMPLETELY. HAS ANYONE GOTTEN ANY SCHOLORSHIP $$$ BEFORE? NOT EVERYONE HAS THE MEANS FOR THIS GLORIFIED FIELD TRIP!
I am a student who just attended the JrNYLC recently, and I actually enjoyed the experience very much. I understand that a lot of your children had problems but I have to say, those things do not happen all the time. My experience, personally, was so great I kind of wanted it to last an extra week. Overall I think it was worth it, and I would gladly do it again.
Well,
My daughter was recently selected for trip occuring in
MAY and we’re looking for ideas on fund raising. I’m a Soldier in the US Army and I must say that this is my first blog or post but after reading the positive comments I to am excited for my daughter who’s been nominated. Does anyone know where I can find info on the percentages of nominations across the country? Thank you for your time and help in advance!!!!
Also any information on particular avenues of donations or sponsors.
I attended two of these CYLC conferences, the one in DC and the one in Boston.
The one I went to recently in Boston, was poorly organized and inefficiently run.
I did not know what room I was going to be staying in until after dinner, when I had arrived sometime around 12 and everyone else had already been assigned their room.
It was very poorly organized. Kids simply wandered through the hotel often, unsupervised and having loads of unstructured time. My friend attended also, and her adult supervision was not present for the most part of her trip, and her group was left unattended in a room to do whatever they please.
Another example was the battleship on which we stayed the night. Upon arriving, they let us loose to roam the battleship. We went down to the depths of the ship, climbing on things we probably shouldn’t have been, and exploring dark, cramped rooms we probably shouldn’t have been in. But, we didn’t know what else to do, our time was unstructured.
As far as leadership skills go, I did not learn anything. This “conference” was basically a place where you could meet other kids whose parents were dupued into paying huge amounts of money.
My family actually took a trip to Boston also, while I was at the conference, and they had more fun than I did. They saw more sites, learned more historical information (if you believe that is a plus of the conference), and traveled to more sites than I did, probably for half of the cost.
There are so many other negative things I could say, like how I had to share 5 showers with 300 other girls, but I’ll refrain.
Summing it up, CYLC is a poorly run, sham in which your son/daughter will aquire no leadership skills whatsoever. I’m sorry, but there is no honor or prestige to the nominations, they will nominate anybody.
Please do not waste your money on this.
Reply to my comment with any questions you may have, and I will happily answer.
Samm-
If you did not learn anything and thought they were so terrible and feel the orginazation is poorly run and a complete sham then can you tell me why you went to not one, but two of these conferences.
Have you went to the one in Washington? My daughter was nominated and I am thinking of sending her but trying to read up on more information first?
Samm,
I question some of your facts as the 4H facility in Baltimore provides more the enough showers and the Baltimore program is at the Sheraton Conference Center with three participants to a room at teh Sheraton.
Additionally, this is a leadership conference. Participants have EARNED the privilige to explore facilities closed to the public and open only for JrNYLC participant without chronic supervision. As a leader, at a leadership conference, your character and choices should lead you to make the right choices in this venue.
Sorry, the BOSTON program is at the Sheraton
im going to go to the jrcylc also i think that he should go its a great opprtunity
I think so too. Well, I hope so after reading some of these negative comments? ? ? Hope we are not making a mistake by sending her.
Hi,
I just called them as my kids were nominated for a different leadership one by the school and I wanted to know the differences. They offered my kids an invitation without even knowing what school my kids go to or grades or anything. So, for what it’s worth, it is open to everyone it seems.
Love this program. Oldest daughter participated April 2008 and is currently in Boston for the JrNYLC Alumni Boston Program. She will also attend the state program in Boca during June 2010.
Our youngest daughter was also nomintaed and after the amazing experience of our eldest, she will be enrolled in one of the October 2009 JrNYLC sessions.
As for allowing anyone to participate, I would check this out to a greater extent, JrNYLC prides itself of their nominees. However, nominations are not based upon local, school, popularity, etc. This is a whole child, character nomination made by teachers, youth pastors, principals or others with insights into a child’s potential and/or involved in the development of youth leaders.
Our family cannot say enough about JrNYLC. Having sent a shy, quite, timid, introverted bookworm to the Baltimore conferencenin the spring of ‘08 and having an, empowered, corageous, ready to go young lady return to us 6 days later, we are appreciative, grateful and amazed by what our daughter experienced in Baltimore and are anxious and excited about what she is currently experiencing in Boston.
hello everyone! i was nominated by my teacher to go to this conference. my mom was hesitant to let me go but she did. i didnt go yet but im leaving monday morning! if u have any questions u can go to this website http://community.cylc.org/6/ubb.x u may want to go to the jrnylc discussion forum. u will not be able to post anything or ask questions unless u have an account. u may only get an account if ur child is participating, but u will be able to see everything the other parents/attendees posted! hope this helps u make ur decisions!
It is REALLY starting to annoy me the number of people who write in this “texting” style. u? ur?
Not to pick on cheergurl02, because I’m seeing this lots of places. When it starts entering the business place, and it will, I’m going to “pitch a fit”!
im sorry shallowbottom but i just think its a lot easier to write in text format. and its not that im trying to write like that, its just that im so used to texting that i just type like that. during this imput i had to backspace so many times so it wouldnt be in “text format.”
By all means, let’s go with what’s easy for you. English grammar be damned.
Just a reminder about the whole concept of being “nominated”. If you check around your school, you will find many others are nominated. I also doubt that this organization would turn away anyone who is willing to fork over the money to enroll their child.
Keep in mind the pool that children chosen from for leadership potential in each school differs. There are no defined requirements for nominations, so PLEASE think twice about the flattery implied.
I have waited a long time to make a call on JrNYLC since Shane got his letter. It’s been a couple of years now I think.
My opinion is it’s a money making operation that has nothing to do with prestige or flattery. I agree with those who state they would accept anyone who will pay.
I’m so tired of the comments I get about it here now that I think I will delete the entire subject.
Hi eeveryone. I attended this program and it was such a great experience
I agree. I went and had the time of my life and learned many thing that I know will help me in the future.