A group of 29 students began learning to be leaders Tuesday at Slippery Rock University's Leadership Development Center.

The students were juniors from six different Butler County high schools, and they participated in their first day of the new Butler County Youth Leadership Program.

This is the first year for the program, which was designed and modeled after the Leadership Butler County program, according to Mark Shenker, chairman of the Butler County Youth Leadership Board.

“We wanted to tailor it more toward the youth,” Shenker said.

As part of the daylong program the students took personality assessments that sorted them into groups. Each group was designated by a color and personality type. The groups then had a brainstorming session about perfect vacations, ideal dates and their team flag.

The students presented their results, and then they saw a slide show that matched the student's teams with their assessed personality. It also discussed ideas on communicating and leading people with different personalities.

Kelly Bailey, a board member. said the activities helped students understand how to relate to others while maintaining a leadership role. It also made them think about how others see them.

“They're finding their personal leadership styles and how to use those styles,” Bailey said.

Bailey said the program is about developing leadership qualities through experiences and relationships.

“It's really trying to give them an introduction to leadership.”

Toward the end of the day the students transitioned outside to complete various tasks and challenges using teamwork and communication.

They played games with ropes and brainpower, a combination as powerful as fresh air and fun, according to board member Debra Monteleon.

Monteleon said it was important to get the students on their feet and doing activities rather than lecturing them.

“It has to be more interactive,” she said.

The students were strangers in part because of the application process, according to board co-chairman Karen Brackett.

The board received 35 applicants, and five students from each participating school district were invited, with one who declined.

Kaylee Rodgers, a student from Knoch High School, said the application asked a lot of questions about community involvement and leading others, which already interested her.

“It sounded like a way to make myself more involved and a better leader,” she said. “It's gonna be fun to grown with (the others) and learn new things.”

Brackett said the students moved past initial apprehension and grew more excited and engaged with each activity. She said despite most students being strangers to one another, most became fast friends.

“They've developed friendships already today,” she said. “I have a feeling that they'll all be longtime friends.”

Jake Geil, a student from Seneca Valley High School, said he felt the activities helped build those relationships.

“All of the activities we did this morning were super fun,” he said. “I'm excited to see what we'll do next.”

Monteleone said the success of this group will show the potential for the program and entice others to apply in the future. She said they hope they double their applications next year.

“They're going to be our best advertisers,” Monteleone said.

In addition to training leaders, the board also hopes to keep them in Butler County, according to Shenker. He said the program exposes them to people who have already been successful leaders in communities across the county.

“It's to introduce the kids to Butler County and what it has to offer,” he said. “Hopefully some day, they'll want to live, work, play and stay in Butler County when they do all that.”