As we head into the depths of winter and reminisce on the warm weather of the months past, it seems as though next summer can not come fast enough. If you are wondering how to spend these glorious three months while developing your identity and delving further into BBYO, look no further; CLTC is the summer experience for you. After attending CLTC 6 2018 in the beautiful outskirts of Montreal, Canada, I returned home with a myriad of new skills and initiatives for my chapter, as well as a network of friends worldwide. I urge you to consider going through the same experience, and here’s why…

1. Grow as a leader. Although the elections, board positions, and other leadership positions associated with BBYO certainly do not make or break your experience in this organization, they surely enrich it. At CLTC, I not only gained further insight into the breadth of leadership opportunities available but discovered how my talents and passions could improve my chapter and region as well as the international order. From program inspiration to communication techniques and beyond, I returned home ready to take the initiative and make my chapter even more healthy and well-functioning.

2. Gain a network of friends and resources worldwide. Sharing experiences with teens of endless backgrounds, various citizenships, and identities is an experience like no other, and I can promise that your CLTC group chats and conversations will last far longer than these short twelve days. CLTC allows you to create lifelong friends and supporters, as well as obtain a wide-reaching group of teens from whom to gain advice and inspiration for new ideas and initiatives permeating both BBYO and life itself.

3. Recognize the magnitude of our order. Through conversations and activities with such a diverse group of Alephs and BBGs, I gained a new appreciation for the incredible bonds and growth that BBYO produces. As I looked out at the candle-lit faces of my new best friends when I was inducted into the International Order of the B’nai B’rith Girls, I acknowledged the life-changing impacts this organization has had on me in just three short years.

 I can only hope that the next generation of BBYO takes advantage of the same profound opportunity that I got to be apart of at CLTC.