Group Leader FAQs | Northern Youth Abroad

The role of Group Leading with NYA is unique; an intensive role that requires energy, flexibility and commitment. It is also one of the most rewarding, offering an amazing opportunity to invest in each Participants experience, and ultimately their success and growth.

What Commitment is Required?

Group leaders participate in a variety of tasks before Orientation to get ready for Placement (conference calls with participants, getting vaccines, etc.) All of these tasks can be done from the Group Leader’s home community and are pretty flexible in their timing.
There is a required 3-day training. This training is scheduled after the Leaders are selected and the dates are flexible to accommodate. All travel costs associated with the training are covered, and training usually takes place in the Ottawa area.
Group Leaders are asked to arrive in Ottawa on June 26^th this year.
The full-time commitment for Group Leaders is currently scheduled to end on Monday, Aug 19th (following the re-orientation program in Ottawa). This date could change to be later or earlier by a couple of days due to travel.

What do applicants need to do?

Be available for the duration of the full-time commitment, and also to attend training, and fulfill pre and post-departure tasks
Be at least 24 years of age as of June 1, 2020 (the reason for this is that our eldest participants are 22 or 23 and this helps ensures that a clear separation between leader and participant).

Can I apply as a pair? As an individual?

Applicants can apply in pairs, as individual applicants, or as a pair who are also willing to be considered separately.
Pairs can be a couple, friends, co-workers, or anyone who you feel would be a great partner to share this experience with.
Groups of all females or all males are welcome to apply but should be aware that this may reduce their chance of selection.

What is the group I would be leading like?

Two Group Leaders will be selected and lead a group of 6 participants. The 2020 Participants are Indigenous youth from Nunavut and the NWT between the ages of 16 and 23 who have completed the Canadian Program with NYA.
It is fairly certain, based on this year’s participant applications, that the team will include male and female participants. Because of this, we will have a strong preference to have a male and female leader travel with the team

What is the program like?

At least one group leader needs to accompany the NYA participants at all times while abroad. This includes all periods where participants are in-transit between Ottawa and Costa Rica, “on-site” at the work placement and all excursions.
Participants will participate in a program orientation at MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre outside of Ottawa. The orientation includes morning, afternoon and evening sessions that help prepare the group for their placement. The sessions are delivered by facilitators in tandem with the group leaders.
Throughout the placement, participants complete a summer assignment package. This package includes activities on a variety of pertinent topics such as development education, group dynamics, and communications. The assignments are designed to encourage the youth to reflect upon their experience and how it relates to the overall objectives of the NYA program. Group Leaders are responsible for ensuring that these assignments are complete, for assisting the participants with any troubles they may have, and for ensuring the objectives of the NYA curriculum are met.
The program re-orientation begins in Ottawa immediately after the group returns and is 3 days in length. The group facilitator(s), in collaboration with staff, take the lead role in the re-orientation program allowing our group leaders to wrap up the program and work on a program reporting.

What about the international placement?

We are in the process of confirming the specific placement details for this year, but our host country will likely be in Costa Rica.
Groups will take part in a pre-arranged program that will include volunteer work, service learning, cultural exchange and other activities.
In recent years the placement has been broken into three segments and one includes a 12-day facilitated by Outward Bound. If this takes place again this year each Leader will need to meet the physical requirements and be prepared for being in nature for an extended period.
NYA partners with an in-country NGO as a local liaison who assists with in-country logistics, support, and orientation. Depending on what placements are selected, leaders may find that most of the arrangements are cemented before arrival, while in other cases leaders may be required to work together to develop terms that are mutually agreed and satisfactory. Leaders should be prepared to be flexible and to work in collaboration with partners no matter what circumstances arise.

What are the benefits?

A once in a lifetime opportunity to guide, facilitate, and support a group of young people in their growth and development while experiencing a new country and culture.
All costs of participation are covered. This includes all travel and accommodation expenses for the planning weekend, program orientation and re-orientation, and for all facets of the international placement.
NYA covers the cost of comprehensive medical and travel insurance for each group leader and all participants as well as vaccines
Group leaders are each given an honorarium upon completion of the program, which includes the submission of financial and narrative final reports, of $1000 (net)