Global Leadership Academy Canada

An award-winning, experience-based leadership development program for international teens ages 12-18

We know that all youth are powerful but often lack skills such as confidence, leadership, and global perspective necessary to be effective leaders of their own future success.

This Global Leadership Academy is designed for middle school and high school students ages 12-18 from around the world, with a curriculum that supports them in building the skills they need to make a change in themselves and their communities.

Our engaging 2-week summer leadership program for youth is packed with hands-on activities and challenges, impactful community service, breathtaking outdoor activities, and new experiences in the Victoria area of coastal British Columbia, Canada. No day is the same at the Global Leadership Academy! Participants are constantly being challenged in new ways to get out of their comfort zones and realize their unique potential as individuals and leaders.

The program tuition includes all program materials, emergency health insurance, and airport transportation as well as 6 months of post-program online coaching to ensure youth continue their personal development they committed to during the program.

WHICH GLA CANADA EXPERIENCE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

All GLA programs share the same learning objectives but accomplish these in different ways depending on the age group (12-14 or 15-18). However, the two groups are hosted on the same campus and often spend time together during meals, free time, off-campus trips, evening events, and select group activities.

Junior GLA (ages 12-14)

The Junior program is designed to help students become comfortable and confident with the different processes and approaches to leadership and to support them in better understanding their unique skills and abilities. There is also a greater focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity throughout the activities, with design thinking as a guiding approach. Junior students complete a larger number of smaller challenges and projects compared to Senior students, including both group and individual projects.

Senior GLA (ages 15-18)

The Senior program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to develop individual community leadership projects with the intention of creating positive change. Students spend the first week focusing on skill building, teamwork, and gaining confidence, with the second week dedicated to better understanding themselves, the world around them, and how exactly they want to make a difference. Then, with the support of our coaches, they make a step-by-step plan to do just that, along with a presentation to share their vision.

ADD-ON: Best of BC Tour

The Best of BC Tour offers an action-packed, activity-filled tour program after the Global Leadership Academy concludes. Tour participants stay in both Victoria (2 nights) and Vancouver (3 nights) and enjoy exciting daily adventures including whale watching, hiking, shopping, exploring, university campus visits, and more. We recommend the GLA + Best of BC Tour package for any international participants interested in extending their visit and exploring more of British Columbia with us!

The GLA Experience

  • Self-Discovery

    Identify your passions

    Realize your unique leadership skills

    Better understand your strengths 

  • Expand Your Comfort Zone

    Make friends from other cultures

    Try a variety of new activities

    Be challenged in new ways

  • Provide Meaningful Service

    Complete 5-10 hours of community service

    Develop your own community impact project (Senior GLA)

    Learn how to solve the issues around you using design thinking (Junior GLA)

  • Join a Global Community

    Meet other talented young leaders from around the world

    Be supported by international leadership coaches

  • Improve University Readiness

    Goalsetting

    Presentation & Public Speaking Skills

    Research and Planning

  • Experience the Best of Canada!

    Explore nature (hiking, swimming, and more!) 

    Learn about Canadian culture

    Enjoy local tourism activities

What do GLA alumni have to say about the program?

What makes the Global Leadership Academies such a unique and valuable experience?

  • Combine the best of an abroad experience, summer camp, pre-university program, and leadership academy all into ONE program!
  • Build your leadership skills through engaging, hands-on activities
  • Learn and have fun in an intercultural environment, supported by cultural competency training
  • Develop time management skills and learn goalsetting tools to be able to take ideas from passion to action
  • Get personalized support from our passionate international staff, with one leadership coach per 5-6 students
  • Our experience-based learning approach is open to local and international students with no mandatory minimum English language requirements
  • Earn a certificate that details 60+ hours of leadership training and community impact, including personal feedback from your leadership coach
  • Each participant is offered 6 months of post-program leadership support, including a 1-hour virtual coaching session
  • Potentially earn course credit or approved service hours for requirements such as: International Baccalaureate CAS, National Honor Society, Duke of Edinburgh Award, and more

2025 Dates and Tuition Costs

Questions?

Contact us! We would be happy to give you more information about our leadership programs for youth, answer any questions you may have, or help you make travel arrangements.