Registration for the 2024 YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat, Empowering Stars for Safe Teen Driving, is now closed. If you were on the waitlist and not able to make it this year, please stay in touch and join us next summer for another exciting Retreat!
The Retreat is happening July 11-14 at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, VA and is only $15 for each student to attend or $75 for a team of six students and one adult sponsor. This fee includes overnight accommodations in the dorms at JMU, meals, retreat sessions and materials, and a retreat themed t-shirt, water bottle, backpack, and lanyard. The Retreat is for rising ninth graders through graduating seniors, teachers, School Resource Officers, and community youth groups focused on youth traffic safety programs.
The YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat is held annually at JMU and has something for everyone, whether attending as an individual student to learn more about safe driving or as part of a school or youth group team!
For more details on the Summer Leadership Retreat, click the links below.
Student/Parent Letter | SRO/Advisor Letter | Retreat Flyer | B.R.A.K.E.S Flyer
Click the following link to access the agenda for the week: Full Retreat Agenda
This year’s Retreat highlights include:
- B.R.A.K.E.S.: Behind the Wheel Driving Experience that will teach teens defensive driving techniques on a closed curriculum in a controlled environment
- Motivational Speaker: Shaun Derik and his “Practice a Plan” Breakout Session
- Personal Speakers who will share impactful stories of loss after a crash and how they’re turning tragedy into action
- Glow Stick Game – Retreat teams will compete against one another for bragging rights and the team award!
- The Amazing Race with a space theme!
- Team Building Activities
- Talent Show
- Pajama Party with music provided by everyone’s favorite, DJ Boogie!
- TJohnE Game Show to test your knowledge of driver safety after four days of learning all about it!
- YOVASO’s Annual Awards Banquet to recognize schools, youth groups, student leaders, SROs, Club Sponsors, and business partners for their contributions to young driver and passenger safety during the 2023-2024 school year.
To register, simply click the appropriate registration form below and submit electronically or print the Student Registration Form and/or Advisor/SRO Form below and return to YOVASO/VSP Public Relations Office at PO Box 27472, Richmond, VA 23261. As noted above, the price for the Retreat is only $15 per person and the deadline to register is June 21. Refunds will only be given for cancellations made prior to this date.
Be sure to register early to reserve your spot for the B.R.A.K.E.S. Defensive Driving experience as space is limited to the first 60 students with a learner’s or driver’s license who register to participate. See Retreat Registration Form for more details on the B.R.A.K.E.S. program or click here.
*Please note: If you plan to pay your registration fee online, you should have your debit/credit card information ready to pay on the last page of the form. However, we’ve also provided the link to pay below in the event you complete the registration form without submitting the payment and can’t go back. As a reminder, if you are attending with a group, be sure to check with your adult advisor or sponsor on how you should submit your payment.
• Educate young drivers and passengers about their risk factors in a motor vehicle and how to reduce those risks through a variety of interactive training sessions, motivational speakers, and educational programs.
• Prepare students and their adult advisors to lead peer-to-peer safe driving and traffic safety programs in their schools and communities.
• Help build positive relationships between law enforcement and youth while working together to prevent young driver-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
