The Young Leader

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End of Summer Trips for Backpacking Teens

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As summer comes to an end there is still time to go on one more adventure to see the world. Here’s a list of places to backpack in the upcoming weeks, some of them require traveling abroad while others are right in your own backyard. Whether you’re able to hike one of them or more, add the rest to your list! So grab a friend and your gear and get out there.

  1. Costa Rica. There are too many places in Costa Rica to just pin point one. But when there, check out Corcovado National Park with their amazing waterfalls, or better yet hike down one of their many volcanoes. The park is popular with several teen volunteer programs in Costa Rica due to its environmental preservation and world-renowned beauty.
  2.  If backpacking around the world is something on the bucket list then take a trip to Peru. Hike the classic Gringo Trail or explore the jungle and see the wild life in the Amazon Basin. Be sure to check out the famous tourist site Machu Picchu, an Incan city. While it is not a place to back pack, it is still a sight to see!
  3. Speaking of popular trails, walk the El Camino de Santiago. This trail goes from France to Spain and is fairly easy to backpack. Most of the trail is flat and there is always the option to buy a meal every so many miles.
  4. If backpacking in your own backyard sounds like something that can be done within the next few weeks then head to Mt. Whitney in California. It is the tallest mountain in the world within the lower 48 states and is commonly climbed in the Sierra Nevada. Just think of the view when you reach the top!
  5. Once you get done backpacking Mt. Whitney, drive a little ways and backpack around Yosemite National Park! There are multiple trails to choose from, great places to star gaze at night, and even the option to river raft.
  6. Another trail that has waterfalls and lots of greenery is the Kalalau Trail in Hawaii. While it’s a short trail to back pack, the views make it worth it. Not to mention that the trail ends on the beach; what a great way to relax and catch those rays.

Contributed by Samantha Watkins

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Teen Volunteer Who Shook Things Up

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When you want to pick up a new book, the decisions that go through your mind probably are limited to do you want to read your book on your Kindle or in paperback or which book on the summer reading list looks like the shortest option. However, have you ever wondered how you would make that choice if you didn’t have access to any books at all?

When Ryan Trainer, started volunteering at his local library in Redwood City, all he originally thought about was reading to children for a Boy Scout merit badge. Yet as his reading sessions went on, he quickly understood that ”one of the things that really makes a tremendous difference in developing early reading skills…is the presence of books in the home” Ryan recently told Good Morning America. Thus at the ripe young age of 11, Ryan began to organize book drives to help increase young student’s access to reading materials. Over the course of 6 months, Ryan’s efforts led to the donation of 25,000 books that were shipped out to 12 charities, 8 schools, and 7 literacy programs.

Though 25,000 books would be a great success for anyone, Ryan decided he wanted to do more and recruited more teens to help gather more resources in the fight to improve literacy rates in his local community. Now, not only has Ryan’s efforts led to the creation of new chapters of his youth literacy council, but young students now also benefit from math, science and financial literacy classes.

In the end, Ryan just wants to remind everyone that in order to make a difference “it really only takes one person. The Truth”.

If you want to learn more about Ryan’s accomplishment, check out his Good Morning America profile here.

Contributed by Matt Zonis

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Teen Athlete Dominates in Wheelchair Tennis

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Conner Stroud is not your average tennis player. The 15-year-old athlete from North Carolina has proximal femoral focal deficiency, or PFFD. People impacted by this rare condition are born without legs.

In spite of his disability, Conner has defied all odds by becoming one of the best junior wheelchair tennis players in the world. His wheelchair is fully-equipped with a built-in security strap for himself, a back pocket for holding his racquet, and spokes for storing tennis balls.

Conner is currently the top-ranked junior wheelchair tennis player here in the U.S. He’s even played in several tournaments overseas. At home, the successful sophomore is a starter for his high school tennis team. Although he’s confined to his wheelchair, Conner still has the courage to compete against able-bodied players. Last season, he even held the No. 3 rank on his team.

Even though he loses many of these school matches, Conner’s positive attitude and competitive spirit keep his passion alive for the sport. He’s still a reigning champ in the world of wheelchair tennis. His perseverance and remarkable hand-eye coordination have enabled him to accomplish extraordinary feats in the game.

This summer, Conner was just one of three teens chosen to represent the U.S. in the biggest junior wheelchair tennis team competition in the world: The World Team Cup. Throughout the event, he participated in six games, which were all held in Turkey. Conner won five of these matches.

Aside from wheelchair tennis, Conner spent several years competing against able-bodied players. He would show up to these matches on rubber stoppers, which he attached to the stumps of his legs. Nevertheless, Conner still managed to beat a few of his opponents.

His tremendous talents have even been recognized by tennis legends. In 2013, Conner got a chance to practice with some of the best players in the sport, including Andy Roddick and Jim Courier. He even got to meet with his favorite player, Rafael Nadal.

After meeting with Conner, Nadal made the following statement to reporters: “He’s playing tennis. That’s a great example that you can be happy even if life doesn’t give you everything. It’s a big example for me and should be a big example for a lot of people.”

Contributed by Nedda Grady

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Swim/Play/Relax/Volunteer: Best Beaches for Teen Travelers

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Have you come down with a serious case of wanderlust? I bet you are feeling the stress of school, home, and responsibilities. One of the best remedies for that is a nice hot, sandy beach where you can tan, swim, play, and relax.  You can even volunteer to assuage your guilt for taking some time off – beach communities have plenty of opportunities! Here are 6 of the greatest beaches from around the world. Book your ticket now and you’ll thank us later.

When it comes to beautiful beaches in Asia, you need to head to Thailand. The Thai word “Koh” means “island”, so most places with Koh in their name are sure not to disappoint. One great place to kick up your feet is Koh Chang because it is a great mixture of a backpacker vibe, good food, and a gorgeous beach. You might have to take a plane, a train, and a boat to get to some of them, but the beauty and excitement of Thai beaches is something to write home about.

Maybe you need this beach getaway during the winter, maybe the 4 feet of unshoveled snow outside is going to drive you crazy any minute now. Well, winter here means it is summer Down Unda! Head to the Gold Coast of Australia for amusement parks, surfing, shopping, and of course golden beaches. Or if you want some more focused on nature, head to the beaches north of Cairns, Queensland where the rainforest meets the reef. Beaches up there have scuba diving, snorkeling, parachuting, the Daintree Rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef. Go find Nemo!

Reading Darwin’s dry account of the Galapagos islands may not make you want to hop on a plane and fly to Ecuador, maybe it does. Either way, if you’ve heard of Tortuga Bay on the Santa Cruz Island, you’d want to book that flight. This is a pristine long, beautiful beach that will show you the abundance of wildlife around; iguanas, crabs, birds, and mangroves cover the shore. If you head to the end you can snorkel amongst the mangroves and see tons of white tipped and black tipped reef sharks.

The Riviera Maya has the best beaches in Mexico, and definitely competes for some of the top in the world. Playa Paraiso (Paradise Beach) has warm turquoise waters, palm trees, and white sandy beaches. The list of activities to do seems endless, and an added bonus is you’ll be very near to the Tulum Mayan ruins.

On the other side of the world, we have the famous islands of Indonesia. Yes, you can head to the famous Bali and you surely won’t be disappointed. But, consider heading to the island of Lombok. Lombok often gets overshadowed by its neighbors, but it also offers beaches, surfing, volcanoes, scuba diving, backpacking, and even a sea turtle hatchery.

The beaches of the island of Seychelles, off the east African coast, are astounding and take quite a trip to get to. You will be plunged into a world of huge granite rocks, blindingly white sandy beaches, and unbelievably turquoise waters.

Contributed by Kristin Melody

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Be Bold: 5 Reasons Teens with Eyeglasses Should Wear Them Proudly

Having to wear eyeglasses can be a source of shame for teens. Most of my high school friends made the switch to contacts years ago, so they could avoid wearing their glasses. Even though most could make the switch, it didn’t address a deeper issue: they lacked confidence in their appearance.

The moral for all of us—both with and without glasses—was that what we really wanted was to feel comfortable as we are. Turns out that’s way more attractive.

In line with feeling comfortable just the way you are, we present you with 5 Reasons Teens with Eyeglasses Should Wear Them Proudly:

  1. Glasses distinguish you
  2. Glasses are stylish
  3. Glasses add to your variety of looks
  4. Contacts can be a hassle
  5. Genuine confidence is everything

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Glasses distinguish you

There are many ways you can stand out as a teen, and glasses are one way to do so. Although, body armor and camo as well as a beard also gets the job done.

Glasses are stylish

These aren’t your grand pappy’s spectacles!

Glasses add to your variety of looks

Most of us have a variety of shoes that we wear depending on the occasion. Similarly, eye glasses allow you to choose from a number of styles that you can change based on the current fashion trends, season, or occasion.

It’s not that you don’t look good in glasses—you just haven’t found the right pair.

Contacts can be a hassle

How many times have you heard of someone losing their contacts? It can happen to the best of us. If you misplace your glasses, you don’t have to search for what can feel like forever.

You may not also know that contacts can be irritating to put on and take off.

It simply doesn’t look pretty when things go wrong (no need for a picture here).

Genuine confidence is everything

It doesn’t matter how cool other people think your glasses are if you don’t also believe that you look good. And it might be helpful to know there’s always someone out there that finds exactly how you look right now attractive.

It’s a cliché but if you want a more down-to-earth perspective, consider this:

Most people are more confident when they can see clearly and don’t have headaches 🙂

Contributed by Nick Fochtman

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