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Youth Development Conference

What is the Youth Development Conference?

YDC is the premiere professional development opportunity for CP officers. For the Cadet Program to reach the next level of its success, and continue to stay relevant to the needs of today’s teens, our Cadet Program Officers must look for inspiration in the wider profession of youth development. 

The Youth Development Conference aims to bring in experts in the field of youth development to help us see how those principles can be used to enhance our already excellent youth leadership program. If CAP wants to remain a leader in youth development, we must continue to learn and grow as the research develops.  The conference aims to help CP officers learn what issues affect teens today, and what other youth-serving organizations are doing to remain relevant to today’s challenges, all while we simultaneously maintaining CAP's best traditions.

 

2026 Conference 

This year, we will not be holding the Youth Development Conference. Instead, consider attending the 2026 National Conference!

This year’s National Conference is designed to energize, connect, and inspire—bringing together members from across the organization for meaningful learning, collaboration, and community. With a central theme focusing on Cadet Programs, the conference also shines a spotlight on Safety, Health Services, Chaplain Corps, Judge Advocate, and Inspector General, offering focused learning that reflects the full scope of our work. Many sessions intentionally intersect across these areas—especially where they connect to Cadet Programs—creating valuable opportunities to explore how these disciplines work together to strengthen the overall cadet experience.

 

For more information visit the National Conference Webpage!

Save the date!

  • Date: 28-29 August 2026

  • Location: Kansas City, MO

 

Previous Conferences

 

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