Youth Leadership Programs for Teens in Torrance and the South Bay

By DITR staff · Updated November 14, 2026

Key takeaways

• A youth leadership program gives teens a real role, such as an officer seat, a service project or a speech, and an adult who coaches them.
• South Bay choices include city programs, a health district council, civic youth councils, the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts and camps like RYLA and HOBY.
• Grades vary. Beach Cities Health District’s council lists grades 8 to 12, the City of Torrance program is for students entering grades 10 to 12, and YMCA Youth and Government is grades 9 to 12.
• Many programs open applications only once a year, often in spring or early summer, so mark the window early.
• School leadership and sports teams build the same habits, and a youth leadership program can add public speaking, conflict resolution and accountability on top.

What is a youth leadership program, and which ones are in the South Bay?

A youth leadership program is a structured program where teens practice skills such as public speaking, teamwork, decision-making and service, usually with adult coaches and a real role or project to carry out. That is different from a one-time speaker or a school assembly. The teen does something, gets feedback and does it again.

If you searched for a youth leadership program near me, the cards below are a good place to start. They cover the City of Torrance, Beach Cities Health District, civic youth councils in Torrance, Redondo Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes, the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts and two leadership camps. Each card shows only what the organization’s own page says. Application windows and rules change every year, so treat them as a starting point and confirm with the program.

One name trips people up. The group called South Bay Youth Changemakers is a nonprofit in San Jose, in Santa Clara County, so it is not a program for Torrance families. The South Bay in this guide means the beach cities, Palos Verdes, Torrance, Carson, Lomita, San Pedro and Hawthorne area of Los Angeles County.

Youth leadership programs in Torrance and the South Bay

Details checked against each organization’s own website in November 2026. Age rules and openings change, so confirm with the organization before you sign up, and ask whether it can sign your school’s service-hours form. Diamonds In The Rough is not affiliated with these organizations.

How do I choose the right leadership program for my teen?

Start with three questions: how old is your teen, how much time do they have, and do they want to apply or just show up? Most leadership programs for teens fall into one of three types.

• Civic councils: the Torrance Youth Council, the Redondo Beach Youth Commission, the Rancho Palos Verdes Youth Advisory Committee and Beach Cities Health District’s Youth Advisory Council put teens in front of local government or health leaders. Expect an application, regular meetings and a school-year commitment. The Torrance Youth Council, for example, meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month and accepts applications each May.
• Clubs and structured programs: the YMCA (a YMCA youth leadership program here means Youth and Government), Boys & Girls Clubs Keystone and the Girl Scout Gold Award let teens elect officers, plan activities or lead a long project over months.
• Short intensives: the City of Torrance volunteer leadership program runs over one summer, and camps like RYLA and HOBY run a few days.

Then compare the commitment honestly. A council that meets twice a month is a lot easier to fit around sports than a program that asks for 100 volunteer hours. Ask about meeting days, whether attendance is required and what happens if your teen has a game or a finals week. Also ask about fees, which this page does not list because they change. Many programs have them, and some offer help.

Finally, check the application window. Several of the programs above accept applications once a year, so a missed spring deadline can mean waiting until the next cycle. If a window has already closed, ask whether there is a waiting list or a mid-year opening. Our guide to student leadership explains the skills these programs aim to build, which can help your teen decide what to look for.

Is there a leadership camp for teens or a summer program?

Yes, though the options are narrower than year-round programs. For a leadership camp for teens, two names come up most often. The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, run in this area by Rotary District 5280, is a weekend camp for high school students. Its 2026 camp was set for October 16 to 18 at a camp in Lake Hughes, and the district’s page said it was postponed because of a power outage, with new dates to come. The Rotary youth leadership program is arranged through the district’s RYLA co-chairs, so email them for the next dates and eligibility.

The Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program, known as HOBY, is the other. HOBY California’s 2026 SoCal Seminar was for rising juniors and ran June 26 to 28 at the University of San Diego. The page describes students as chosen to represent their communities, so ask your school counselor about nominations.

For summer leadership programs for teens closer to home, the City of Torrance Youth Volunteer Leadership Training Program is the clearest example. Its 2026 session was for students entering grades 10 to 12 and combined a week of mandatory training with 100 volunteer hours between mid-June and early August. Registration opened in May, so families who want a summer spot should watch the city’s page in spring. If your teen would rather volunteer first and lead later, see our list of teen volunteer opportunities in the South Bay.

Public speaking is another good summer or after-school fit. Toastmasters runs a Youth Leadership Program for ages 14 to 18 in eight sessions of one to two hours, but it is offered only when a local Toastmasters club or partner such as a school chooses to sponsor one. That makes the Toastmasters youth leadership program a call-the-club option. The South Bay Toastmasters Club in Torrance meets on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., but its listing does not mention a youth program, so ask. Our guide to public speaking for teens gives drills to practice at home in the meantime.

What about leadership at school?

Every student leadership program does not need an application. Most South Bay middle and high schools have associated student body (ASB) offices, leadership classes, clubs and class councils, and your teen’s counselor can say how to get involved. Running for a class office, starting a club or leading a service project are all real leadership practice, and they are usually free to join.

School leadership also gives teens a place to try the skills they learn elsewhere. A teen who practiced speaking in a Toastmasters session can run a club meeting. A teen who learned to handle disagreements can lead a group project more calmly. Our guides on conflict resolution for teens and leadership activities for teens give parents and club advisers simple exercises to use at home or in a group.

How do sports build leadership?

Sports are one of the most direct places a teen learns to lead, because the consequences show up right away. A team captain has to set the tone in practice, speak up when something is wrong and keep teammates working together when a game is not going well. None of that needs a title. Teammates notice who shows up early, who encourages others and who owns a mistake.

Our guide to leadership in sports breaks down the types of leaders on a team, and what makes a good team captain covers what coaches look for in the player who wears the C. Athletes who also join a council, a club or a Keystone group get a second place to practice, one with different people and different stakes.

What does DITR’s youth leadership program cover?

Diamonds In The Rough Sports Foundation (DITR) is a youth sports nonprofit based in Torrance, and leadership is one of our core programs. Our youth leadership program covers public speaking, accountability, conflict resolution, team building and mental skills. These are the same skills a good team captain, class officer or council member needs, taught in a form young athletes and their families can use right away.

It is not a replacement for a council or camp, and it does not need to be. Many families pair a skills-based program with a civic council, a club or a school role, so a teen is learning in one place and leading in another. If you want help sorting the options, our South Bay hub lists more of what is nearby, and our overview of youth mentoring programs explains what to look for in a program that pairs teens with adults.

Sources: City of Torrance: Youth Volunteer Leadership Training Program; City of Torrance: Youth Council; Beach Cities Health District: Youth Advisory Council; City of Redondo Beach: Youth Commission; City of Rancho Palos Verdes: Youth Advisory Committee; YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: Model Legislature & Court; Rotary District 5280: RYLA 2026; HOBY California: SoCal Seminar; Toastmasters International: Youth Leadership Program; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor: Keystone; Boys & Girls Clubs of Carson: Character & Citizenship; Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles: Gold Award; South Bay Youth Changemakers (Action Network)