The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region Leadership Development Camp (LDC) is an annual youth camp that gathers more than a hundred delegates in the San Bernardino mountains for a week each August. In the summer of 2025, Leadership Development Camp will mark its 77th year, highlighting the Red Cross commitment to training and empowering future humanitarian leaders across the greater Los Angeles community.
For five days, high school and college students build confidence and cultivate core leadership skills such as teamwork, public speaking and diversity/cultural understanding. These skills can be applied on school campuses and throughout their lives, providing delegates with the necessary versatility and perseverance to tackle obstacles.
Throughout the week, Red Cross youth volunteers and staff members create sessions and activities that reinforce delegates’ individual and team leadership skills. The youth come back from camp as stronger individuals who have learned more about themselves, their relationships, and how leadership can take many different forms. Delegates form friendships that can last a lifetime, and moreover, they will become leaders who make a difference in their schools and communities aided by the initiative and confidence LDC provides.
LDC 2025 will be August 4 - August 8.
Applications for LDC 2025 are due July 11, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. PST.
I don’t think I’ve ever met so many people who were so loving, encouraging, and just willing to open their hearts to each other.
Kaitlyn C
What is LDC?
LDC is a camp in which the American Red Cross engages in its goal to train and empower youth in their communities. Over five days, high school students build confidence and cultivate core leadership skills such as teamwork, public speaking, emotional awareness, and diversity/cultural understanding. As American Red Cross youth and young adult volunteers, staff members create sessions and activities that reinforce delegates’ individual and team leadership skills. Over 100 youth leave camp each year as stronger individuals. They form friendships that often last a lifetime and become leaders who make a difference in their schools and communities.
What can I expect to get out of LDC?
Expect to expand your perspectives by sharing your experiences with youth from all over Southern California. Be prepared to open your mind and learn something new about yourself and about what’s going on in the world. Discover what you can do to make a positive impact in your life and in your community.
What makes LDC unique?
LDC is completely planned and staffed by high school and college youth. What is most unique about LDC is that leadership lessons don’t end on the last day of camp – they continue for the youth who come back to staff the camp, and for those around them. Youth learn fundraising, marketing, and time management/planning skills. LDC is leadership by youth, for youth. We focus on core leadership skills in an active environment. Sessions and activities are about doing, and that’s a standard at LDC.
Do I have to be vaccinated and updated on the booster shot to attend camp?
For LDC 2025, Covid-19 vaccinations and masking will not be required but are highly recommended.
LDC Advisory Board members are the most senior camp participants, and the application for this position is only open to youth who have previously served as an LDC camp staffer. Advisory Board members mentor and train staff to help them successfully organize the camp.
This year's Advisory Board has been selected.
Applications for the 2026 Advisory Board will open in November 2025.
LDC staff are appointed in March through a screening process. To organize camp activities, staffers participate in training sessions, a weekend retreat and a camp planning weekend organized by the Advisory Board, between March and July.
All Past LDC and LDVC delegates are welcome to apply for a staff position.
Applications for the LDC 2025 Staff are now closed.
