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Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program

Recommended Ages

9th–12th grades

The Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program is a public speaking and leadership course for ages 11–17 built on Toastmasters International’s long-running adult model. Over a series of structured sessions, participants prepare short speeches, practice impromptu speaking, take on meeting roles, and give feedback in a supportive group. Developed by an organization with decades of experience helping adults overcome stage fright, this youth version adapts proven techniques for teens. Parents like that it is relatively low-cost, community-based, and focused on real practice rather than theory. It’s ideal for motivated tweens and teens ready to stretch themselves in a formal but encouraging setting. Availability depends on local clubs and volunteer coordinators, so scheduling and structure can vary. When available, though, the per-session cost is typically very reasonable. Encourage your teen to set a personal goal—such as completing a certain number of speeches—to make the most of the program.

Great for middle‑ and high‑schoolers who can handle a fairly formal meeting structure and are ready to tackle longer speeches, evaluations and leadership roles; works especially well for teens who want a short, intense boost in public speaking before a big project, dual‑enrollment class or leadership opportunity.

Pros

Structured eight‑session workshop run by a local Toastmasters club where youth practice prepared speeches, impromptu talks, listening skills and meeting roles, all within the proven Toastmasters framework; frequently hosted at libraries, community centers or homeschool groups, it gives kids a low‑cost way to experience real club culture, and many alumni report big jumps in confidence and leadership after completing a single series. 

Cons

Availability depends on having a nearby Toastmasters club willing to sponsor a Youth Leadership Program, so access can be limited; programs usually run only once or twice a year, and there’s no built‑in long‑term club for graduates unless someone chooses to organize one; content is solid but not specifically tailored to homeschool academics, so you may need to create your own credit or portfolio documentation.

Because YLP is usually offered at low or no cost through community sponsors and volunteers, it generally isn’t purchased with ESA or charter funds; occasionally a school or youth program may use grant money to host a series, but individual homeschool families typically participate for free or a small materials fee.

The interpersonal kit for youth leadership programs costs $50 for members, and $100 for non-members.

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Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program
$1.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Social-Emotional Learning
Social-Emotional Learning
Life Skills
Life Skills

Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program Mission

The mission of the Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program is to equip teens with the communication and leadership skills they’ll need for school, work, and life by giving them structured, hands-on practice in a supportive club-style setting. Through a series of eight workshop-style meetings modeled on Toastmasters club meetings, participants learn how to prepare and deliver speeches, think on their feet, run meetings, and give constructive feedback. The program extends Toastmasters International’s broader mission—empowering individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders—to young people ages roughly 14–18.

Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program Story

Toastmasters International has been helping adults grow as speakers and leaders since founder Dr. Ralph C. Smedley organized the first club in 1924. As members began bringing their skills into schools and youth groups, Toastmasters developed the Youth Leadership Program to give teenagers the same kind of structured, peer-supported environment in a format suited to younger learners. Today, local Toastmasters clubs around the world volunteer to sponsor Youth Leadership workshops in schools, libraries, and community organizations, using official Toastmasters materials to guide students through eight one- to two-hour sessions. The result is a widely adopted pathway that lets teens experience the transformative power of purposeful practice, feedback, and leadership roles long before they enter the workforce.

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FAQ: Additional Details about Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program

In a Youth Leadership session, you’ll hear the gavel tap, a teen “chair” call the meeting to order, and participants introduce themselves while a volunteer coach smiles from the side. Students rise to deliver 2–3 minute prepared speeches on topics they choose, respond to impromptu “table topics” questions, and receive gentle, specific feedback from peers and the Toastmasters leader. The atmosphere is supportive but serious enough that kids leave feeling like they’ve participated in a real speaking club.

The Toastmasters Youth Leadership Program (YLP) is an eight-session workshop series, usually run through a school, library, or community group, where a trained Toastmasters volunteer teaches teens the basics of public speaking and leadership. Participants meet weekly or bi-weekly for about two hours to give short talks, practice impromptu speaking, and take on club roles like timer or evaluator, using a structured workbook and agenda modeled after adult Toastmasters meetings. There’s no ongoing subscription—just a set run of meetings that can be repeated or adapted in future years. 

Parents primarily support by encouraging attendance, helping teens brainstorm and rehearse speeches at home, and sometimes volunteering to help host or coordinate with the sponsoring Toastmasters club.

Ideal for middle- and high-school students who can read, write, and speak comfortably in full sentences and are ready to practice in front of a small audience; no formal speech experience is required, but willingness to participate is important.

This program introduces teens to formal speaking and leadership in a structured, supportive way, which can boost confidence for autistic, ADHD, and anxious youth. Clear roles and routines help many neurodivergent participants, though adults should ensure local leaders are open to accommodations like alternate participation for those with intense stage fright.

Most Youth Leadership Programs are free or charge only a modest fee for materials handled by the host organization, so there is usually no formal refund policy; if a specific host school or club charges tuition, any refunds would follow that organization’s general event policies.

Probably not the best entry point for very young, very shy elementary kids who need more playful first experiences, or for families who cannot commit to attending weekly in‑person meetings over the workshop period; also less suited to learners who need heavily gamified or story‑based instruction.

For younger kids or longer‑term clubs, families often look at Speaker’s League, Junior Speaker’s League, 4‑H public speaking clubs or Outschool public speaking classes that meet weekly; some co‑ops also adapt Toastmasters materials into their own student‑run speech clubs. 

Toastmasters occasionally refreshes Youth Leadership materials and branding to align with updates to the main Toastmasters education program, but the core eight-session workshop format and focus on practical speaking practice have stayed consistent for decades.

If your area doesn’t offer Youth Leadership, consider reaching out to a local Toastmasters club and volunteering to help coordinate—many are delighted to run a program if a parent will secure a venue, handle registrations and support logistics.

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Meet Ralph

Dr. Ralph C. Smedley founded Toastmasters in the early 1900s while serving as an education director at a YMCA in Illinois, where he saw that many young men needed a place to practice public speaking, running meetings, and leading groups. In 1924 he launched the first official Toastmasters club in Santa Ana, California, and spent the next four decades developing educational materials, writing for the Toastmaster magazine, and helping guide the organization’s growth into an international movement. Although he did not create the Youth Leadership Program himself, Smedley’s vision of a friendly, club-based laboratory for communication and leadership is the foundation on which the teen-focused program is built.