Staff Development Program (SDP)

If you are a high school student and have attended any of our SABE, SABLE, or Summer Camp programs, consider joining the CASC staffing team, where you will deepen your leadership skills and learn how to train other students to be leaders by serving as a Counselor or in other staffing roles at our leadership development programs!

This year we are hosting SDP trainings at UCLA, Santa Clara University, and a TBD Northern California location in June and July. (Count on a bit more outdoor/nature time and the opportunity to have a window into student life at our new premier locations!)

Participants at SDP will have the opportunity to learn:

Introduction to peer coaching and mentoring skills
Advanced team-building techniques and presentation skills
Fostering meaningful small group discussions
Facilitating small group collaborations
Leading experiential learning activities

Completion of SDP training can qualify participants to serve at one or more of our leadership training programs throughout the year. Anyone can join the CASC staffing team by completing training at SDP.

Note that you must have already participated in CASC's Summer Camp or SABE/SABLE programs to be eligible to serve as a Counselor at each of those respective programs.

Please also be aware that while not all SDP participants eligible to serve as Counselors at Summer Camp or SABE/SABLE will be placed as Counselors at those programs (pending final SDP skill evaluation and ultimate Counselor Headcount needed), every participant completing SDP will be invited to serve in roles as Counselors or in other staff roles at CASC's Regional Workshop programs.

Scholarships are available to support your participation at SDP (See the link to our Scholarship Application in the Reservation Form). If you are selected to serve as a Counselor or staff member of any kind at any CASC program, you will not be charged registration fees to participate as staff in those programs.

Who can attend?

Rising 10th Graders & Above

Why this conference?

Location

Starting At

$700

Date & Time

March 13th for Early Bird reservation with a $50 discount! Final registration deadline for June and July programs on May 1st, 2026!

Apply By

For questions or more information, please contact us at summer@casc.net!

CASC Contact Information

We don't want financial barriers to stand in the way of your participation in our programs! CASC has partial and full need-based scholarships for students. There are a limited number of scholarships available. Click here to access our Scholarship Application.

CASC Scholarships

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Dates & Locations:

June 12th - 14th SDP - Northern California Location TBD (Bay Area or Sacramento)
June 26-28th SDP - Southern California/Los Angeles at UCLA!
July 9th - 11th SDP- Southern California/Los Angeles at UCLA!
July 10th - 12th SDP-Northern California/Santa Clara at Santa Clara University!

All SDP applicants must meet the following prerequisites:

Must be at least a sophomore in high school (college students and educators also eligible)

“Serving as a counselor at CASC's Summer Camp and other CASC conferences was a life changing experience. I expanded my perception of leadership from a one-dimensional relationship between a leader and member into something more meaningful: a process involving mentorship, collaboration, and learning alongside my peers. I had the opportunity to develop strategic meeting facilitation skills that I continue to apply in my own communities. Most fulfilling was the chance to pass these life-changing skills along as a Counselor, supporting my peers in their own growth and contributing to a ripple effect of leadership that continues far beyond the conference...”

Lawrence Kim

CASC State Council President 2025/2026

“To me, CASC is more than an ordinary organization. CASC is my source of inspiration and motivation– this organization empowers me to strive towards becoming a better version of myself. CASC reminds me that we as students have the ability to make impactful change in the world around us.”

Deborah Lee

University of Southern California Class of 2020

Have Questions?

For over 70 years, the California Association of Student Councils has been the state’s student-run organization focusing on youth leadership. CASC serves student councils and their advisors, as well as all other young leaders and students who want to make a difference in their community. Through peer-to-peer leadership training and conferences, CASC provides students and advisors the opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with other students and advisors, and become empowered. CASC also lobbies for students and better schools at the state and local levels.
There are none! We are proud to have an extremely diverse group of students and advisors participate in our programs. Some come to our programs with years of leadership experience and extracurricular activities while others come to our programs with none. Everyone learns and grows from our programs in different ways. Anybody who wishes to develop their leadership skills is welcome to join our program.
You can get involved in a number of ways:

Attend a statewide CASC program – summer camp, SABE, SABLE, or YASC

Attend a region conference with your ASB or other student leaders

Contact your local region president and get involved with your region

Become a part of the governing body of CASC by applying for state council
You can check out our programs directory by clicking on the "PROGRAMS" tab!
CASC is unique from other organizations in a variety of ways:

Peer-to-Peer Training: Rather than adults teaching curriculum and teambuilding to students, at CASC events highly-trained students lead most of the activities.

CASC conferences focus on teaching students HOW to do things rather than WHAT to do. We provide skills and knowledge that will go farther than a dance theme or fundraising idea. The skills and curriculum CASC encourages students to think critically and teaches students how to apply curriculum to any and every part of their lives.

CASC recognizes and supports the power of youth: This is an organization run FOR students BY students to ensure that all the needs of students are heard and met. We have high school and college students voting and making decisions alongside adults on the Board of Directors.
Check out our guide to attend a program for free! It should answer all of your questions as well as provide instructions on how to acquire scholarships from either CASC or local organizations! If you have further questions, contact the CASC Office or the State Development Director.
Whether you are a current student, alumni, parent, or any other stakeholder of the organization, you can help send students to CASC conferences to gain a life-changing experience. Any amount, small or big, will help students obtain a scholarship to attend programs. Donate today!
Regions are divided into twelve different areas of California, covering all 58 counties. It is based on your school location and you can find out your region by clicking on the 'Regions' tab.