Since its creation in 1922 Blue Ridge Leaders’ School has retained its basic philosophy of training teens to be leaders in all aspects of YMCA physical education. The purpose of Blue Ridge Leaders’ School is teen leadership development through YMCA health and physical education. Blue Ridge Leaders’ School is not a camp. Instead, it is a physical education training school profoundly structured with high standards of Behavior, Physical Participation, and Individual Performance.

The school primarily focuses on the leader division enrollees who are teens ages 13-18 as of May 31 and active members of their local Leaders’ Club. Additional opportunities for growth are available to the senior division enrollees who are adults aged 19 and up (as of May 31) who are actively enrolled in their local Leaders’ Club program and/or in the physical education department at their local YMCA.