Key Leader is a service leadership education program developed by Kiwanis international for high school students and graduating 8th grade students. The Key Leader mission is to provide a life-changing experience which inspires young people to achieve their personal best through service leadership.
Who can attend a Key Leader Event?
Events are open to all students ages 14 to 18. There is no limit to the number of participants from any individual school, and attendees are not required to be members of Kiwanis programs such as Key Club.
What is the typical schedule for the weekend?
Students arrive for registration between 4 p.m. and 6p.m. on a Friday and depart after 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. All lodging, meals, and activities take place at the event site during that time. Key Leader events are organized at the local level by Kiwanis volunteers. Student Facilitators will likely need to be on site by 2 pm to be trained in time for the students arrivals.
Are adults present during the weekend?
Yes. A professional Key Leader facilitator leads each event. Lead facilitators come from backgrounds in education and program facilitation. Each has successfully completed a training course on the curriculum.
Additionally, the volunteer organizers for each Key Leader event recruit trained adult chaperones to help manage the event and to supervise students. Kiwanis International requires a limited criminal history background check on all adults present for each Key Leader event. (Learn more about Kiwanis Youth Protection guidelines.)
What happens at Key Leader Events?
Key Leader programs focus on five Key Leader Principles: Personal Integrity, Personal Growth, Respect, Building Community, and Pursuit of Excellence. Students learn to follow Robert Greenleaf’s servant leadership model.
The students take part in large- and small-group activities with a combination of lectures, discussions, interactive activities, and audio-visual presentations. Participants have many opportunities to make new friends and have fun, and each event is led by a highly-qualified and trained Lead Facilitator.
Are there student leadership opportunities during a Key Leader Weekend?
Yes! Students in 11th and 12th grade who have previously attended a Key leader event may apply to be student facilitators. Student facilitators lead small group discussions and help the Lead Facilitator throughout the large group sessions.
Key Leader
Texas-Oklahoma Key Leader Event Info
November 20th - 22nd, 2026
Down Home Ranch, Elgin TX
20250 FM 619, Elgin, TX 78621
Cost:
$75 per student / chaperone
$50 per student facilitator
Key Leader Information
What is Key Leader?
Key Leader is a service leadership education program developed by Kiwanis international for high school students and graduating 8th grade students. The Key Leader mission is to provide a life-changing experience which inspires young people to achieve their personal best through service leadership.
Who can attend a Key Leader Event?
Events are open to all students ages 14 to 18. There is no limit to the number of participants from any individual school, and attendees are not required to be members of Kiwanis programs such as Key Club.
What is the typical schedule for the weekend?
Students arrive for registration between 4 p.m. and 6p.m. on a Friday and depart after 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. All lodging, meals, and activities take place at the event site during that time. Key Leader events are organized at the local level by Kiwanis volunteers. Student Facilitators will likely need to be on site by 2 pm to be trained in time for the students arrivals.
Are adults present during the weekend?
Yes. A professional Key Leader facilitator leads each event. Lead facilitators come from backgrounds in education and program facilitation. Each has successfully completed a training course on the curriculum.
Additionally, the volunteer organizers for each Key Leader event recruit trained adult chaperones to help manage the event and to supervise students. Kiwanis International requires a limited criminal history background check on all adults present for each Key Leader event. (Learn more about Kiwanis Youth Protection guidelines.)
What happens at Key Leader Events?
Key Leader programs focus on five Key Leader Principles: Personal Integrity, Personal Growth, Respect, Building Community, and Pursuit of Excellence. Students learn to follow Robert Greenleaf’s servant leadership model.
The students take part in large- and small-group activities with a combination of lectures, discussions, interactive activities, and audio-visual presentations. Participants have many opportunities to make new friends and have fun, and each event is led by a highly-qualified and trained Lead Facilitator.
Are there student leadership opportunities during a Key Leader Weekend?
Yes! Students in 11th and 12th grade who have previously attended a Key leader event may apply to be student facilitators. Student facilitators lead small group discussions and help the Lead Facilitator throughout the large group sessions.