Capable Teens International Information

Provides a program for young people that enables them to explore their self-potential, develop accountability, enhance teamwork and contribute to society. Capable Teens is open to boys and girls from age six to 21. Capable Teens offers after school programs for all age groups, and six different summer camps for participants. Capable Teens has made a significant impact on the participants in China, the American Staff, and all of those within the communities Capable Teens members reside. To date approximately 5,000 youth have participated in one of Capable Teens programs. THE HISTORY OF CAPABLE TEENS Helen Chen, who at the time was working for a prestigious Global 100 company, developed the idea for Capable Teens in 2003. The idea of a youth program that focused on exploring self-potential, service to the community, accountability and teamwork, spurred after a business trip to the U.S. where a colleague took Helen to a Boy Scout Summer Camp. Lisa Owens, Helen’s colleague, wears many hats at the local and national level of the Boy Scouts of America. Jonathan Herrmann had the pleasure to meet Lisa in the summer of 2006 while serving on camp staff at Philmont Scout Ranch. Lisa shared with Jonathan, Helen’s dream of a program similar to that of Scouting, in China. The summer of 2007 was the pilot year of Capable Teens. Jonathan organized and worked with Helen, to create the two-week summer camp at China's QianDaoHu（千岛湖） lake. This camp was a resounding success with only 12 participants. Teaching the participants basic leadership skills, such as knowing and using your resources, evaluating, communicating, and servant leadership, has motivated the participants plan and carry out local community service projects in their home towns. These values, which thousands of Scouts have learned in the Boy and Girl Scouts, are not taught in any capacity in China. To date, close to 20 outstanding young American's have traveled to China to continue and lead these camps.