Summer Leadership Retreat

YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat

Registration for the 2026 Summer Leadership Retreat, "YOVASO Carnival" is now open.

The Retreat is happening July 16-19 at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, VA and is only $15 for each student to attend or $75 for a team of six students and one adult sponsor. This fee includes overnight accommodations in the dorms at JMU, meals, retreat sessions and materials, and a retreat themed t-shirt, water bottle, backpack, and lanyard. The Retreat is for rising ninth graders through graduating seniors, teachers, School Resource Officers, and community youth groups focused on youth traffic safety programs.

The YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat is held annually at JMU and has something for everyone, whether attending as an individual student to learn more about safe driving or as part of a school or youth group team!

For more details on the Summer Leadership Retreat, click the links below.

Student/Parent Letter | SRO/Advisor Letter | Retreat Flyer

Register for the Retreat!

To register, simply click the appropriate registration form below and submit electronically or print the Student Registration Form and/or Advisor/SRO Form below and email it to callie.toler@vsp.virginia.gov. As noted above, the price for the Retreat is only $15 per person and the deadline to register is June 19, 2026. Refunds will only be given for cancellations made prior to this date.

Payment:

For Online Payments: If you would like to pay online, you can click the button below. In the notes section on PayPal, please include your name and/or the names of the students you will be paying for as well as Summer Leadership Retreat.
For mail-in payments: Please write your name and/or the name of the students the fee will cover on the check or on an attachment. Please write checks to YOVASO and mail to the address below:

YOVASO Summer Leadership Retreat

Virginia State Police, Division 6

3775 West Main Street

Salem, VA 24153

Click below to download a copy of the Registration Form if you prefer to register by mail:

Student Registration Form & Packet | Advisor/SRO Registration Form & Packet

Student Participant Registration Form

Click Here to Submit Your $15 Retreat Registration Fee

Adult Participant Registration Form

Retreat Documents & Information

Participant Medication Policy | Adult Background Check Form (SP-325 Form)

Highlights Include:

Motivational Speaker that Empowers Student Voice, TEEN TRUTH
YOVASO’s Distracted Driving Simulator paired with hands-on learning scenarios and stations
Personal Speakers who will share impactful stories of loss after a crash and how they’re turning tragedy into action
The Amazing Race; a race through 10 carnival and traffic safety themed challenges!
Nightly Socials like our PJ Party and Talent Show
TJohnE Game Show to test your knowledge of traffic safety after four days immersed in learning!
YOVASO’s Annual Awards Banquet to recognize schools, youth groups, student leaders, club sponsors, SROs, and business partners for their contributions to young driver and passenger safety during the 2025-2026 school year.

Check back later for a full Retreat Agenda- Tentative schedule posted March 20^th

Goals for the Summer Leadership Retreat:

• Educate young drivers and passengers about their risk factors in a motor vehicle and how to reduce those risks through a variety of interactive training sessions, motivational speakers, and educational programs.

• Prepare students and their adult advisors to lead peer-to-peer safe driving and traffic safety programs in their schools and communities.

• Help build positive relationships between law enforcement and youth while working together to prevent young driver-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities.