Another year of activities for one of Henry County’s popular youth organizations just ended on a high note.

  Literally.

  The 2018-2019 class of Youth Leadership Henry took a tour of the county that includes a bus ride with county historian Gene Morris but then switched to the air, seeing some sites from inside Huey helicopters courtesy of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation & Flying Museum near Atlanta Motor Speedway and the county’s airport in Hampton.

  “We toured the county by bus in the morning, then in the afternoon from the choppers,” said YLH board member Don Dunlap. “The kids really enjoyed it.”

  The students also spent some time talking to members of the organization, mostly Vietnam-era helicopter pilots who restore these aircraft from that and then give rides to interested people while educating them about that era. “It is living history,” as Dunlap put it.

  The county tour is just one of the annual activities for each class at Youth Leadership Henry. This year’s group is finished except for the graduation event May 6 at Locust Grove Event Center.

  The program is sponsored by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce. Its purpose, as detailed on its website, is “to identify emerging leaders, to bring them together in an atmosphere conducive to the free exchange of ideas, and to provide them with an enlightening educational experience. Participants are taught leadership skills while learning about the various government, economic and social sectors of the community. Upon completion of the program, participants will have an increased awareness of the vital issues and needs of the community and challenged to be responsible and engaged leaders.”

  As this year comes to a close, applications are being sought for the 2019-2020 class. Complete information about the online application process can be found at youthleadershiphenry.com. The application period does not close until August, but Dunlap said students are encouraged to start thinking now about their applications and solicit assistance from parents and teachers.

  Applications are reviewed anonymously, with personal details redacted so that the selection committee does not know who is applying. About 150 applications are typically received in a year, and the class will range from 33 to 45 – “as many as we can get on a school bus,” Dunlap said. The committee attempts to have as many different high schools represented as possible.

  The new class will begin September 17 with a reception/orientation night when the board members meet the students. Other key dates are Teambuilding Day, October 11; Public Safety Day, November 5; Hospital Day, December 14; Education Day, January 7; State Government Day, February 20; Class Service Project, March 21; and County Tour Day, April 20.

  All of these dates are either Saturdays or days for which the Henry County School System does not have class, with the exception of two which are approved field trips. The 2020 graduation is scheduled for May 5.

  Youth Leadership Henry began in 1998. Susan Howington, who went through the adult Leadership Henry program the previous year, started the program for young people and has worked with it ever since, according to Dunlap, now serving as an emeritus board member. Several hundred students have completed the program in that time.   The YLH Facebook page contains information and photos about this year’s class as well as details regarding the application process, including a video in which Dunlap gives some tips on how the applications are scored and what to expect.