Emma Blaustein

Leadership Experiences

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National Youth Leadership Training Conference (NYLT)

Leadership Team & Skills Instructor

The National Youth Leadership Training Conference is a premier leadership development program for youth leaders with chapters nationwide. When I attended NYLT as a participant, I was introduced to the concept of servant leadership: viewing leadership positions as a position of responsibility for others, rather than a position of power.

Today I serve as a staff member, working to give our 200+ annual participants the same transformative experience that I had. I began as a skills instructor in 2024 and now serve on NYLT’s leadership team, where I help coordinate logistics, mentor instructors, and deliver our nationally standardized curriculum to the next generation of youth leaders.

For the past two years at NYLT, I have…

  • Instructed five 10-day immersive leadership courses for participants aged 13–17
  • Provided developmental feedback through performance assessments and one-on-one coaching
  • Trained and supported junior instructors to ensure consistent, high-quality content delivery
  • Coordinated logistics for 60+ participants and 20 staff

NYLT emphasizes servant leadership, ethical decision-making, and communication under pressure — skills I continue to model and pass on.

Scouting America, Troop 72

Senior Patrol Leader

Troop 72 has become my second home for the past five years, and I could not have been prouder to serve as the Senior Patrol Leader for our troop of 50+ scouts. As the highest-ranking youth leader in my co-ed troop, I planned dozens of service- and skills-based events while mentoring junior leaders and communicating with adult volunteers. But most importantly, I set the tone for a safe, inclusive, and service-oriented culture that encourages hard work and discipline.

In my time with Troop 72, I have…

  • Progressed through multiple leadership roles: Asst. Patrol Leader → Patrol Leader → Asst. Senior Patrol Leader → Senior Patrol Leader, while serving as Quartermaster throughout
  • Planned and led weekly meetings, outdoor programs, and scouting events
  • Mentored younger scouts in essential skills (first aid, wilderness navigation, team leadership)
  • Completed 600+ community service hours, including organizing and directing volunteer events
  • Eagle Scout Project: Installed bleeding control stations in public parks; collaborated with local officials, EMTs, and Stop the Bleed® to enhance community emergency preparedness. Featured in local news coverage for public safety impact

Through Scouting, I’ve learned that true leadership means creating opportunities for others to grow, and I carry that into every troop meeting, service project, and outdoor adventure.

YMCA Civic Engagement Program — Model UN

Chair, Nation Building Committee

I am an ardent believer in the importance of spotlighting youth voices, so I am thrilled to serve every day as the elected chair of one of YMCA Model UN’s largest committees (180 members) at the YMCA’s Northeast Model United Nations Conference.

As a member of the 2026 Model UN Officer Corps, I…

  • Collaborate with 26 other student chairs to plan and run the 2026 Model UN Conference
  • Lead deliberations, guide delegates through parliamentary procedure, and ensure productive, respectful debate.
  • Was selected as 1 of 23 delegates (from 2,000+) for the YMCA’s National Council on National Affairs (CONA), representing New Jersey
  • Researched, wrote, and defended a Green Space & Urban Planning policy proposal, which advanced to the General Assembly (top 4% of 700+ proposals nationwide)

The YMCA Civic Engagement Program has strengthened my belief that thoughtful dialogue and collaborative problem-solving are the foundations of meaningful policy change.

Wildlife Conservation & Trail Stewardship

Boots-on-the-ground environmental conservation is one of my greatest passions in life. Through projects across multiple states and in partnership with state and local agencies, I have led and participated in initiatives to restore habitats, protect wildlife, and maintain sustainable public access to natural spaces.

  • Trail Steward, Union County Department of Parks and Recreation (2024–Present): Engaged in invasive species removal, erosion mitigation, and trail/bridge maintenance to ensure safe, sustainable public use of county parks
  • Coordinated and contributed to conservation projects at Carpinteria State Beach (CA), Anchorage Parks & Recreation (AK), Watchung Reservation (NJ), North Cascades National Park (WA), and Philmont Scout Ranch (NM)
  • Engaged in habitat restoration, forest management, and wildlife protection efforts, working alongside park rangers, conservationists, and community volunteers

Protecting natural spaces has taught me that stewardship is both an act of preservation and of leadership, ensuring that the trails, habitats, and ecosystems we care for today remain accessible and thriving for those who come next.