Frequently Asked Questions

There are none! We are proud to have an extremely diverse group of students and advisors participate in our programs. Some come to our programs with years of leadership experience and extracurricular activities while others come to our programs with none. Everyone learns and grows from our programs in different ways. Anybody who wishes to develop their leadership skills is welcome to join our program.

Anybody who participates in a CASC event is automatically welcomed as a CASC member, free of charge.

CASC can help you develop practical leadership skills like conflict resolution, consensus building, and meeting management. We can help you connect with motivated, engaged peers, push you out of your comfort zone, and provide resources and support as you work to effect real change in your community. Our programs, workshops, and membership network help support your journey toward becoming a better leader.

You can get involved in a number of ways: attend a statewide CASC program (summer camp, SABE, SABLE, or YASC), attend a region conference with your ASB or other student leaders, contact your local region president and get involved with your region, become a part of the governing body of CASC by applying for state council, or reach out and join the Membership Platform.

There are no membership fees associated with student membership, though individual programs may have registration fees.

There is no formal application process to be a member, though you may need to apply to individual programs or positions. If you ask to join the membership platform, we may reach out to verify that you are above 13.

CASC runs both statewide and local programs. Some offer general leadership development training, others focus on making concrete legislative proposals or enacting community service efforts. For a list of the flagship programs managed directly by CASC, you can check out our Programs page. To see the full schedule of upcoming events, including local programs run by CASC members, consider joining the new CASC Membership Platform.

CASC is unique from other organizations in a variety of ways. Peer-to-Peer Training: rather than adults teaching curriculum and teambuilding to students, students lead most of the activities at CASC events and drive the direction of the organization. Foundational Skills: CASC conferences focus on teaching students HOW to do things rather than WHAT to do. We provide skills and knowledge that will go farther than a dance theme or fundraising idea. CASC encourages students to think critically and teaches students how to apply curriculum to any and every part of their lives. By Students, For Students: CASC recognizes and supports the power of youth. This is an organization run FOR students BY students to ensure that all the needs of students are heard and met. We have high school and college students voting and making decisions alongside adults on the Board of Directors.

We’d love to have you! CASC is able to provide a limited number of need-based scholarships for students to attend our programs; we distributed $33,000 in scholarships in 2024-2025 alone. Our funds aren’t unlimited, but we want to help. Check out our Scholarships page to apply, or contact CASC with questions.

If you are in a position to support CASC financially, your help could finance essential CASC operations and send students to CASC conferences they would otherwise be unable to attend. Any amount, small or big, can help students obtain a scholarship and have a life-changing experience. If you are an educator or mentor looking to offer your own support to students on their leadership journeys, check out our Advisor Resources page to get started, or reach out with questions. You can also ask to join our Membership Community as an advisor to connect with other adults and learn to support students together. If you are a professional or CASC alumni looking to support CASC as an advisor, please reach out to our director; we’d be happy to talk with you.

It’s based on your school’s location. CASC’s operations in California are divided into twelve regions, each with their own student leaders, and you can find yours on the Regions page.