Apply to be part of the LDC Class of 2026-2027. Application deadline is June 15th, 2026.
Leadership Douglas County (LDC), a program of the Castle Rock Chamber Foundation, is committed to ensuring the continuity of knowledgeable and effective leadership in Douglas County. Established in 1999, LDC was created to ensure our community would continue to identify, educate, and motivate current and emerging leaders to improve Douglas County through personal and collective commitment.
For the participant, LDC will:
• Offer rigorous and relevant learning, with the opportunity to apply new knowledge and skills
• Broaden participants' knowledge of the community as a whole
• Challenge participants to examine their leadership style, values, and impact
• Increase the strength and effectiveness of our community leaders
• Equip participants to respond to the challenges of the community today and into the future
• Provide opportunities for direct contact with influential people, businesses, and service organizations
Session topics throughout the year include History, Open Space, Healthcare, Social Services, Civic Engagement, Education, Economic Development, Transportation, Law Enforcement, Fire and Emergency Services, Public Safety, Arts and Culture, along with team-building elements and skills training throughout. Class days are held at various locations throughout Douglas County. Some months will involve traveling throughout the day via your own transportation or carpooling with classmates.
Group Project – LDC participants will complete a significant Non-Profit recommend group project.
LDC conducts a competitive application process. The criteria for selection into the program will be based on an applicant's real world and professional background and review of applicant's education, recommendation, and involvement in community service activities.
Program Information
Acceptance into the LDC will require a two-year commitment and requires full participation.
Year One kicks off August 28th, with a two-day Overnight Retreat. Following the retreat, the class meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., October through June, culminating with graduation in June. All classes must be attended in their entirety.
Year Two, participants attend monthly 1 hour Steering Committee Meetings, on the third Wednesday morning of each month, from July through May to plan the monthly sessions for the current year's class; each person also actively hosts at least one - two class days (first Wednesday) during the program year.
Important Dates
Overnight Retreat – August 28-29, 2026. Attendance at the entire retreat is mandatory.
Leadership and decision-making skills, along with project planning will be the focus, especially beneficial for the class project. Attendance is mandatory.
Class dates –
October 7th -History/Open Space
November 4th -Education/Libraries/Technology
December 2nd -Economic Development, Transportation
January 6th -Healthcare/Social Services/Philanthropy
February 3rd -Civic Engagement
March 3rd -Utilities
April 7th -Law Enforcement
May 5th -Fire & Emergency Services
June 2nd -Arts & Culture
June 2nd -Leadership Douglas County Graduation Ceremony
Program Requirements
Attendance – It is understood that any accepted applicant will attend 100% of all sessions in their entirety with no late arrivals or early departures from any session. If there is an emergency, please let the LDC Program Director know asap. LDC requires full participation, and participants may not miss more than one class day (or the equivalent), October through June, or they will be asked by the Steering Committee to excuse themselves from the program.
Letter of Recommendation – Please note that you must submit a letter of recommendation, along with your resume and completed application by the stated deadline.
Notification of Acceptance into the Program – Application deadline is June 15th, 2026. Notification of acceptance will be called out first week of July. Tuition will be due by August 15th, 2026.
Tuition for the program is $1,800, covering the two-day overnight retreat, monthly program materials, program-day lunch, and graduation recognition. Accepted participants will be invoiced upon acceptance, with payment due by August 15th, 2026.
Because tuition covers only part of the program expenses, support from generous local sponsors helps make the program possible.
Leadership Douglas County (LDC), a program of the Castle Rock Chamber Foundation, is committed to ensuring the continuity of knowledgeable and effective leadership in Douglas County. Established in 1999, LDC was created to ensure our community would continue to identify, educate, and motivate current and emerging leaders to improve Douglas County through personal and collective commitment.
For the participant, LDC will:
• Offer rigorous and relevant learning, with the opportunity to apply new knowledge and skills
• Broaden participants' knowledge of the community as a whole
• Challenge participants to examine their leadership style, values, and impact
• Increase the strength and effectiveness of our community leaders
• Equip participants to respond to the challenges of the community today and into the future
• Provide opportunities for direct contact with influential people, businesses, and service organizations
Session topics throughout the year include History, Open Space, Healthcare, Social Services, Civic Engagement, Education, Economic Development, Transportation, Law Enforcement, Fire and Emergency Services, Public Safety, Arts and Culture, along with team-building elements and skills training throughout. Class days are held at various locations throughout Douglas County. Some months will involve traveling throughout the day via your own transportation or carpooling with classmates.
Group Project – LDC participants will complete a significant Non-Profit recommend group project.
LDC conducts a competitive application process. The criteria for selection into the program will be based on an applicant's real world and professional background and review of applicant's education, recommendation, and involvement in community service activities.
Program Information
Acceptance into the LDC will require a two-year commitment and requires full participation.
Year One kicks off August 28th, with a two-day Overnight Retreat. Following the retreat, the class meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., October through June, culminating with graduation in June. All classes must be attended in their entirety.
Year Two, participants attend monthly 1 hour Steering Committee Meetings, on the third Wednesday morning of each month, from July through May to plan the monthly sessions for the current year's class; each person also actively hosts at least one - two class days (first Wednesday) during the program year.
Important Dates
Overnight Retreat – August 28-29, 2026. Attendance at the entire retreat is mandatory.
Leadership and decision-making skills, along with project planning will be the focus, especially beneficial for the class project. Attendance is mandatory.
Class dates –
October 7th -History/Open Space
November 4th -Education/Libraries/Technology
December 2nd -Economic Development, Transportation
January 6th -Healthcare/Social Services/Philanthropy
February 3rd -Civic Engagement
March 3rd -Utilities
April 7th -Law Enforcement
May 5th -Fire & Emergency Services
June 2nd -Arts & Culture
June 2nd -Leadership Douglas County Graduation Ceremony
Program Requirements
Attendance – It is understood that any accepted applicant will attend 100% of all sessions in their entirety with no late arrivals or early departures from any session. If there is an emergency, please let the LDC Program Director know asap. LDC requires full participation, and participants may not miss more than one class day (or the equivalent), October through June, or they will be asked by the Steering Committee to excuse themselves from the program.
Letter of Recommendation – Please note that you must submit a letter of recommendation, along with your resume and completed application by the stated deadline.
Notification of Acceptance into the Program – Application deadline is June 15th, 2026. Notification of acceptance will be called out first week of July. Tuition will be due by August 15th, 2026.
Tuition for the program is $1,800, covering the two-day overnight retreat, monthly program materials, program-day lunch, and graduation recognition. Accepted participants will be invoiced upon acceptance, with payment due by August 15th, 2026.
Because tuition covers only part of the program expenses, support from generous local sponsors helps make the program possible.