The Theodore Roosevelt Association Launches Junior Rough Riders Program to Inspire Young Leaders
The Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) has announced the launch of its new Junior Rough Riders Membership Program, a youth initiative designed to carry forward Theodore Roosevelt’s enduring legacy of leadership, service, and civic engagement. Open to young people ages 10 to 18, the program invites members to live out Roosevelt’s “strenuous life” philosophy through meaningful volunteer work, leadership training, and historical appreciation.
Junior Rough Riders will take part in hands-on community service projects such as park cleanups, food drives, conservation efforts, and volunteer events supporting TRA’s mission. Each member is required to complete a minimum of two hours of community service per month, fostering responsibility, initiative, and a deepened sense of citizenship.
Upon joining, members receive a welcome kit that includes the official Junior Rough Riders membership coin, certificate of induction, and a community service submission form to help track monthly volunteer hours. Participants can also look forward to leadership development opportunities through monthly virtual workshops on public speaking, civic responsibility, and teamwork.
In addition, Junior Rough Riders will contribute to the TRA’s longstanding Teddy Bears for Kids initiative, which provides comfort and joy to children receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. Members will also receive the Junior Rough Rider e-newsletter and the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal, keeping them connected to TRA news, service highlights, and Roosevelt history.
The program recognizes outstanding service through awards such as Junior Rough Rider of the Month and Junior Rough Rider of the Year, along with annual service pins and exclusive invitations to TRA events and mentoring opportunities with historians, veterans, and community leaders.
Chris Cosentino, Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, said the program aims to cultivate a new generation inspired by Roosevelt’s example of courage, service, and perseverance. “The Junior Rough Riders embody the spirit of action that Theodore Roosevelt believed every citizen should strive for,” Cosentino said. “We want to give young people not just a sense of history, but a pathway to leadership and service in their own communities.”
Enrollment for the Junior Rough Riders Membership is now open. With a $50 annual fee, members can begin their journey into leadership, history, and service—one act of community service at a time.
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Junior Rough Rider Sign Up Here