DAPHNE, Ala.— The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Youth Leadership Program will accept 40 applicants for the program’s class of 2012. April 21 is the last day to apply.

The six-month program is open to  high-school students in their freshmen, sophomore or junior years from public, private and home schools along the Eastern Shore and will begin in August.

As part of the program’s curriculum, students will participate in group projects, which Christina Hellmich, coordinator of the program, said the students will come up with themselves.

“They get to decide what their project is as a group,” she said. “They will look at specific community needs, environmental needs, or educational needs. It is really up to them.”

The project aspect of the program is designed to help teens broaden their talents and give them the opportunity to build leadership skills.

The program will include seminars and volunteer activities. The group will also choose the volunteer activities once the program gets underway. The whole point, Hellmich said, is for students to learn to be leaders by assessing and addressing the needs of the community.

In a press release, Hellmich described the program as “fun, interactive and a way for students to learn valuable life skills. It is different from any other experience offered to students … they learn to make decisions that affect not only themselves but their communities.”

The program comprises an opening retreat, four seminar days, a closing retreat, graduation and volunteer opportunities.

The program is funded by the donations and grants obtained by the Eastern Shore Chamber Foundation.

Interested students can pick up an application in their guidance counselor’s office, at the Daphne and Fairhope public libraries, Eastern Shore Chamber offices or online at www.eschamber.com/chamberfoundation.