Future Leaders in Planning

About the Future Leaders in Planning Program

Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) is the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC)’s innovative summer program that immerses high school students into Urban Planning experiences and face to face interaction with community leaders. FLIP students learn through doing- whether biking on CDPHP bikeshare bikes, visiting a South End neighborhood grocery store created out of an abandoned McDonald’s, touring historic neighborhoods on foot, or harvesting and sampling a tomato from Pitney Meadow Community Farm. The cost of the program is free, it is covered through sponsorships.

FLIP 2024 will take place for a total of four days;

  • Monday, June 17
  • Friday, June 21
  • Thursday, June 27
  • Friday, June 28

The program will be held at the University at Albany’s ETEC Building (Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex ETEC). All students in attendance will be expected to be available for all four days of the program. 

 

Applications are now open!!  Apply here

 

   

 

2024 FLIP Program

The program will provide an exposure to the diverse fields such as:

  • Urban Planning and Design
  • Sustainability
  • Transportation
  • Community Engagement
  • Economic/Business Development
  • Local food production and access

 

2024 Itinerary and Brochure Coming Soon! 

 

 

 

Previous Years

 

Itinerary for FLIP 2023:

 

 

FLIP brochure 2023

 

FLIP is perfect for students that are interested in one or all of the topic areas, like to learn and engage in new things, are comfortable in different situations, and are up for a different type of summer fun!  Since this is a summer program there will be numerous outdoor activities, interactive experiences, and transit use from site to site including utilizing CDTA’s bike share program. We will provide every consideration of your participation within this year’s program. In addition to the qualities listed above, we are looking to accept a cross-section of students into the program that represent the Capital Region, and strive to work with individual school districts or others to eliminate any potential barriers to selected students from attending the program.

2023 Partners and Sponsors

                                                                      

2022 FLIP Recap

FLIP had a successful second year, and students from all around the region were able to participate.

Here are some of the highlights of the week:

First day: Students started their week at the ETEC building at the University of Albany. 

Second day: Students traveled to Troy, where they visited the FOCUS lab and the Future of Small Cities Institute and toured the Troy waterfront. 

Third day: On Wednesday, students visited the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, the South End neighborhood, and the Bluelight Development Group.

Fourth day: Students visited Saratoga Springs and toured the city’s downtown section. Students also took the bike share ride to Pitney Meadows.

Fifth day: Students presented their work for the profession board meeting. Students were able to receive feedback from local planners and community members.

 

2022 Partners and Sponsors

2019 FLIP Recap

CDRPC’s pilot program connects high school students with opportunities and challenges in Planning for the Capital District.  FLIP 2019 had a successful, very engaging week in collaboration with the Clean Technology and Sustainable Industries Early College Program. Students engaged with leaders in Regional Planning on topics such as:

  • Transportation
  • Energy
  • Economic Development
  • Waste and Recycling
  • Open Space Conservation

2019 Visits

  • Albany Pine Bush
  • Global Foundries
  • Brookfield Renewables Hydropower facility
  • Pitney Meadows Community Farm

Check out the 2019 program brochure here     

Thank You to Our 2019 Partners!