The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) is an association of cooperatives in Canada and the U.S., started in 1968. Traditionally, it has been associated with student campus housing cooperatives, though there is an effort to include non-student and non-campus cooperatives. NASCO provides its member cooperatives with operational assistance, encourages the development of new cooperatives, and serves as an advocate for cooperatives to government, universities, and communities. NASCO teaches leadership skills, provides information, and serves as a central link in facilitating the fruition of the cooperative vision for students and youth.