Teen Leadership

The Leaders-in-Training program is geared towards 14- and 15-year-olds (by December 31 of the current camp year) who are new to this role:

• Learning the fundamentals of leadership
• Given the opportunity to shadow counsellors, instructors or coaches in an activity/sport of their interest
• Leaders-in-Training will engage in a variety of leadership workshops that build confidence, develop transferable life skills and establish a holistic view of leadership
• Participate (by choice) in team-building activities as part of McMaster’s ALTITUDE program and climb the Alpine Tower!
• Upon active completion of the programs, Leaders-in-Training will receive a letter confirming 10 hours of community service that may be used towards high school requirements
• Successful completion of the Leader-in-Training program will qualify 15- and 16-year-old candidates to partake in our Junior Leadership Program either later that same summer or in following years

Interactive Theory Sessions and Leadership Workshops

Throughout the one-week session, Leaders-in-Training and Junior Leaders will participate in a series of training workshops on important topics and life skills that will later be paired with a hands-on learning experience specific to their program level. Theory sessions and leadership workshops are designed to enhance their leadership skills and may include topics such as self-awareness, coaching/instructing styles, behaviour management, communication, inclusivity/working with a diverse community, presentation techniques and motivational team building. By the end of each session, our goal is to have each leader confidently leave with new, transferable skills that they are able to apply outside of camp and highlight on their resume.

Hands-on Experience

During their time in the Leader-in-Training Program, participants will receive an opportunity to shadow coaches in an activity of their interest. They will work to provide an extra hand where needed and begin to develop their leadership skills through daily challenges and goal setting.

Community Service: Volunteer Hours

Upon active completion of the program, participants will receive a letter confirming 10 hours of community service that may be used towards high school requirements.

Our Junior Leadership program is geared towards 16-year-olds or returning 15-year-olds (as of December 31 of the current camp year) who are looking to challenge themselves further, whether their goal be to apply for a future staff position or obtain experience in developing their leadership skills in an applied, hands-on setting.

• Refining leadership style and learning the next steps to coaching, instructing and leading
• Will be given the opportunity to be mentored by staff and take on greater responsibilities of coaches in various areas of camp programming
• Junior Leaders will engage in a variety of leadership workshops such as professionalism, instruction through teaching, behaviour management, resume building and interview preparation
• Participate (by choice) in team-building activities as part of McMaster’s ALTITUDE program and climb the Alpine Tower!
• Will partake in an off-campus field trip where they will have an opportunity to work as a team and give back to their community in the outreach program
• Upon active completion of the program, Junior Leaders will receive a letter confirming 30 hours of community service that may be used towards high school requirements

Interactive Theory Sessions and Leadership Workshops

Throughout the one-week session, Leaders-in-Training and Junior Leaders will participate in a series of training workshops on important topics and life skills that will later be paired with a hands-on learning experience specific to their program level. Theory sessions and leadership workshops are designed to enhance their leadership skills and may include topics such as self-awareness, coaching/instructing styles, behaviour management, communication, inclusivity/working with a diverse community, presentation techniques and motivational team building. By the end of each session, our goal is to have each leader confidently leave with new, transferable skills that they are able to apply outside of camp and highlight on their resume.

Hands-on Experience

Those involved in the Junior Leader Program will receive an opportunity to work alongside a coach at Sport Fitness School and assist in running group games, performing camp-wide initiatives and providing campers with step-by-step instructions during lessons. Dependent upon each leader’s interest, they will be given a chance to create and facilitate their own lessons and/or camp-wide game at Sport Fitness School.

Community Outreach

At McMaster Camps, we believe in creating a positive space where everyone feels free to be themselves and can be a part of a unique and diverse community. To share these values outside of camp, our leaders will partake in a field trip where they will have an opportunity to work as a team and give back to their community in the outreach program. In previous years, our leaders have participated in outreach programs such as volunteering at Ronald McDonald House near McMaster University.

Community Service: Volunteer Hours

Upon active completion of the program, participants will receive a letter confirming 30 hours of community service that may be used towards high school requirements.

Employment Opportunity

A minimum of two participants from Sessions 1 to 3 will be offered an opportunity to be hired on as part of the SFS camp staff for the final one to two weeks of camp (August 14 to 25, 2023)!

Participant Take-Aways

• Enhanced leadership skills
• Updated resume and interviewing skills
• Written feedback
• Community service hours certificate
• Employment opportunity at SFS Weeks 7 and 8 (participants of Sessions 1 to 3)

A large portion of our Leaders-in-Training & Junior Leadership programs are spent gaining hands-on experience as part of our regular camp schedules, supporting the athletes, campers and staff in attendance. When not with the campers and athletes, Leaders-in-Training & Junior Leaders take part in a variety of learning and development opportunities designed specific to each program.
Due to the nature of the sessions, the daily schedule will constantly be changing. However, the general schedule will have the Leaders taking part in theory sessions, games and initiatives and out with the campers in the afternoon.

At the beginning of each session, Leaders-in-Training & Junior Leaders will receive information specific to their programs.

The tentative schedule offered below is a very rough outline of a typical day at camp:

• 8:30am. —  Camp Day Begins
• 9:00am. —  AM Fitness & Wellness
• 10:00am. —  Swim
• 11:00am. —  Theory Workshop
• 12:00pm. —  Lunch
• 12:30pm. —  Camp Sport Placement 1
• 1:40pm. —  Rec Session
• 2:50pm. —  Camp Sport Placement 2
• 4:00pm. —  Dismissal

First Day Check-In
LITs and JLs should report to the Sport Hall Gymnasium. In the morning, they will receive information about the upcoming day and be briefed on any modifications that might happen (due to weather, etc.). It is important the LITs & JLs are prompt each morning, as attendance is taken.
Camp Checklist

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Clipboard/Binder
• Pens/pencils
• Shorts
• Comfortable running shoes
• Bathing suit and towel
• Lunch (no refrigeration available)
• Enthusiasm and a smile!

A Leader-in-Training and Junior Leader Orientation Night will be hosted Monday, June 23, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The purpose of the orientation is to introduce our LITs/JLs to their leaders and review the expectations and their responsibilities during their time in the program. It is essential to acknowledge the shift in responsibility that will be experienced when participating in camp this summer, as our Leaders-in-Training and Junior Leaders will be functioning as counsellors and coaches in training.