Healthy Kids • Y Stories • YMCA Camps and Outdoor Education • YMCA Youth Programs
Learn, Lead & Grow through YMCA Leadership Programs
17 May 2016 - by Elizabeth Burrows
Each summer, YMCA Day Camps are filled with energetic campers participating in fun and engaging activities. Many of these young campers return year after year, inspired to become counsellors themselves.
During the transition from being a camper to becoming a camp counsellor, a variety of our YMCAGTA camp locations offer youth leadership programs designed to support youth, between the ages of 12 and 16, in building the skills required to succeed as leaders, both in their communities and the camp world.
After being a camper at Toronto Island YMCA Day Camp since the age of eight, Summer spent four more summers participating in YMCAGTA leadership programs. As she enters her first summer as a YMCA Day Camp Staff at the very camp she grew up attending, Summer is excited about the opportunity to use the positive experiences and skills she acquired from the YMCA’s leadership programs.
Summer says the leadership programs helped give her the confidence and knowledge she needs to be successful as a member of the staff team. The experiences she had at camp over the years, and interactions with staff members, helped shape her into the mature, confident person she is today.
Through the program she was able to learn, as an introvert, how to communicate openly and be a positive role model for younger campers.
She would not hesitate to encourage other youth to take part in the program if given the opportunity.
Having the opportunity to shadow and step into a counselor role, while being supervised and supported by trained YMCA staff, provided Summer a way to develop and use the skills she would require as a staff member herself.
In addition to all the personal growth she was able to gain from the programs, she was able to meet many people with whom she has built lasting friendships.
There are two programs available for youth this summer, both of which Summer has experienced:
For those ages 12-14, our engaging 10-day Jr. Youth Leadership program is designed to foster leadership, conflict resolution, and communication skills, and provides an opportunity to work towards Basic First Aid and CPR Certification. This program also includes an overnight at YMCA Cedar Glen.
For youth ages 14-16, our 20-day jam-packed Advanced Leadership program involves a variety of workshops on topics such as stress reduction, conflict resolution and program planning - as well as opportunities to plan and lead games and activities with campers. This program features a 4-night, 5-day experience at YMCA Cedar Glen and the final week is dedicated to 35 hours of community service hours to be used for school requirements.
While at YMCA Cedar Glen, where participants will test their new leadership and communication skills on ropes courses and the climbing wall, as well as participate in programs with other leadership participants from across the GTA.
To learn more about the leadership programs offered at select YMCA Summer Day Camp locations, visit our website and build a custom e-guide.
During the transition from being a camper to becoming a camp counsellor, a variety of our YMCAGTA camp locations offer youth leadership programs designed to support youth, between the ages of 12 and 16, in building the skills required to succeed as leaders, both in their communities and the camp world.
After being a camper at Toronto Island YMCA Day Camp since the age of eight, Summer spent four more summers participating in YMCAGTA leadership programs. As she enters her first summer as a YMCA Day Camp Staff at the very camp she grew up attending, Summer is excited about the opportunity to use the positive experiences and skills she acquired from the YMCA’s leadership programs.
Summer says the leadership programs helped give her the confidence and knowledge she needs to be successful as a member of the staff team. The experiences she had at camp over the years, and interactions with staff members, helped shape her into the mature, confident person she is today.
Through the program she was able to learn, as an introvert, how to communicate openly and be a positive role model for younger campers.
“I learned how to handle situations, like conflicts between campers, on my own, and became independent. It is really nice to be looked up to by younger campers.”
She would not hesitate to encourage other youth to take part in the program if given the opportunity.
“If I could still be doing it I would. I would tell them that they will benefit immensely from it. Experience camp life, have fun, be a camper but also learn a lot of leadership skills and how to take charge. A lot of life skills that will come in handy.”
Having the opportunity to shadow and step into a counselor role, while being supervised and supported by trained YMCA staff, provided Summer a way to develop and use the skills she would require as a staff member herself.
In addition to all the personal growth she was able to gain from the programs, she was able to meet many people with whom she has built lasting friendships.
There are two programs available for youth this summer, both of which Summer has experienced:
For those ages 12-14, our engaging 10-day Jr. Youth Leadership program is designed to foster leadership, conflict resolution, and communication skills, and provides an opportunity to work towards Basic First Aid and CPR Certification. This program also includes an overnight at YMCA Cedar Glen.
For youth ages 14-16, our 20-day jam-packed Advanced Leadership program involves a variety of workshops on topics such as stress reduction, conflict resolution and program planning - as well as opportunities to plan and lead games and activities with campers. This program features a 4-night, 5-day experience at YMCA Cedar Glen and the final week is dedicated to 35 hours of community service hours to be used for school requirements.
While at YMCA Cedar Glen, where participants will test their new leadership and communication skills on ropes courses and the climbing wall, as well as participate in programs with other leadership participants from across the GTA.
To learn more about the leadership programs offered at select YMCA Summer Day Camp locations, visit our website and build a custom e-guide.
