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Program Definition
The Camp Edwards Leadership Development
Program (LDP) was founded in 1956 under the direction of Gaylord
Thomson. For over forty years teenagers have received training and
hands-on experience in leadership skills. The LDP is a three year
progressive program for high school age youth. The three years correspond
to three different levels of the program: Leader in Training (LIT),
Junior Leader (JL), and Assistant Cabin Leader (ACL). The levels
are distinguished by requirements, responsibilities, and rights
associated with each program. The purpose of the leadership development
program is to help older youth realize their leadership potential,
and develop a sense of social and environmental responsibility.
Objectives
To increase participants' understanding
of the responsibilities of leadership and service to others by offering
training and practical experience in a camp environment.
To help participants develop effective communication skills through
group interaction.
To increase participants' self-confidence through leadership opportunities.
To help participants understand the importance of the planning,
follow through, and evaluation by providing opportunities to plan,
complete, and evaluate programs.
To help participants develop positive values by living and working
according to traditional Christian principles.
Leader In Training
Leaders in Training (LIT) is
the first step in a continuing education program to assist the
camper in making the transition from camper to counselor. They will
learn valuable character traits, teamwork, child management
education, Edwards YMCA Camp’s 77 year history, and instructions on
teaching skills in an effort to begin their journey of becoming an
Edwards’s counselor. A clear understanding for the campers to
realize is that this is a leadership program.
Although camp activities are included in their experience, much of
the program revolves around teambuilding, leadership development,
and learning how to be a role model.
The
success of Camp Edwards is dependent on the campers in this
program. Through interactive lesson and fun, LIT prepares the
camper for the next stage in leadership development. To ensure the
quality of the program and help the campers achieve the best
results, our Leadership staff in essence breaks down the group into
individuals and builds them back up as a high functioning team.
Through this process we are able to observe the creation of highly
visible leaders, emotionally strong quiet leaders, and those who
lead in ways most comfortable to them. We believe every child has
the ability to become a great leader, but most of us go about it in
different ways; and to appreciate that characteristic is an
education in itself.
After the team is built, all LIT’s have the opportunity to show us
their potential by leading activities, planning and implementing all
camp games, facilitating a non-denominational Chapel, and other
opportunities that gives them experience in a leadership role.
Regardless of their interests in continuing in the Leadership
Program at Camp Edwards, all LIT’s leave with valuable insight into
their abilities and a clearer path to achieve goals.
Please contact the Director to
discuss if LIT is right for your camper or talk more in-depth about
the program.
 Junior Leader
Junior Leader (JL)
is the next step in becoming an Edwards Assistant Cabin Counselor.
The skills learned in LIT are built upon in this program with more
interaction with the campers and a more intense course of education
developing the JL’s ability to manage children. After a week of
training on behavior management, camp operation, teamwork, education
about the YMCA’s core values, leadership skills, environmental
stewardship and more, the JL will shadow support staff and cabin
groups to learn how staff achieve results in managing a cabin. On
the final week, JL’s go into a cabin to assist the counselors and
learn how to successfully manage a group of campers. JL’s will be
evaluated by the administration to determine if they have fulfilled
their service, shown leadership potential, maturity growth, and
decision making abilities in stressful situations.
It is with sincere gratitude
to these campers that we are able to maintain quality camp
counselors at Camp Edwards. Successful completion of the JL program
makes the transition into the counseling role much easier and gives
the JL’s the upper hand in succeeding in the camping lifestyle.
These fine individuals are some of the most dedicated, selfless, and
inspiring young people we have the pleasure of working with.
Although most staff come back to camp because of the memories they
made, all return to camp to give back to the campers what was given
to them in previous years. It is good for the heart and soul to see
young adults wanting to make a difference in the lives of children.
Please
contact the Director to discuss issues related to this program or
any other camp program offered.
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