Teen Leadership Program

The Teen Leadership Program is crafted specifically for teenagers entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall of 2025. This program is separate from our regular camp experience. Applications are now open!

Why Our Program is Unique

The Teen Leadership Program prepares teens for the challenging transition to adulthood. They are provided with a substantial amount of independence and all of the decision-making that goes with it. Our program teaches teens the fundamental skills they need to thrive in the workforce, while away at school, and as leaders in their communities. We teach teens to find the correct solution by permitting them to make their own choices, assess the outcomes of those choices and receive constant feedback and coaching.

The Teen Leadership Program is a comprehensive and complete experience that provides teens with the tools they need to obtain success in college and beyond. Unlike a counselor-in-training program, our teens are not put directly in charge of campers and our program is not to prepare them to be counselors.

Our Program is Based on Developing 3 Core Skills

Judgment: Teens are given opportunities to make decisions for themselves and to learn how to assess risk. They gain insight into how their actions influence or contribute to how others perceive them.

Self-Awareness: They are taught the impact of attitude, tone of voice, inclusiveness, and social skills on their relationships with others. Teens learn to form positive relationships, find balance within the group, and work together effectively as a team.

Teaching & Facilitating: Teens learn how to manage and lead groups. They practice leading activities for each other and gradually build on these skills by helping to teach camp activities, leading 5th periods, and ultimately planning and leading a special day for the entire camp. Teens practice public speaking, learn how to get a group’s attention, thoughtfully consider logistics and resource allocation, adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and assess what worked and what they could have improved.

The Three-Week Program Includes:

• A week-long camping trip, in Acadia National Park, to help the group get to know each other and begin working on our three core skills. Teen Leaders take on the responsibility of planning and cooking their own meals in addition to making other important decisions pertaining to the trip and daily activities.
• Contribute to the community through service learning projects that allow the Teen Leaders to apply new skills while having a great time. We find that these projects bring the group together and help introduce them to the work environment. These may qualify as your high school community service hours as well.
• Creating a special day for camp including organizing, implementing, and running the entire program.
• There are day trips and evening outings, which may include beach trips, baseball games, whale watching, and deep-sea fishing.