Leaders In Training
Ages 15-19 // Co-ed Program // June 29 – July 7
Ages 15-19
Co-ed Program
June 29 – July 7
About Leaders in Training
Leaders in Training is a camp unlike any other that we offer. This camp is our most focused opportunity on growing in faith; giving campers the opportunity to ask hard questions and helping them discover how Jesus is calling them to serve.
We have created two opportunities that we believe work together to help campers discover gifts, talents, and opportunities for improvement in their leadership: LIT 1 for ages 15-16 and LIT 2 for ages 17-19.
These camps will both include significant times in bible discussions, individual discipleship opportunities, opportunities to practice leadership in tangible ways, and a whole lot of fun along the way!
LIT 1 - Ages 15-16 ($529*)
Campers aged 15 to 16 will attend this session; focusing on spiritual growth and maturity, cabin leading skills, growing in loving, serving and finding the unique story that Jesus has given them to share.
LIT 1 also includes a mandatory practicum component, requiring that participants serve for at least one week at a junior camp at Pioneer Lodge during the summer. . The Practicum will be structured so that each participant will serve in every area of camp life throughout the week. This provides an opportunity both to serve and to solidify leadership lessons learned in a structured and supervised manner.
LIT 2 - Ages 17-19 ($529*)
Campers aged 17 to 19 will attend this session, focusing on furthering spiritual growth, engaging questions further, fostering lifelong discipline and discipleship patterns, teaching outdoor and backcountry skills, and honing how they tell their unique story of Jesus.
Recognizing the realities of older students preparing to transition out of secondary school, LIT 2 does not have a practicum requirement during the summer, but campers are nonetheless strongly encouraged to serve at camp.
*GST not included
LIT Sample Schedule
- 8:00 am Wake Up
- 8:30 am Breakfast/Clean-up
- 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Scripture Study
- 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Free Time
- 12:30 pm Lunch/Clean-up
- 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm Seminar/Leadership Training
- 2:30 pm Snack
- 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Out-Trip Leadership Skills***
- 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm Free Time
- 6:00 pm Supper/Clean-up
- 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm Small Group Time
- 8:45 pm Snack
- 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm Evening Gathering
- 10:30 pm Cabin Time
- 11:00 pm Lights Out
Note:
Schedules provided are samples only. Schedules are weather dependent and may be adjusted due to changing weather conditions or due to other camp needs as they arise.
Leaders in Training 1
- Day 1-4: At Pioneer Ranch.
- Day 5: Following breakfast, LIT 1 campers depart on a 3-day/2-night Out-Trip on the land.
- Days 5-7: LIT 1s will be on their Out-Trip, returning to camp mid-afternoon of Day 7.
- Days 8-9: Remainder of time at Pioneer Ranch.
***During Out-Trip Leadership Skills: LIT 1 campers will be learning camping skills and building capacity for outdoor leadership. Skills will include camp cooking, camp set up, leading outdoor activities, debriefing outdoors, and more! These skills will provide the building blocks for the leadership skills and actions developed in LIT 2.
Leaders In Training 2
- Day 1-4: At Pioneer Ranch.
- Day 5: Following breakfast, LIT 2 campers depart on a 3-day/2-night Out-Trip on the land.
- Days 5-7: LIT 2s will be on their Out-Trip, returning to camp mid-afternoon of Day 7.
- Days 8-9: Remainder of time at Pioneer Ranch.
***During Out-Trip Leadership Skills: LIT 2 campers will be learning from instructors and each other the practical and group management skills necessary to lead a successful out-trip. This includes everything from making a fire and pitching a tent, to learning how to recognize and assist with emotional or physical problems campers may be having.
Application Process
Part of developing leadership is the ability to self-evaluate, acknowledging where you are at physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As such, LIT is unlike other camps in that it requires an interview and a longer application.
To apply for LIT, please fill out the online application and follow the instructions listed. Successful applicants will submit a completed application form, references and complete an interview. Please note that LIT applications serve as a request to participate in the program and do not guarantee a spot. Once we’ve received your application and references, the LIT director will be in touch for an interview.
*LIT 2 participants ages 18+ will be required to submit a police check with a vulnerable sector check as part of the LIT application process.
Note: A deposit is required at the time of application; with the remainder of the fees to be paid upon acceptance into the program (various payment plans are available). Should an applicant not be accepted into the program, the deposit will be refunded.
Program Components
Out-trips are an integral part of the culture at Pioneer Camp Alberta and a key to the experience of nature that campers come to know and love.
LIT1: Campers will go on a two night out-trip on Pioneer Ranch’s adjacent land, spending the night in tents. The focus will be on teaching basic camping skills (e.g. camp cooking) and building outdoor resiliency in the participants.
LIT 2: Campers will learn to plan a trip and help to lead our LIT 1 Out-Trip. The trip will be 2 nights in length and will be on our adjacent land at Pioneer Ranch. The focus will be on learning to lead groups in an outdoor setting, how to set up a camp kitchen, group management and basic trip planning.
The key things to know about the LIT 2 out-trip is that multiple nights will be spent in tents, food will be cooked over fires or small stoves, and significant personal growth will happen as campers are challenged by the realities of being in the outdoors.
LIT 2 participants will receive certification with the Outdoor council of Canada in their Field Leader-Hiking Program.
Certification includes theoretical and practical components and teaches participants effective group management skills in the backcountry environment. More information on the OCC can be found here.
After completing LIT 1, campers will need to engage in a practical service component at camp. Campers need to do this in the summer they take LIT 1, with the practicum taking place at either the Pioneer Lodge site, in Sundre, AB or the Pioneer Ranch site in Rocky Mountain House, AB.
The 2023 practicum will take place during HORSEMANSHIP 1 (July 8-14) and BREAKAWAY (July 8-14).
The practicum component offers many opportunities for campers to serve at camp in the form of Junior Roles, which will be discussed with them. The practicum will be structured as a rotation in which each LIT 1 will be able to serve in each area of camp life throughout the week, including shadowing a cabin leader, working in the kitchen, shadowing an activity leader, helping at the barns and more.
During the practicum, one of the LIT 1 leaders will be regularly engaging with campers about their experience, helping to further solidify the leadership lessons learned.
Note: If it is not possible for LITs to remain at camp for the week following LIT 1 for Horsemanship 1 or Breakaway we will discuss other practicum options with them.
This is a chance for you to debrief the program and have small group discussions on relevant topics such as, the role of personal character in leadership, how to handle hardship and struggles in leadership, how to deal with difficult people and situations, relevant societal topics and more. These discussions will help you learn valuable facilitation skills, giving each person a better understanding of issues that you encounter in the world.
This is a chance for staff to spend time with you, talking about life and what you are experiencing at LIT. The LIT staff will be there to support, encourage and challenge you as you grow in your faith and as a leader.
At Pioneer Camp we believe we are deeply known by Jesus and can get to know Him deeply, too! We believe we should follow Jesus’ teaching to love God and love our neighbours, so we spend time looking at what the scripture can teach us about how to know God better and how we should live. These sessions are a foundational part of the Leaders In Training Program.
LIT 2 does not require a practicum to be completed by campers after their session has ended, but service at camp is still strongly encouraged and camp directors will be happy to discuss a good place for you to serve.
Program FAQ
- 15-19 year olds who have an active and growing faith.
- Someone open to having their views of leadership and service challenged.
- Someone who desires to be a person of influence, not only in official camp capacities but also in everyday life.
During the course of the program, LIT is held at Pioneer Ranch, Rocky Mountain House.
Fill out the online application and references as soon as possible.
We prefer all applicants to have applied by May 15th at the latest. This allows adequate time for your references to respond and for Directors to schedule interviews prior to the start of the LIT camp session.
Registration for LIT closes on June 15th, 2023.
If you wish to apply for LIT following this date, please call the Office (403-638-2660).
Reference information is collected in our online application.
Once your application has been received, reference forms will be electronically sent by the Camp Office to the reference names provided. Please ensure that their contact information is correct.
LIT is an interview-based acceptance program.
The online application is only the first step in the process, so your place is not reserved.
You must complete the online application, ensuring that you have provided correct contact information for your references. Once both your application AND references have been received, an interview will be scheduled with the LIT Director.
Applicants invited to the interview stage will be notified within two weeks of their interview date regarding their acceptance.
Below information is for both LIT 1 & LIT 2 sessions:
Drop-Off: Campers will be dropped off at the start of the program between 10:30am to 11:30am.
Pick-Up: Campers will be picked up at the end of program between 10:30am to 11:30am.
For campers participating in the LIT 1 practicum, there is NO overnight option to stay between the end of LIT 1 and the start of their practicum. Participants will need to go home for the 24-hour period between the end of their session (Friday) and the start of their practicum the next day (Saturday). Please make arrangements for campers to return home between sessions, as this is an important time of rest and refocus.
LIT 1 ends on a Friday. Practicum participants are expected to return to their respective practicum location at 2pm the next day (Saturday) to begin their practicum.
You can view the packing list here.