Leaders In Training (L.I.T.) Program Core Values

Camp Muskoka’s L.I.T. program focuses on the development of a variety of Life Skills that we believe to be the cornerstones of a responsible contributor to society. In addition to promoting Camp Muskoka’s core values of Respect, Honesty and Accountability, the following are some of the many attributes taught through our Leadership Program:

BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL:
If you are going to be a leader, be a good leader! Younger campers look to you for guidance and will mimic your behavior. At camp, we often call this ‘PDP’ or Pass Down Principle.

BE CARING:
To lead people, you must show respect for them. Leadership is about who you are and how you treat people, not what you know. People don’t care about how much you know until you show how much you care.

USE ACTIVE LISTENING:
Letting someone be heard and allowing them to vent is often the best way to resolve a problem. Try to let them work out a solution themselves while keeping them on track.

BE PREPARED AND ORGANIZED:
It is difficult to get somewhere you’ve never been without a map. By planning, making lists, and then following a set course you will be more likely to achieve the set goal. But remember, success does not come without adjustments. Always expect the unexpected.

BE GRACIOUS:
Thanks or acknowledgement of one’s contribution should be given both publically and privately by a leader who appreciates everyone’s efforts.

BE ATTENTIVE:
By staying attentive, strong leaders can observe and resolve potential conflicting issues before they become major problems.

BE ACCOUNTABLE:
A good leader is able to accept responsibility for both the good and the bad.

MAINTAIN POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS:
Leaders do not dictate directions and sit back and watch others do what has been told to them. A good leader participates instead of watching from the sidelines. Leadership is not something that you do to people it is something that you do with people.

As leadership campers gain experience they are encouraged to become more involved in mentoring some of our younger campers through our in-camp placements, all the while being supervised by our trained leadership team. The experiences gained through our leadership programs will assist our youth in refining life skills, making them great contributors to society and ideal prospects for future counselor positions. At Camp Muskoka we work towards recognizing campers, not for competitive activity, but for the personal achievement of goals and the development of leadership qualities. Leadership campers will be required to complete a questionnaire prior to their arrival. L.I.T.s should be enthusiastic, creative, and eager to learn.