Liberty Lake Day Camp

Liberty Lake Day Camp's Teen Leadership Program imparts entering 9th and 10th graders with the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful leaders and adults. We teach our teens that being a leader is about making a difference in the lives of others.

Liberty Lake's magical summer camp setting creates a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. CITs & LITs learn leadership skills, through a variety of fun and challenging projects, activities, workshops and discussions.

The program is divided into two tiers:

■ Part 1 - Campers in Transition (CIT) is for students entering the 9th grade.

■ Part 2 - Leaders in Training (LIT) is for students entering the 10th grade.

Philosophy & Approach

The mission of Liberty Lake’s Teen Leadership Program is to provide an enriching experience for young adults, while enabling them to maximize their individual potential to transform into dynamic leaders- capable of making a positive difference in the world!

The philosophy and approach of Liberty Lake's Teen Leadership Program is anchored by two main concepts: the Leadership Equation & L.L.D.C. Framework. These two big ideas bring the program's mission to life.

Leadership Equation - Defining Leadership

Leadership = Service + Vision + Drive

Service - Giving back to others.

Vision - Seeing opportunity & possibility.

Drive - Being motivated to improve yourself, and make the world a better place for all.

L.L.D.C. Framework - The Pathway to Leadership

Learn Life Skills:  ~ Decision Making ~ Problem Solving ~ Conflict Resolution ~ Time Management ~ Stress Management ~ Teamwork ~ Acceptance of Diversity ~ Relationship/Social Skills

Look Toward Your Future: ~ Imagine Your Future Footprint ~ Envision Long-Term Success ~ Create a Road Map to Achieve Your Goals ~ Explore Career Paths

Do For Others:  ~ Help Those Who Need Help ~ Make a Positive Difference for Others ~ Be a Role Model ~ Pay it Forward ~ Positively Impact Your Camp and Local Community

Challenge Yourself: ~ Think Outside the Box ~ Push Beyond Perceived Limitations ~ Realize your potential ~ Discover Your Personal Interests and Values ~ Avoid Taking the “Easy Road” ~ Stay True to Yourself and Don’t Follow the ‘Crowd’

Through learning the fundamental values of Service, Vision and Drive, and acquiring the competencies outlined in the L.L.D.C. Approach, we are confident that program participants will become True Leaders - individuals that positively impact the world around them.

Why Teen Leadership at Camp?

■ According to studies conducted by The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the number #1 skill deficiency of today's young people is LEADERSHIP - "leveraging the strengths of others to achieve common goals; using interpersonal skills to coach and develop others.”

■ As The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has discovered, “there is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need in typical 21st century communities and workplaces.” This is largely due to the high-stakes standardized testing movement that has become the basis for school curriculums across the country. As these stakes have become higher, schools have increasingly focused classroom instruction on the tests. At Camp, we aren’t teaching to a test, we teach to life, and the realities and challenges that come with it. Best educational practices today call for a fusing of the 3Rs with the 4Cs (Critical thinking and problem solving, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity and innovation) – this is just what we do at Liberty Lake!

■ Given the gap between what is taught in schools and what is necessary to succeed in the 21st century, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that far too many teenagers graduate high school lacking life skills and unprepared for adulthood. There is an ever-growing body of research, conducted by youth development organizations, corporations and universities, indicating that young adults today lack career and college readiness. One particular ground breaking study, “Are They Ready to Work?” surveyed hundreds of employers and determined that “far too many young people are inadequately prepared to be successful.” For instance, the report concluded that more than 50% of high school graduates were “deficient” in skills such as oral & written communication, critical thinking and professionalism. The leadership skills that we teach and learn at Liberty Lake, as reflected in our LLDC Approach (Learn Life Skills, Look Toward You Future, Do For Others and Challenge Yourself) addresses these deficiencies and prepares teens to take on leadership roles at home, school, work, camp and in their communities.

■ Researchers have identified a phenomenon known as Summer Learning Loss in which children and teens experience a significant loss in skills and knowledge during summer vacation. Too many young people across the country spend their summers floundering in front of their televisions, computers and video games- when they could and should be enriching their lives and expanding their skill sets. Research conducted by the National Summer Learning Association(NSLA) has shown that "intentional summer programs, like camp, help stem summer learning loss – providing experiences that challenge children, develop talents, keep them engaged, and expand horizons.”

What Did You Learn From Being an LIT/CIT?

Responses of Former Program Participants

“I learned a lot like how to view a situation from a different point of view. This is important because you would never be able to solve a situation without seeing the other side.”

"From being an LIT, I learned that it is important to be a leader and that sometimes, being a leader means you have to follow others.”

“The most important thing I learned was how to make new and good friends when you’re in a place where you don’t know anyone and feel like an outsider.”

“I learned so much! A lot about stress management was helpful. I’m very stressed as a student so I learned new stuff to help me.”

“I learned how to be a better person. I think I’m going to benefit strongly from it and keep looking back on my binder.”

“I learned that no matter how old I get, a true leader, the good leader, will never stop learning.”

 Program Overviews 

Please click the links below for a complete description of each program:
 

9th grade Campers in Transition

10th grade Leaders in Training

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of Liberty Lake's Teen Leadership Program. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail us - we are here to help!