Leaders In Training (LIT) Program
Are you a teen aged 14, 15 or 16 years old who is looking to gain valuable leadership skills? Are you someone who loves playing games, connects well with kids, and is interested in deepening your wilderness and naturalist skills? Join us as a Pine Leader in Training!
At Pine, we’re committed to life-long learning and deepening our connection with ourselves, others and the natural world. With this in mind, we’re excited to offer a Leader in Training (LIT) program for the second year this summer!
This two week experience will provide teens the opportunity to gain skills in teamwork, discover their unique gifts, and build confidence in communication and leadership.
Using our curiosity-driven curriculum and relationship-based approach, this summer LIT experience is designed to help teens successfully transition from camper to camp leader. Teens will gain valuable leadership qualities that can be used in a variety of contexts, including school, future workplaces and their broader community!
Enrollment in the LIT program will follow an application process. You can find more information below.
*Pine camps, including the LIT program, will adhere to provincial and municipal public health guidelines as they continue to evolve. We’re continuing to closely monitor for updates and we’re dedicated to communicating any changes to families as quickly as possible. Our Camps Covid-19 webpage will be updated regularly and registered families will be emailed directly.
Please note, LITs are considered to be “campers” within the context of Pine’s policies and procedures.

Week 1: Training: Leaders in training (LITs) will be in a small group together with an experienced mentor. During this week, you’ll learn about different leadership styles and facilitation techniques, practice games and activities that lead campers to fun and connection, and receive the feedback and attention that so many young leaders can benefit from.
Week 2: Placements: During this week, the LITs will be placed with camp groups, gaining direct experience working with younger campers. Each week, you will be placed with a different mentor and camp group. LITs will assist in planning and delivering summer camp programming, whether it’s mammal tracking, a scavenger hunt or making crafts from natural materials. Building on the foundation of the first week, you will work closely with staff teams to deliver a fun, outdoor learning experience! Throughout the placement week, LITs will receive feedback from a multitude of experienced staff members, allowing you to integrate your learnings and step out of your comfort zone.

Click here to learn more about our curriculum and learning outcomes.
Summer 2023 Details:
This is a day program lasting two weeks (LITs must join for both weeks). Sessions occur on a daily basis and run from Monday to Friday.
West End - King's Mill Park
Payment will be required in full when your application is accepted and you’re invited to register. If payment in full creates financial hardship for your family, please let us know and we can discuss a custom payment plan.
Please review our full cancellation policy carefully before registering. Please note, LITs are considered to be “campers” within the context of Pine’s policies and procedures.
How to apply:
In order to be considered as an LIT:
- Complete the APPLICATION FORM – this must be completed by YOU, the teen applying!
- Ask one adult to fill out a character REFERENCE FORM for you. A character reference is an adult who can speak about you (it could be a teacher, coach, extra-curricular leader or neighbour).
Once you have submitted your application and we have received one character reference, you will be invited to have a short conversation so that we can get to know you a little better! Following the conversation, if you’re invited to join the LIT program, you’ll be sent instructions on how to register.
Please note that we have a limited amount of spots in our LIT program. Teens should complete their application before June 15th, 2023.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to info@pineproject.org.