youth Leadership Programs
Designed for teens who are interested in being employed as Camp Counsellors at Fircom in the future, these programs provide teens with an opportunity to develop leadership and facilitation skills, outdoor adventure experience, as well as skills to help them successfully work with staff, volunteers and cabin groups of children!
Junior & Senior C.I.T. Leadership Training
(Counsellors-In-Training)
Junior CIT Dates: July 21-26 aND August 4-9, 2024 (during Mom&Kids Camps)
Senior CIT Dates: June 7-9, 2024 (Training TBC), and all three weeks of our Kids camps: July 15-19, July 29-August 2 aND August 12-16, 2024.
PARTICIPANTS:
Junior CIT: teens who have completed Grade 10, Ages 15-16.
Fee: $500.
Max: 6 participants
Senior CIT: Teens who have completed grade 11 (by invitation), Ages 16-17
Fee: $0
Max: 6 participants
Junior CITβs
We will be on site during our two Mom & Kids Camps. During the morning kids programming, Junior CIT will have the opportunity to develop leadership and facilitation skills, as well as skills that will help them successfully work with staff, volunteers and groups of children. They will spend their afternoons and evenings enjoying Fircom programming designed especially for the Junior CITβs to grow their camp skills and connect with their team. This program is designed for teens who are interested in being employed as Camp Counsellors at Fircom in the future, while also giving them a chance to enjoy teen activities (paddling, swimming, archery, hiking, campwide games, evneing campfires, etc).
Senior C.I.Ts
We will spend 2 full days on site during Dad & Kids Camp, June 7-9, 2024 with the summer camp staff team, and then attend all three weeks of Kids Camp. Participants in this program will learn hard skills such as how to facilitate a variety of camp activities for children, including Guided Nature Walks, Archery, Outdoor Cook, Tie Dye and Arts βn Crafts, as well as how to facilitate a variety of games and lead campfire songs with children. They will also learn a variety of soft skills, including how to: build a culture of belonging within the camp setting; set expectations for childrenβs behaviour and effectively uphold those expectations; respond to childrenβs social, emotional and physical needs; and, set healthy boundaries with children and peers. During our Kids Camp sessions, each Senior C.I.T. will be assigned to a cabin group, where they will support Camp Counsellors. They will also have a chance to participate in some βC.I.T. Onlyβ workshops and activities, and will enjoy a special ceremony during their last week of camp to honour their successful completion of the C.I.T. program. By the end of their summer experience, Senior C.I.T.s will have a solid foundation to apply as a camp counsellor in the 2025 season and beyond!
NOTE: Both our Junior and Senior CIT programs require an interview and evaluation process before applicants are accepted. Junior CIT registrants will be contacted in the spring. All interested Junior CIT age teens are welcome to register beginning November 18 (space permitting). Those interested in applying for the Senior CIT program can send an email to info@fircom.ca. Our summer camp directors will be sending out personal invitations to selected teens that have been a part of Fircom and have also shown interest in being employed on the summer camp team.
Polaris Leadership Training
2025 Dates:TBA
PARTICIPANTS: For teens who are in grades 9 through 11 (ages 14-17)
DESCRIPTION: Teens will spend a week at Fircom learning a variety of leadership skills while exploring nature and participating in traditional camp activities such as kayaking, tie dye and archery! They will participate in workshops that will allow them to learn more about their communication and leadership styles, as well as how to lead activities for others. Team-building challenges and evening camp-wide games and campfire sessions will also be part of the Polaris Leadership experience!
FEES: This program is not scheduled for 2024
Upcoming Leadership Camp Dates:
What to Expect
Pick up & Drop-off
Checking In/Out
All CIT participants must either be signed in & out by their legal guardian, or written permission can be sent in advance.
Boat Departures
Exact times will be sent via email to all Junior and Senior CIT participants.
Accommodation
Junior CITβs will stay in a cabin during their two weeks on site.
Senior CITβs will stay in a cabin during their June 7-9 training weekend. During the three Kids Camp sessions, C.I.T. participants will stay in cabins or Sibley Tents with Camp Counsellors and the kids in their cabin group. Accommodations are all-gendered during week 1 and 3, but gendered during Camp Cha7elkwnech, so Senior C.I.T.s can expect to share an accommodation with fellow C.I.T.s and campers of all genders, gender identities, and gender expressions. This change represents a shift towards making camp a more welcoming and inclusive environment. In order for C.I.T.s and campers to maintain privacy when dressing, we will continue to have covered changing stations in cabins and next to Sibley tents, as well as private stalls in all of our washroom facilities.
