Leadership Development

We have designed Thunderbird’s Leadership program to create a solid base of outdoor skills and foster the abilities needed to provide quality leadership. Using the camp, its programming and the Y’s childcare values as a foundation, participants learn leadership skills that can easily be transferred to any life or work situation. A Camp Thunderbird Leadership program teaches young people to provide strong guidance for younger children and helps them to be stronger leaders in their peer groups as well. Our leadership trainers are dedicated professional individuals with years of outdoor leadership experience, extensive first aid and guides training, enthusiasm and warmth.

These programs emphasize leadership, initiative, communication and the counselling skills necessary to be a strong leader in a camp setting or elsewhere. Participants work directly with groups of young campers to practice first-hand their teaching and counselling skills.

All Leadership 2 and Leadership Expedition applicants must fill out a Leadership Application Form and are interviewed by a senior Camp Thunderbird staff member. Selection is based on leadership interest, previous experiences and past camper evaluations or references. The Leadership program is composed of three programs:

Leadership Development 1 (LD1)

For youth who have completed grades 9-10, the LD1 program begins to lay the foundation skills that participants will need as outdoor professionals.  While in camp, LD1 participants learn how to teach outdoor activities, group management skills, and have a chance to practice these skills first-hand with groups of young campers during short, one or two day cabin placements.

LD1 participants go on a 9 day out-trip. The locations and type of trips for the 2011 LD1's are still being decided.

20 day Leadership Development 1 - $1,350.00

2011 dates: July 10-29, August 7-26

Click here for 2011 availability information.

Leadership Development 2 (LD2)*

For youth who have completed grades 10-11, this program emphasizes leadership, initiative, communication and the counselling skills necessary to be a strong leader in a camp setting or elsewhere. Participants work directly with groups of young campers to practice first-hand their teaching and counselling skills. Participants will also hone their outdoor skills on a three night out-trip away from Thunderbird.

Leadership Development 2 campers are required to hold a Bronze Medallion lifesaving certification unless given special permission by the Summer Camp Program Coordinator.

27 day Leadership Development 2- $1,725.00

2010 dates: July 3-29, July 31-August 26

*Please Note: We are currently transitioning to a new structure for our LD program. The 2011 LD2 program is the last year of the old structure. A new LD2 program will be available in 2012 for 2011 LD1 graduates.

Leadership Development Expedition (LDX)

» Explorers- Grades 1-2

» Pioneers- Grades 3-5

» Outpost- Grades 6-8