Capital District YMCA

Program Overview

Become well-versed in independence, critical thinking, and the foundations for self-actualization. The intention of the LIT program is to challenge participants both mentally and physically in a controlled setting to gain confidence and mental fortitude, and to inspire curiosity over helplessness. This will be a foundation for continuing down the path to self-actualization as the teens continue to grow, and will hopefully serve as a spark to ignite the fire of lifelong independence, environmental stewardship, and community-building!

Curriculum - 4 Core Competencies

1. Risk Management & Backcountry Decision Making
You'll learn how to think before you act. You'll practice assessing situations, weighing your options, and making sound decisions under pressure, one of the most valuable skills you build in a supervised, supportive environment.
2. Leadership Styles & Group Facilitation
You'll learn how to teach, spend time exploring what kind of leader you naturally are, and when to lean into different approaches. Learning to read a group, adapt your style, and lead with confidence and humility are skills that will serve you well beyond the bounds of Camp.
3. Backcountry Principles & Skills
You'll gain important outdoor survival and wilderness skills, become certified in Leave No Trace skills, and learn how to apply these skills to make informed decisions and lead others responsibly in different environments.
4. Effective Communication
You'll work on communicating with intention and care. From giving clear instructions to navigating conflict, you'll gain experience by having real conversations with both peers and your trip leaders. This immersive practice will help you build the kind of confidence that comes from feeling heard while also becoming an active listener.

Impact

All Leaders-in-Training will gain a First Aid & CPR Certification, a Leave No Trace (LNT) Certification, and a minimum of 10 hours of community service/volunteer time emailed to them upon successful completion of the program.

Aside from certifications, LITs will gan the skills to transition from a participant to an intentional and supportive leader. Our instructors will allow eat LIT to build confidence and sound judgement, learn how to foster a positive learning environment for a group, and develop hard skills such as orienteering and navigation, water purification, outdoor/backcountry cooking, trail maintenance, wildlife safety, fire-building and safety, and general encampment skills.

Each LIT will be able to understand the "why" behind Leave No Trace (LNT) and environmental stewardship, through both a spiritual and ecological lens. They will understand the intangibles that can only be understood by spending time in nature (sense of place and awe, authentic leisure, etc.).

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