Applications will open early 2025!

The LIT program is a leadership development opportunity for youth turning 16 this year (or completing grade 10) and is designed to help cultivate strong leadership skills, build confidence and explore faith through training, mentoring, hands-on experience and personal growth. It is a great way to gain the tools and experience to apply for a paid staff position in the future and to prepare you to be a leader in your church, school, community and beyond.

Cost: $1275

Here is the outline of the program:

Week 1 - Wilderness Canoe Trip and Training

We are starting the summer off with an adventure! LITs will arrive at Hidden Acres, load up their gear and head straight to the base camp for their wilderness canoe trip. From there we will prepare, get a good night's sleep and head out the following morning. The rest of the week is full of opportunities to learn, grow, reflect, have fun and of course there's lots of camping and canoeing. We will arrive back at the base camp at the end of the week to unpack and celebrate the week. We then depart for Hidden Acres the next morning and wrap up the first week with a restful night and some training the next day. Everyone heads home by supper time on the final day. This part of the program is offered in partnership with Coldwater Canada.

Weeks 2 & 3: Practical Experience Weeks

These weeks are practical work experience opportunities. They will provide you with an opportunity to put into practice all that you learned on the canoe trip and the training day. You will spend one week with a cabin or group as a junior cabin/group leader depending on whether you come for an overnight or day camp. You will be working alongside an experienced staff member and spending the week helping our campers have a great time at camp! By the end of the week our goal is that you will have a good understanding of what it's like to work as a Cabin Leader at Hidden Acres. The second week will see you work alongside our Support Staff learning about the "behind the scenes" parts of camp: housekeeping, kitchen, office, maintenance, programming and everything in between. 

The weeks will be scheduled based on the programs happening at camp and your availability. We will work with you to discern which weeks and programs would be the best fit. Click to view LIT Practical Experience Week Options.

Week 4 - Wrap-up! 

The final week of the program is what we are calling “Wrap-up!”. It is a chance to wrap-up and debrief your LIT experience together with your fellow LITs.

Please Note:

• Space is limited, only approved applicants will be accepted.
• The practical experience weeks are granted based on the recommendation of the LIT Leader in consultation with the Program Director after the canoe trip and training.
• Our cancellation policy will be updated when registration opens.
  
• Financial assistance is available, please contact the camp.