There are two phases of this 10-night program. The registration fee covers both phases and Junior Leaders are expected to participate in the entire program. ​JL Week 1 (5 nights) focuses on team-building, exploration of personal strengths and values, development of canoeing and outdoor education skills, and building the JL's understanding of leadership and camper development. Weather-permitting, this week includes an overnight out-trip to one of the wilderness campsites on our grounds. ​ Following a 2-day break, Junior Leaders return for JL Week 2 (5 nights). During this phase, JLs are supported to put their learning into action: each JL is paired with a staff mentor and has the opportunity to assist with the daily life of a cabin group and lead various activities for campers. The JL is supported and supervised at all times by their staff mentor and the Leadership Development Coordinator.

Like all Kidston programs, the Junior Leader Program has a strong focus on fun, adventure, and forming friendships! JLs will still stay in cabins, eat meals together, and participate in the classic camp activities like campwide games, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, and campfires. In addition to this, JLs have JL-specific training sessions and will spend time learning about working with children, leading games and activities at camp, and safety procedures (among other things!). JLs will have the opportunity to move from participant to leader, with the support and supervision of the Leadership Development Coordinator and staff mentors. For example, JLs may lead cabin games, campwide games, interest sessions, campfires, and more!

The Junior Leader Program is open to youth ages 14 through 16, and we have participants begin the program at all ages! The JL Program is an intensive leadership development experience, and requires a level of maturity and commitment. Successful JLs are usually enthusiastic about living and working with others, flexible, energetic, responsible, open-minded, and willing to learn and try new things. JLs live and learn as part of a small and tight-knit team, and should be prepared to contribute to an intentional, diverse, and caring community. If you have questions about the program, or would like to discuss your specific situation, please reach out to Janice at director@campkidston.com!

There are two steps to register for the JL Program: 1- An online registration must be completed by a parent/guardian (on or after Feb. 1st). This can be completed on Kidston's online registration system, located at campkidston.campbrainregistration.com. Registration fills quickly, so we recommend registering as soon as possible! 2- All JLs are required to fill out a brief application form (this must be filled out by the JL, not a family member or friend!). This form is linked above (available on Feb. 1st), and we ask JLs to complete it within two weeks of their online registration. We review all applications to ensure that JLs are a good fit for this leadership program. While it is rare, should we feel that an applicant is not yet ready for the JL program, we will reach out directly to the applicant and their parent/guardian (and any fees paid will be refunded). Our application is also good practice for future job applications!

Yes! If you are not yet old enough to apply to be a staff member, or feel that you would benefit from further experience as a Junior Leader, you are welcome to complete the JL Program multiple times.

Yes! Many campers participate in both Senior Camp and the Junior Leader Program in the same summer. However, it is important to understand that being a JL is different than being a camper. For example, you may have some privileges as a JL (e.g. attending some staff meetings) that you will not have as a camper.

Kidston's Junior Leader program can count as credit towards multiple external programs and awards! ​For example, the JL program may: count as your Gold Project for the Duke of Edinburgh Award count as a practice journey (specifically the JL out-trip) for any level of Adventurous Journey in the Duke of Edinburgh Award ​Kidston staff are happy to help Junior Leaders fill out required forms and sign off on completion records for any of the above.

If you have previously participated in a Leadership program (Junior Leader, CIT, LIT, etc.) at another camp, please reach out to Janice at director@campkidston.com to discuss which program will best fit your experience.

Please reach out to our Executive Director, Janice Noble, at director@campkidston.com!

There are two phases of the CIT program. The registration fee covers both phases. The CIT Leadership Week (5 nights) focuses on team-building, exploration of personal strengths and values, and expanding the CIT's understanding of leadership and camper development. Weather-permitting, this week includes an overnight out-trip to one of the wilderness campsites on our grounds. ​ Following this week, CITs are able to return to volunteer with cabins for up to six sessions to put their learning into action and further develop their skills. During this time, they will actively participate in the daily like of a cabin group and have the opportunity to lead various activities for campers. The CIT is supported and supervised at all times by their staff mentor and the Leadership Development Coordinator. In Summer 2023, CITs can choose to volunteer during the following sessions: Junior 1, Junior 2, Intermediate 1, Junior 3, Tadpole, and Junior 4. CITs will be asked to list which sessions they are interested in participating in on their application, and confirmation will be provided shortly thereafter.

Like all Kidston programs, the CIT Program has a strong focus on fun, adventure, and forming friendships! CITs will still stay in cabins, eat meals together, and participate in the classic camp activities like campwide games, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, and campfires. Similar to the JL Program, CITs will also participate in extensive leadership development sessions that provide opportunities for learning, growth, and fun. CITs will have the opportunity to move from participant to leader, with the support and supervision of the Leadership Development Coordinator and staff mentors. In comparison to JLs, CITs have will be more closely involved in daily camp life with their cabin and have more leadership opportunities while at camp. In addition to opportunities to lead cabin games, interest sessions, and campfires, CITs will also have the opportunity to learn techniques to help campers with different needs, to learn how to effectively lead varying programs (depending on their personal interests), and to reflect on their personal leadership journeys over the summer. For example, a CIT who is interested in Canoeing and Kayaking may shadow the Canoe/Kayak Coordinator for a week instead of a cabin, and so on.

The CIT Program is open to youth ages 15 through 17 who have already completed the Junior Leader program (or equivalent), and we have participants begin the program at all ages! The CIT Program is an intensive leadership development experience, and requires a level of maturity and commitment. Successful CITs are usually enthusiastic about living and working with others, flexible, energetic, responsible, open-minded, and willing to learn and try new things. CITs live and learn as part of a small and tight-knit team, and should be prepared to contribute to an intentional, diverse, and caring community. If you have questions about the program, or would like to discuss your specific situation, please reach out to Janice at director@campkidston.com!

There are three steps to register for the CIT Program: 1- An online registration must be completed by a parent/guardian (on or after Feb. 1st). This can be completed on Kidston's online registration system, located at campkidston.campbrainregistration.com. Registration fills quickly, so we recommend registering as soon as possible! 2- All CITs are required to fill out a brief application form (this must be filled out by the CIT, not a family member or friend!). This form is linked above (available on Feb. 1st), and we ask CITs to complete it within two weeks of their online registration. 3 - All CITs will be invited for a short interview with our Summer Director and Executive Director via Zoom, to ensure they are prepared for this leadership program. While it is rare, should we feel that an applicant is not yet ready for the CIT program, we will reach out directly to the applicant and their parent/guardian (and any fees paid will be refunded). Our application and interview process is also good practice for future job applications!

Yes! If you are not yet old enough to apply to be a staff member, or feel that you would benefit from further experience as a CIT, you are welcome to complete the CIT Program multiple times.

No - due to the high level of involvement and leadership of participants in the CIT Program, they are not able to participate in Senior Camp. Additionally, our CIT Leadership Week dates conflict with our Senior programs.

Kidston's CIT program can count as credit towards multiple external programs and awards! ​For example, the CIT program may: count as your Gold Project for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Additional weeks volunteering with the CIT program may: count towards high school volunteer hours in programs (e.g. International Baccalaureate) or provinces (e.g. Ontario) that require it. count towards volunteer hours for awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Girl Guides of Canada's Canada Cord or Trailblazer Awards, and Scouts Canada's Chief Scout's Award or Queen's Venturer Award - among others! ​Kidston staff are happy to help CITs fill out required forms and sign off on completion records for any of the above.

If you have previously participated in a Leadership program (Junior Leader, CIT, LIT, etc.) at another camp, please reach out to Janice at director@campkidston.com to discuss which program will best fit your experience.

Please reach out to our Executive Director, Janice Noble, at director@campkidston.com!

Young people grow and develop on their own timelines. Some 14 year-olds will be very ready to participate in a leadership program and some 17 year-olds will not. How can you know if your youth is ready? We have found that successful Junior Leaders/CITs are usually quite positive in their outlook, enthusiastic about living and working with others, able to see the world through other’s eyes, enjoy trying and learning new things, and are flexible and energetic. They also have a degree of maturity and commitment which helps them follow through with challenging tasks. JLs/CITs live and learn as part of a small and tight-knit team and should be prepared to contribute to an intentional, diverse, and caring community. If you have questions about these programs or would like to discuss how it might fit with your youth, please reach out to Janice at director@campkidston.com!

We offer a range of registration fee options (tiers). When they register, families choose the option which best fits their needs and budgets. In 2023, options for both programs (10+ nights) range from $715-815. More information on our tier system and Summer 2023 fees are available at campkidston.com/registration. Sponsorship is available for Leadership Programs, and more information on sponsorship is available at campkidston.com/sponsorship.