Welcome to the Leaders-in-Training Program!
As a Leader-in-Training (LIT), you will develop your leadership skills by guiding campers through fun challenges and supporting their efforts to design, build and test their ideas. Take a moment to review the expectations of every LIT to understand the contributions and mindset that are required of you and what you can anticipate as an LIT.
Leading up to your week at Camp Invention®, you will receive an email from your local Camp Director or your LIT Lead with information on your camp location and details on the next steps. You also might receive an invitation to an orientation and setup day before your camp begins. Keep an eye out for these communications so you’ll know how to prepare for your camp week!
What to Expect
You also will receive a special LIT packet that includes materials for the week and your LIT Daily Tracker. Please refer to the Welcome Letter in that packet to see how each resource will be used during the week. Your Camp Director will advise you of when to wear your T-shirt.
During your time at Camp Invention, you will be introduced to the I Can Invent® Mindset, which includes creative problem solving, collaboration, entrepreneurship and persistence. The skills developed through the invention process are just as important for leaders as they are for inventors! Applying these skills when you are mentoring campers will help build your confidence as an effective leader.
Get to Know the Program Team Members
Throughout the week, you will work closely with Program Team Members, such as a Camp Director, Instructors, Leadership Interns (LIs) or LIT Leads. Instructors are the teachers who lead the Camp Invention modules. LIs are high school or college students who volunteer their time at camp and receive formal online training before the program. Take time to connect with the LIs — they’re happy to help you!
Your Role at Camp
In your role, you will have multiple opportunities to guide, support and encourage campers. Some of those opportunities could include guiding groups of campers from one room to another and being a positive role model for campers. You also might be asked by Instructors to prepare and distribute materials, assist with activities and encourage positive interactions among teams.
During Camp
An LIT Lead will serve as your contact throughout the week. At the beginning of each day, you should review the planned activities with your LIT Lead and your mentor LI and ask any questions you might have. During lunch, you might use this time to ask for advice to overcome any challenges you had in the morning. At the end of the day, you will meet with the LIT Lead to reflect on the day and prepare for the next.
Tracking Your Progress
To get the most out of your leadership experience, reference your Daily Tracker throughout the program. It provides daily tips and insights to help you reach your goals, focusing on areas of leadership you can develop while participating at camp.
Below, we have provided a few guiding questions to help you be a good leader throughout each day of camp:
- What can you do to be a helpful mentor?
- How will you rise to the challenge of leadership?
- Who needs extra encouragement today?
- How will you help campers build teams?
- How might you inspire a camper to dream big?
Find Out More
Don’t forget that your goal as a Leader-in-Training is to become a confident, effective leader. Check out the video above to see what engaged leadership looks like at Camp Invention!