The teenage years are an exciting time at Camp Cody. Campers who once looked up to older role models have the opportunity to begin becoming those role models themselves.
At ages 16 and 17, our Teen Leadership Program gives participants the chance to experience camp from a new perspective. They still enjoy the friendships, traditions, activities, and fun that make a Cody summer special, while taking on greater responsibility and developing skills that will serve them well beyond camp.
Learning to Lead by Doing
Leadership is not something that can only be taught in a classroom. At Cody, teens learn by getting involved.
Our Counselors in Training, or CITs, live together as a close-knit group and begin exploring what it means to be a leader within the camp community. They have opportunities to assist in activities that interest them, work alongside experienced counselors and coaches, help teach skills, and take on additional responsibilities throughout camp.
Rather than simply being told how to lead, CITs get to practice it. They learn how to communicate with younger campers, work as part of a team, take initiative, and understand how their attitude and actions can influence the people around them.
And importantly, they still get to enjoy being campers themselves.
Taking the Next Step as a Junior Counselor
For teens who progress into the Junior Counselor program, leadership becomes a larger part of their Cody experience.
Junior Counselors work alongside our counseling staff and take on additional responsibility within cabins and throughout camp. They help support younger campers, contribute to daily routines, encourage participation, and learn to recognize when someone may need a little extra support.
It is an opportunity to discover that being a good leader is not about being the loudest person in the room. It is about being dependable, setting a positive example, listening to others, and being willing to step up when needed.
Building Confidence and Independence
Teenagers are given something particularly valuable at camp: the opportunity to take on real responsibility in a supportive environment.
Throughout the summer, participants develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organization, and decision-making skills. They learn how to work with different personalities, respond when plans change, and become more confident speaking up and contributing to a team.
Those small moments add up.
By the end of the summer, many participants leave Cody more confident in their ability to handle responsibility, advocate for themselves, and positively influence the people around them.
Skills That Last Beyond Summer
The benefits of leadership at camp do not end when summer does.
The skills teens develop through the program can help prepare them for college, future jobs, volunteer opportunities, sports teams, and other leadership roles. They also gain meaningful experience working with children and being part of a team, giving them real examples of responsibility, collaboration, and problem-solving to draw from in the future.
But perhaps the most important lesson is understanding what it feels like to make a difference for someone else.
A younger camper may remember the CIT who helped them learn a new skill, the Junior Counselor who included them when they felt nervous, or the older role model who made them feel like they belonged.
From Camper to Role Model
For many participants, joining the Teen Leadership Program represents a special chapter in their Camp Cody journey.
They have the opportunity to give back to the community that has given them so many memories while beginning to shape the experience for the next generation of Cody campers.
It is still a summer filled with friends, laughter, activities, and unforgettable Cody traditions. But it is also a summer of greater independence, responsibility, and growth.
Interested in learning more about Camp Cody’s Teen Leadership Program? Get in touch with our team.