Prepare for the LT Program

PREparing for your time as an LT

The LT program is a year-round training program comprised of three main components: training weekends, community service, and a summer session.

The goal of our Leadership Training Program is to provide participants with effective leadership skills, through training and experiences, that can be used throughout their lives. Their skills help them to work effectively with children, and others, at camp and can be applied to many other settings.

SUMMER

The summer session looks different for each year of LT.

LT 1: During the first week of camp, LT1s embark on a week-long hike on the Superior Hiking Trail. Their second week is spent on camp, staying in the Lodge. LT1s participate with and plan for a cabin, and assist in a skill area.

LT 2: LT2s spend their first week of camp staying in the Lodge. They participate with and plan for a cabin, assist in a skill area, and plan two camp-wide activities. Their second week is spent mentoring the LT1s before heading to Kohler Andrae State Park to camp and engage in service around the Milwaukee area, including volunteering at a Miracle League game.

LT 3: LT3s attend camp for five weeks: 1 staff training week and 4 weeks of summer. During their four weeks at camp, LT3s stay in cabins and are paired with four different counselors and groups of campers. This allows LT3s to observe various leadership styles and practice their skills with distinct groups of campers.

An overview of the LT program can be found in the LT Program Manual.

TRAINING WEEKENDS

Mandatory Leadership Training weekends are held twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Weekends consist of a combination of instructional sessions, work projects, group activities, and recreation. Check in occurs morning on Saturday, LTs stay overnight and are finished around noon on Sunday. LTs will receive specifics about the weekend via email.

2025-2026 Weekend Dates

Fall Weekend: November 14th & 15th 2025
Spring Weekend: April 11th & 12th 2026

COMMUNITY SERVICE

We believe that part of being a leader is giving back to one’s community through volunteer service. The goal of community service is for LTs to apply the skills and principles they have learned in their own communities and expand their knowledge base to improve their ability to be effective leaders.

Each year of the program has different requirements for service hours completed in the community or at camp. Hours must be completed before arrival at camp. The LT Service Hours Verification form must be submitted for each off-camp service opportunity you complete.

On-camp and other YMCA service opportunities are posted on Volunteer Matters at https://ymcamke.volunteermatters.org/login.