Leadership Development
For campers who completed grades 9 & 10 in June 2023.
Program Goals and Learning Outcomes
Camp Thunderbird’s Leadership Development (LD) Program gives youth an opportunity to develop outdoor adventure skills in a supportive and safety-oriented environment. Learning outcomes include self-discovery, group dynamics and management, working with children, and technical skills for successful wilderness travel… all key ingredients in developing well-rounded outdoor leaders. We do this through in-person practice supported by highly trained and experienced Y staff. Campers face experiential challenges together, work through these with their peers, and are encouraged to think about how their actions affect others. Counsellors help the group find solutions using democratic and/or consensus-based decision-making tools to work toward outcomes that benefit every member. Through deliberate practice of the Y core values of honesty, respect, caring, responsibility, and inclusiveness, this program supports youth by building interpersonal skills, greater empathy, confidence, and resilience for their future challenges. It is often referred to as “life-changing”.
In recognition of the changing needs of our community and campers coming into the LD program, we are broadening the scope of programs for 2023. For all programs, LD counsellors introduce LD campers to skills for leading groups of children, and LD campers are given the opportunity to put those ideas into practice. They will shadow some camp counsellors and help lead a group of younger children, with the supervision and support from fully qualified camp staff. Working directly with children and then reflecting on that experience with peers and mentor counsellors has proven to be a highly valuable element of our Leadership Development programs.
LD Base Camp
In this 5-day program, campers participate in outdoor skill activities at camp, such as canoeing, climbing, hiking, orienteering and archery, while being introduced to the skills needed to lead and teach these activities. Campers will shadow a counsellor leading a younger group, and participate and a day-long hike on camp property. Campers sleep in cabins at camp each night.
LD Quest
In Camp Phase
Before the expedition, LD staff will facilitate group cohesion through guided teambuilding and discussion. Then participants will work together to plan and pack for their expedition. On return, facilitated expedition reflection and debriefing is led by LD staff.
Expedition Phase
While on their backcountry expedition, participants will be learning navigation, weather interpretation, camping and the other skills required for safe, self-supported backcountry travel. Counsellors and guides provide instruction, support and a “safety net” while the campers take turns being “leader of the day”, and work together to set a pace, navigate, and practice minimal trace wilderness travel/camping. The counsellors also guide discussions related to group management and care of children, to prepare participants for their time as apprentice leaders in camp programs.
These trips will be physically and mentally demanding. Each day varies and participants should be prepared for up to 10-hour days on the trail or in the boat and temperatures that could dip to single digits with heavy precipitation.
12 Day LD Quest
Expeditions take place either in Clayoquot Sound (LD Kayak) or hiking on Vancouver Island (2023 specific location is still to be determined). Both will be world-class natural destinations that will be selected for their stunning beauty and challenge-profile. Clayoquot sound is filled with wildlife, secluded beaches and beautiful small islands.
19 Day LD Quest
Expeditions will take place in either the Broughton Archipelago (LD Kayak) or the North Coast Trail (LD Hike). These are areas on and around Vancouver Island’s Northern tip and are optimal due to their stunning beauty and wild environment. Hikers will enjoy ancient forests between sprawling sand beaches on the coast of the North Pacific Ocean. Kayakers will wind their way through many small island groups overflowing with rainforest vegetation and cross channels teaming with sea life, small and large. Both trips have campsites that feel like they are on the edge of the world.
Leadership Development as a path to becoming a camp counsellor.
The LD program provides participants with transferrable skills for working with children and in the outdoors. Many of our Camp Thunderbird counsellors spent two consecutive summers as LD campers, followed by one summer as a volunteer Program Assistant. This is our recommended path for joining the staff team. Whether participants choose 5-, 12-, or 19-day programs, they will be building the skills and experience that sets them on this path.
2023 REGISTRATION OPENING DATES
RETURNING CAMPERS
Wednesday February 8, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon)
NEW CAMPERS
Wednesday February 15, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon)
Returning Camper Information Click HereLEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Please ensure you select the correct expedition type and dates for the program that you wish your camper to participate in. We cannot guarantee space should an error in selection occur.
| Program | Date | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Day Base – All Gender Cabin | July 17-21 | $760 | Register Online |
| 5 Day Base – All Gender Cabin | August 21-25 | $760 | Register Online |
| 12 Day Kayak – All Gender Cabin | July 3-14 | $2135 | Register Online |
| 12 Day Hike – All Gender Cabin | Aug 7-18 | $2135 | Register Online |
| 19 Day Hike – All Gender Cabin | July 3-21 | $3715 | Register Online |
| 19 Day Kayak- All Gender Cabin | August 7-25 | $3715 | Register Online |
Transportation Information
Registration in overnight camp DOES NOT include bus transportation you must register separately for a To Camp and From Camp bus. Campers can be driven by car by a parent or guardian or registered for bus transportation from the the Downtown Y or the Westhills Y.
REGISTER FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP BUSSINGCamper Drop Off Time
Times listed below are bus departure times, and buses do not wait for late participants. PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY to allow for health screening and bus loading. Guardians need to stay until the bus departs.
| Camp Program | Driven by Car to Camp | By Bus from the Downtown Y | By Bus from the Westhills Y |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Camps | 9:00am | 8:00am | 8:30am |
Camper Pick Up Time
Traffic on Fridays can be especially heavy please give yourself ample time to arrive. Late parent/guardian arrival further delays our bus service.Westhills: Bus arrives between 4:20-4:30 and continues downtown at 4:30 sharp. Children not picked up by 4:30 will remain on the bus and travel downtown.
| Camp Program | Driven by Car at Camp | By Bus to the Downtown Y | By Bus to the Westhills Y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Camp | 3:45pm | 5:15pm | 4:20-4:30pm |
| Overnight Camp | 2:30pm | 5:15pm | 4:20-30pm |
Health Screening – Before Boarding the Bus
Campers and one caregiver will be asked to arrive at the bus stop 15 minutes before the scheduled bus departure times in order to allow enough time to for health screening and to load the bus. Screening will also occur at camp for anyone who is driven to camp directly by a parent or guardian.
REGISTRATION, CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICIES
The YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island is a charity dedicated to building healthy communities and will subsequently be referred to as “YMCA-YWCA”.
YMCA-YWCA Registration Policy
The customer agrees that by completing registration and making payment into a single activity or multiple activities with the YMCA-YWCA that they immediately become subject to the activity or program specific cancellation and refund policy.
Camp Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations must be received 30 days before the start of the camp session to be cancelled. All cancellations are subject to a 25% administration fee of the total camp cost including future payments. If less than 30 days notice is received, fees are non-refundable. All requests must be submitted by email to registration@vancouverislandy.ca. This includes all non-medical refund requests including but not limited to those due to camp space being unavailable for friends, siblings, and/or due to other summer opportunities becoming available outside of Camp Thunderbird programs. The YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island follows all Public Health Officer orders.
Medical cancellations will qualify for a refund of the unused portion of the program, less a $50 administration fee. In some cases, a doctor’s note will be required, at the discretion of the Camp Managers.
No refunds will be issued in instances where a camper is removed during a camp program at the choice or request of the camper or camper’s parent(s)/guardian(s) or is dismissed from camp for contravention of the camp commitment.
FAMILY INFORMATION BOOKLET – 2023 Information coming soon!
Please review the Family Information Booklet for detailed camp information.