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YMCA CAMP PINE CREST

Leadership Programs

(Ages 13-16)

Wilderness Adventure Programs


Our Leadership Programs offer incredible experiences for teens to help them improve their confidence, communication skills and independence. Participants will leave these programs inspired to better themselves and the world around them!

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Coulonge starsand fire
Coulonge starsand fire

Pine Crest Leadership participants are between the ages of 13 and 16, and sorted into programs based on their age: Junior Leadership, Leadership-in-Training (LIT), and Senior Leadership.
This ensures that leadership programs meet the developmental needs of participants, and build on one another if campers participate year after year.

Summer 2025 Registration Dates:
Leadership Camp Selection opens: October 21, 2024
Leadership Camp Selection closes: October 24, 2024
Offers confirmed between October 29 to November 15, 2024

Details for Summer 2025 trips will be available soon.

Note: If you miss the Leadership Selection period and are still interested in having your camper join us for a leadership program in Summer 2025, you can register for any open spots on November 19.

See the out-trip descriptions available for Leadership progams for the upcoming summer. This information will help your camper understand the options available to them, prior to making their selection. All descriptions have been written by Pine Crest staff who have travelled these routes in the past years.

Junior Leadership

Born January 1, 2011–December 31, 2011

All junior programs are intended as a bridge between camper and leader. A variety of elements from the camper experience are still present in this introductory leadership program, although additional learning and responsibilities are added. Campers will begin developing self-awareness to understand their own strengths and struggles. Participants will also be encouraged to act as role models at the camp on a daily basis. Additionally, campers will participate in placements to help teach skills or facilitate activities for younger campers.

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Leadership-In-Training

January 1, 2010–December 31, 2010

Intermediate programs have a greater focus on group development and performance. Groups will examine topics like group formation, communication and conflict resolution, and healthy group dynamics. Participants are expected to take responsibility for themselves and others to ensure that learning objectives and positive experiences are achieved. Small group success on the out-trip is a main component for learning and performance in these programs.

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Senior Leadership

Born January 1, 2008–December 31, 2009

Senior programs aim to prepare participants for leadership in all areas of their lives. Senior programs focus on planning, delivery, and evaluation of programs, camp or community initiatives, and the out-trip. Skills are practiced during placements around camp, working with cabins or support departments, and on the canoe trip.

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Additional Courses and Add-ons

Intro to White Water

The white water skills clinic is a program for anyone who is new to white water paddling!

For one week on the Madawaska River, participants will learn all about canoeing in rapids. Most of their time will be spent paddling rapids with brief breaks to discuss how to understand the features of a rapid, paddling strokes, white water rescue, and how to swim in white water. The white water clinic is short and sweet — participants are always surprised by how much fun they have and how much they learn.   Participants will set up a home base camp on the first day of the clinic and spend the entirety of the trip on the same camp site. The program will start and finish at Pine Crest. 

Fee: $1499

White Water Clinic - Leadership

The white water clinic is a program designed to teach the skills associated with paddling in rapids. Anyone who has paddled white water in the past but would like to improve their skills or build confidence should also consider this program.

For one week on the Madawaska River, participants will learn all about canoeing in rapids. Most of their time will be spent paddling rapids with brief breaks to discuss how to understand the features of a rapid, paddling strokes, white water rescue, and how to swim in white water. The white water clinic is short and sweet — participants are always surprised by how much fun they have and how much they learn. The white water clinic is always offered in the first week of the summer so participants are able to pair it with a Leadership program involving white water paddling. 

Fee: $1499

Whether it is your camper’s first overnight camp experience, or their sixth, there is a lot to prepare for an overnight camp experience, espeically for extended out-trips. Find everything you and your camper need to know prior to attending Pine Crest: code of conduct, packing lists, out-trip details and much more!

Related Programs

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Overnight Camp

Summer Day Camp

Summer Day Camp

Contact Us

YMCA Camp Pine Crest
1090 Gullwing Lake Rd
Torrance, ON
P0C 1M0
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Outdoor Centre email: pinecrestbookings@ymcagta.org
Summer Camp email: camp.pinecrest@ymcagta.org

Camp Pine Crest Office: 1-877-878-9622
The Camp Pine Crest office does not handle summer camp registration.
Any registration-related changes will need to be sent to the Registration Office.
Registration Office: 1-877-303-2267
Registration Email: register@ymcagta.org