Leadership and counselor characteristics of teen leadership programs at midwestern summer camps

Abstract

Literature about summer camp leadership and teen programs lacks information on the importance of leadership characteristics, activities and strategies for teaching those characteristics, and the relationship to staff training and responsibilities. Eight directors of summer camps completed a survey to rate leadership characteristics, explain program goals, and list skills and activities in staff training and teen programs. The results showed that camps rated Compassion, Honesty, and Responsibility as the most important counselor and leader characteristics. Staff training and teen leadership program skills and activities included leadership, team-building, counselor duties, situational training, working with campers, service, reflection, communication, and critical thinking. Teen program goals varied. Recommendations were for summer camps and school leadership programs to identify program goals, determine which leadership characteristics are important, decide which skills to explicitly teach for youth to develop those leadership characteristics, and implement activities and strategies to support leadership skill development.