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Leadership camps near you

We list camps from across Canada that will help you develop into a stronger leader. You can use our advanced search to find camps in your area. Click on your city below. Note that specialized leadership camps are at the top of lists, but lists also include camps offering some leadership activities:

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More than just summer camp

There are a variety of kinds of programs that will encourage leadership development. Use our site to find the options below:

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What will you learn in Leadership Camp?

Independence. Leadership camp teaches kids and teens to trust in their own ability to handle decisions. They also learn to work with others, including teachers, peers, and those they’re responsible for. 

Communication skills. Kids and teens gain experience communicating with different groups in different settings. This may include communicating instructions about activities and communicating with kids in different age groups. Teens learn how to be attentive to those in their charge, and communicate necessary information with clarity.

Interpersonal skills. Any child who has gone to camp will know the close bond they form with their fellow campers and leaders by the end of the program. The safe, supportive environment of camp makes it ideal for strengthening interpersonal skills. Teens in leadership camp develop their ability to listen to others, make compromises, and understand others’ behaviours. Camps teach and promote conflict resolution, empathy, teamwork, and patience.

Guidance and instructional skills. We all face times when we are required to guide others. Many leadership camps have teens lead a group of younger campers, allowing them to try their hand at instruction. Not only will this boost their communication skills, it also encourages team building, and a tolerance for uncertainty. These are important soft skills to take into the classroom, workplace, or future life experiences.

Organization and time management. At leadership camp, teens are no longer campers told what to do by others, but members of the community responsible for themselves. Teens learn the importance of organizing their tasks and managing their time appropriately, through planning, scheduling and making action plans.

What are the benefits of Leadership Camp?

Improve self-confidence. In leadership camp, kids and teens are given more responsibility than they're used to. Teens learn to navigate these responsibilities, and through that, gain an increased sense of self-confidence.  The very nature of leadership entails development of courage. Programs linked to above grow courage and confidence through activities as varied as public speaking and wilderness tripping.

Opportunity to advance to a camp counsellor. Many camps offer kids the role of Leader in Training. In this, they learn skills and abilities of a camp counsellor. Through leadership development sessions, workshops, and both large and small group activities, they develop into this role, which can in turn lead to other leadership roles.

Be a positive role model. Many leadership camps allow kids to assist in leading groups of younger campers. They begin to see themselves as a role model, and understand how their actions, behaviours, attitudes, and other aspects affect those in their charge.

Become a better decision maker. At leadership camp, kids learn to consider how their decisions impact others. They’re taught to think about things from different perspectives and begin to evaluate different problem solving strategies, to discover what works for them. They learn about everything from conflict resolution to icebreakers to how to explain new concepts.

Learn about yourself. Every camp experience teaches you something new about yourself. This is especially important in leadership camp. Exercises in camp may explicitly encourage them to explore their own strengths and weaknesses and examine those. This self-reflection is valuable for personal development and for cultivating healthy interpersonal relationships.

Fun! While the focus may be on learning valuable leadership skills, camp is always focused on fun. Camps range from outdoor summer camps that offer canoeing, sailing and kayaking, to sports camp, debate camp, entrepreneur camp and more. There is bound to be a camp that suits your child’s unique interests, so that they can continue to cultivate their passions while emerging into the world of adulthood.

What to look for in Leadership Camp

When considering a leadership camp, ask directors and staff about all aspects of the camp, including values, daily life, programs, fees, and safety training. Below are specific questions you may ask leadership camps prior to enrolling your child:

• What is your feedback process? Will my child receive ongoing feedback from staff throughout the camp, acknowledging their strengths and areas for improvement?
• Will my child have a choice in the type of activities they want to lead, and participate in?
• Can my child earn volunteer hours for being an LIT (Leader in Training)?
• Does this camp offer any certifications my child can work to obtain while at camp, such as lifesaving, First Aid, or Bronze Medallion?
• Are there any resources available to help children who may need extra help or guidance?

Questions to ask overnight leadership camps

Many of the camps listed here are multi-day or multi-week sleepaway camps. It can be nerve-wracking for both parents and children when planning to enroll your teen in an overnight camp away from home, so here are some questions to ask to ensure your child has the best experience possible.

• What is the camper-to-staff ratio?
• For Leader in Training camps, will LITs shadow full-time staff members? What is the ratio of LITs to campers and staff?
• Are there certain activities or sessions my child can participate in to develop a specific skill?
• What is the average return rate for campers and counsellors?
• What is the average length of time a camper spends at your camp each summer?

Closely related camps and programs

OurKids.net lists  a number of related kinds of camps and programs that can help kids and teens augment specific leadership skills. Expand your leadership skills further through these course and camp offerings: 

Public speaking camps help your child develop in this skill critical to anyone who works in a leadership role.

First Aid training is an important skill for many kids and teens in leadership roles. A First Aid course can be a requirement for many jobs such as camp counselors or life guards. 

CIT and LIT camps focus on developing teens for roles as camp counselors and leaders, with a curriculum specifically targeting the skills and traits needed. 

Combine this with other information from our website:

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Leadership summer camps are there?
There are 4 programs specializing in Leadership (multi). In addition, there are 37 programs offering leadership (multi) as an activity. Use the filters to narrow by age and program type, then click on matched programs to see daily activities, dates, rates and registration information.

What are the fees to attend Leadership summer camps?
Fees for Leadership summer camps range from FREE to $345 per program (program types and lengths vary). Use the filters here to narrow programs by age and type.

What age do Leadership summer camps start at?
There are programs available for children aged 4 through 19.

Where can parents meet with Leadership summer camps?
Meet with program directors and staff at the Our Kids Camp & Program Expo. The Expo is held annually in February, and is a fun and informative day for parents, kids, and teens. Find event details and free tickets here.