Leadership: KITES Overview

The KITES (Kounsellors in Training for Excellence) Program is for students finishing Grade 11. The camp session lasts for 15 days, building on skills learned in LITES (Gr. 10 Program) including camp leadership, team building, and expanding outdoor skills and knowledge.

2025 PROGRAM DATES TBA

New Location, Same Awesome Programs!

While new facilities are being developed for Kamp Kiwanis, Summer 2024 Camp Programs will be held at Camp Connect, A Connect Charter School Facility, located off Highway 68 at the North Side of Sibbald Lake.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

The goal of KITES is to build on skills learned in LITES. Participants do not need to have attended LITES as a prerequisite, but must have a strong interest in building camp leadership skills and provide references that can attest to their leadership qualities. We want participants to develop a sense of service to the camp community while participating in adventurous, fun camp activities.

The program is 15 days long.

A KITES Session Includes:

  • A 2-day, 1 night off-site trip in the Kananaskis Area planned in collaboration with both the participants and the leadership coordinators. The group will decide whether this will be a backpacking or a canoe trip.

  • Standard First-Aid and CPR certification

  • Intermediate to advanced flatwater canoe skills and safety

  • Continue to build skills in fire building/safety, outdoor cooking, setting up tarps, no trace principles

  • Multiple day cabin placement where participants will also go on an on-site overnight camping trip with a cabin group

  • Building skills in leadership and team building specific to being a camp counsellor (e.g. childcare, communication skills, mentorship etc.)

  • Personal leadership development

  • Preparing youth to make the transition from camper to staff

  • And other fun camp activities like archery, arts and crafts, and gaga ball!

This experience is part of the core Kamp Kiwanis Summer Camp Programs and is an excellent introduction into leadership roles including the role of Camp Counsellor.

How to attend

Placement in KITES is application based.

Once applications are received, senior staff will go through the applications, applicants will be contacted for a brief phone screening and references will be contacted. Once the campers are selected, a health and permission package will be sent to selected campers in early June.

Unfortunately, there are only a certain number of spots available and sometimes it is necessary to create a wait list for campers.

There is no fee for leadership programs.  All programs are 100% subsidized by Kamp Kiwanis.

Nomination forms for next summer will be available in April 2025.

For any questions regarding Kamp Kiwanis Leadership Programs please contact leadership@kampkiwanis.ca or 403-242-9255.