Leadership Programs
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!
Pine Crest Leadership participants are between the ages of 14 and 16, and sorted into programs based on their age: Junior Leadership, Leader-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.
Junior Leadership
All junior leadership programs are intended as a bridge between being an overnight camper to being a leadership participant. A variety of elements from the camper experience are still present in this introductory leadership program, with additional learning and responsibilities are added. Participants 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 for younger campers.
| Trip | Dates | Fee | Skill Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Provincial Park | Girls Trip: July 4–July 30 Boys Trip: August 8–September 3 | $6400 | Beginner |
| Coulonge River | August 8–September 3 | $6800 | Intermediate |
| Massasauga Provincial Park | August 8–20 | $3200 | Beginner |
| Noire River | July 4–16 | $3400 | Intermediate |
| Petawawa River | July 4–30 | $6800 | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Spanish River | July 18–30 | $3400 | Intermediate |



Leader-In-Training
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. LIT participants will also do a cabin program with a younger cabin to learn about group management and customizing programs to different age groups.
| Trip | Dates | Fee | Skill Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodvein River | July 11–August 13 | $8300 | Intermediate-Advanced |
| DuChef River | July 25–August 27 | $8300 | Intermidiate-Advanced |
| Dumoine River | July 4–30 and August 8–September 3 | $6900 | Intermediate |
| Killarney Provincial Park | July 11–30 | $5100 | Beginner-Intermidiate |
| Kipawa River | August 8–September 3 | $6900 | Intermediate |
| Temagami Hike and Paddle | Boys: July 4–30 Girls: August 8–September 3 | $6500 | Beginner-Intermediate |



Senior Leadership
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.
| Trip | Dates | Fee | Skill Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Leadership Exchange | July 18–August 21 | $5500 | Beginner |
| Coppermine River | July 4–August 20 | $11,950 | Advanced |
| French River | July 4–30 and August 8–September 3 | $4800 | Beginner |
| Hayes River | July 11–August 20 | $9400 | Advanced |
| Missinaibi River | July 4–30 | $6900 | Intermediate-Advanced |



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 or folks looking to brush up on their skills!
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.
Please note this trip is an all-gendered program, accommodations both on trip and at camp will be all-gender.

Skill Level: Beginner. This is an introductory program so no white water paddling experience is required! Participants should however be able to swim 160m and tread water for 2 minutes.
What to expect: This is an introductory program, so white water paddling experience isn’t required. Participants should be able to swim 160m and tread water for two minutes.
Explore Leadership Camp at Camp Pine Crest
Contact Us
YMCA Camp Pine Crest
1090 Gullwing Lake Rd
Torrance, ON
P0C 1M0
Get Directions
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













