Leadership

Leadership - Developing Camper Leadership 

Alpengirl provides different leadership opportunities for the girls at camp and one way this is done is by selecting a camper who becomes the Leader of the Day or "LOD".

Learning to read topographic maps

Why Leadership is Great

In daily life girls may not receive many opportunities to be in a leadership position or to lead a group, so at camp we provide a safe environment for you to be a leader for a day.  Throughout the day you assist your Alpenguides in motivating campers, making things happen, decision making, managing the music, providing friendship to all campers, answering camper questions, loading and unloading the van and trailer, making announcements, helping campers understand tasks, and overall leading of the day to make our activities run more smoothly.  Being the Leader of the Day helps you to develop and hone your leadership skills for your future both at Alpengirl and in your daily life, so that you are more confident in a group setting or working on a group project at school.

Leadership Without Pressure

Although we encourage you to take a step out of your comfort zone, being Leader of the Day is by no means mandatory. We provide other smaller leadership opportunities for you to try if that better suits your needs. Every leader needs great followers and a great follower respects herself and offers that respect to others.

Leader Appreciation Circle

Every evening your camp group meets in an LOD appreciation circle.  Everybody gets a chance to tell the Leader of the Day what they appreciated or liked about their leadership that day.  After everybody gets a chance the LOD gets to appreciate herself and say what she liked about leading and her leadership.  She then passes the torch to tomorrow’s LOD telling the group why she is choosing the girl that she is.  The appreciation is the best part of being LOD.  The group points out skills and traits about you that you now can recognize as your strengths and be very proud of yourself for them.  Most LODs, when appreciating themselves, mention how surprised they were that they enjoyed leading the group and often wish they had another chance.  Alpengirl provides a supportive group where you can feel safe about trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone as a leader.

Camper Leadership Track 

Are you a returning Alpengirl camper who may be interested in working with Alpengirl as an intern or Alpenguide in the future? 

If you answered with an enthusiastic “YES” then you should consider applying for the Alpengirl Camper Leadership Track. 

The Alpengirl Camper Leadership Track is an option to be completed during one upcoming camp session and is designed for returning campers who want additional leadership challenges while attending camp at Alpengirl. 

Being on the Camper Leadership Track will enable you to earn all 9 Alpengirl “skill beads,” learning all of the useful “hard skills” that are needed for camping and leading groups. The Camper Leadership Track will look great on school or job applications. You will gain leadership skills and knowledge with in-field practice. By completing the Camper Leadership Track with Alpengirl, you will already have a foot in the door for a possible internship with us at age 17.

While at camp, pursuing the Camper Leadership Track, you will be expected to maintain a positive attitude, a willingness to try new things, and be a constant motivator for other campers in the group. You’ll have the chance to lead the whole group in activities or games (may be supplied by the guides). You’ll get the privilege to see the “behind-the-scenes” action while waking early with the guides, making and drinking tea with them, helping with the breakfast setup, and discussing the day ahead during the LOD (Leader of the Day) briefing. 

Explore your leadership prowess this summer with us on the Alpengirl Camper Leadership Track!

Qualifications

  • Has to have successfully completed an Alpengirl camp session previously
  • Is at least 15 years old
  • Must apply and be interviewed for consideration of acceptance to the Camper Leadership Track

While at camp

  • Complete all 9 Alpengirl skill beads during one camp session including these skills: Cooking, Backpacking, Wilderness First Aid, Water, Fire, Yoga, Shelter, Navigation, and Camp Group Living. Note: Skill beads earned during your previous camp sessions will be applied, you will not need to repeat those skills but you may be asked to assist others in earning them.
  • Maintain a positive and motivating attitude with a willingness to help
  • Accept the challenge from an Alpenguide to lead the group in at least 3 activities, games, Alpenolympics, or road-side-dance parties
  • Wake up earlier to make/drink tea and help with breakfast setup before group yoga
  • Observes LOD (Leader of the Day) briefing in the mornings and serves as the LOD assistant throughout the day, everyday
  • Tent Manager, making sure tents are set up and taken down properly, are being respected, are not missing pieces.
  • Optional: help present the skills beads, help give the “bathroom in the woods” talk
  • Presented with Alpengirl Camper Leadership Track “Certificate of Completion” and receive Camper Leadership Track Bead

Rewards

  • Special consideration for interning at age 17
  • Good for resumes, job or college applications
  • Leadership skills attained with in field practice
  • Management skills obtained with in field practice
  • Teaching skills obtained with in field practice
  • Hard camping skills obtained, for further use in personal life, at Alpengirl, or with other outdoor camping group 

To Apply:

1.  Enroll in desired camp session (http://www.alpengirlcamp.com/registration).
2.  Answer the following questions and email or mail us the answers BEFORE MAY 1. 

  • What drew you to Alpengirl?
  • Why do you want to pursue the Camper Leadership Track?
  • What is your favorite part of the Camper Leadership Track?
  • How do you think pursuing the Camper Leadership Track will impact your future?
  • Where & When do you think the skills you’ll have gained from the Camper Leadership Track will benefit you?
  • List 2 of your best friends as personal references for you, include phone numbers for Alpengirl to contact. 

3.  Then, wait. After May 1, Alpengirl will contact you to schedule a brief telephone interview. Alpengirl may also call the friends you listed as references. Alpengirl will notify campers of their acceptance or non-acceptance before the end of May. Remember, space is limited for those wanting to be accepted to the Camper Leadership Track, and there is a good chance that due to various camp logistics and camp staffing limitations, we may not be able to accept all applicants that apply. If accepted, an additional fee of $100 is required due to additional staff resources required for management of the leadership track campers.