Leaders In Training

Retreat

HANDBOOK

Weekend Leadership Retreat

communication, teamwork and The San Diego Armed Service creativity. The experience and It is tough being a kid these Ys Leaders In Training (L.I.T.) knowledge military teens gain days especially a teenager program is a leadership from LIT will provide them with particularly when dealing with development and job readiness the specific skills to assist them the stress of belonging to a program for military teens. in their future endeavors and military family. Our Youth The weekend LIT retreat is beyond. Development programs help designed to afford younger kids cope while providing them leaders ages 13-15 years old with positive, fun opportunities with the introduction of to get to know themselves and leadership skills in a fun each other. outdoor setting. The curriculum Staff & Activities 2 focuses specifically on interactive activities and Preparing for Training 3 reflective journaling which encourage critical thinking. Leadership Policies 4 LIT gives military teens a greater understanding of how Training Schedule 5 to succeed in school and within the community through

Leaders in Training

Contents:

San Diego Armed Services Y

3293 Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124

Visit our website www.militaryymca.org for more information on how we Make Military Life Easier.

Staff
LIT staff are full time Armed Services Y Youth and Community Outreach (YCO) staff members that want to enhance opportunities for military teens and learn about their unique attributes. Our staff is passionate about supporting military youth and take pleasure in maintaining a structured, educational program in an atmosphere of fun and excitement. The ASY takes seriously the importance of child protection and safety. We have specific, tested policies and procedures for all staff that work with children.

LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES:
Location: YMCA Camp Surf
Camp Surf is an ACA accredited camp which supports the youth development of children and teens. Located in Imperial Beach, CA camp affords individuals the opportunity to experience the surf, sand, and sun throughout the year. Staff undergo extensive background checks and are trained in positive experiential manner through a comprehensive program. All Camp Surf lifeguards meet USLA Ocean Lifeguarding standards, the same standards met by state and local agencies.

The following are some of our proven safety practices:

1. The ASY has comprehensive preemployment screening for staff members and program volunteers, including interviews, reference and nation-wide criminal history checks. 2. All LIT staff regularly work with school aged youth in informal educational settings and are certified in pediatric First Aid and CPR.

Leadership Curriculum
During the weekend retreat teens will participate in an interactive leadership curriculum providing them with specific skills to assist in their future endeavors and beyond. Curriculum includes Communication, Team Work, Cooperation, Decision Making, Problem Solving, and Setting Goals. Teens will engage in group work, role play, journal reflections and games to apply module strategies and skills.

Leadership Opportunity:
Camp Hero Jr. Counselor
Upon completion of the LIT program graduates will be considered, but not guaranteed for a position as a Camp Hero Jr. Counselor for one week in August. Jr. Counselers will receive 40 hours of community service and attend all field trips with campers. Staff will select teens based on their LIT performance, attitude, behavior, and work ethic.

Recreational Opportunities
Teens will have the ability to explore a multitude of activities Camp Surf has to offer. Teens can take in the sand and sea while catching waves surfboarding or body boarding. They can challenge each other on the 30ft climbing tower or archery arena. If games are their pastime teens have the chance to play gaga, volleyball, basketball, and more.

Food

Preparing for Leaders

Staff
Lyndsay Neer: Program Director
Lyndsay is a San Diego native and graduate of University of California, San Diego with a degree in Sociology. Teens have always had a special place in her heart after working closely with Juveniles on probation . Lyndsay is eager to explore the unique assets that military teens encompass with their strong resilience, maturity, and ability to persevere. She is hoping retreat graduates will gain necessary leadership skills to employ at school and in the community!

Camp Surf will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Meals are served buffet-style on the covered outdoor dining deck . The ASY staff will supplement meals with healthy snacks options. LIT participants will be required to eat on Friday night before arrival at the ASY.

What to Bring
Sleeping bag and pillow, short sleeve/T-Shirts, long pants and shorts, toiletries and towel, warm shirts, underclothing, socks, sweatshirts, bathing suit, 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of sandals, flashlight and batteries, sunscreen and hat, warm jacket or coat. Optional items: water bottle, sunglasses, beach bag, book, notebook, money, and wetsuit.

What not to Bring

Do no bring surfboards, skimboards, weapons, toys, knives, food or hair spray. The following Electronic devices will not be allowed : cell phones, iPods, or video games . The Armed Services YMCA is not responsible for any items that are lost or stolen. registration at least two weeks prior to the first day or the teen not attend LIT, the family will be placed on our ineligible for service list.

Lets Build!
Leadership Eligibility
LIT is open to children of military service members from all service branches and pay grades. The military service member must be assigned to a San Diego military installation or San Diego based ship. Teens must be between 13 15 years old by May 11th to be eligible. There will be no age exceptions.

Emergency Procedures
Contacting Teens: If you should need to reach your child during training please call our front desk at 858-751-5755. They will take your message and get the information to your child. Cell phones will not be permitted for use by teens. If teens fail to comply with the cell phone policy during the LIT program staff will confiscate the cell phone and return upon completion of the weekend. Teen Illness or Injury: If your teen becomes ill at camp our staff will contact you to pick them up. Please have arrangements to do so in a timely manner. If you teen is injured camp staff will take whatever steps are necessary to obtain medical care. If we are unable to reach you and your teen needs medical attention they will be transported to the hospital by an ambulance. All expenses for emergency medical care are the responsibility of the parent.

Financial Contributions
The Armed Services Y is proud to provide over 40 free programs to San Diego military service members and their families each month. Should you wish to make a contribution to the Armed Services YMCA in support of programs such as LIT you may do so by sending your donation to the Armed Services YMCA at 3293 Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124 or call 858-751-5755 for more information.

Cathy Tann: Program Specialist Kicking off her third summer with the ASYMCA, Cathy, is psyched to be a part of our teen programs! Cathy is a Texas native with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Texas, and a Texas credentialed generalist teacher for grades 4 through 8. She has previously worked with high school AVID students, and possesses a passion for working with adolescents. Cathy looks forward to using her experience with grades five through twelve to enhance this experience for our Leaders in Training! Lorenzo Inzunza:
Program Coordinator

Deposits
LIT registration forms and a twenty dollar non-refundable deposit will be required to register. Due to limited space in the program, should the family fail to cancel their teens LIT

Lorenzo is a native San Diegan growing up down the street from Camp Surf in the Imperial Beach area. He attended San Diego State University and is currently working in the Active Duty Department with the ASY. Lorenzos special talent as a professional DJ has gotten the party started for many youth functions. This will be his first summer with the ASY, and he is eager to pump up the fun with his DJ skills at our Leaders in Training Retreat!

Retreat Information

Important Times
Friday, May 11th
5:00 p.m.
LIT opens for drop off at ASYMCA HQ

Transportation
LIT will travel by Armed Services YMCA buses to the LIT weekend Retreat. Families will be required to drop off teenager at the San Diego Armed Services YMCA HQ 3293 Santo Road, San Diego 92124 The following are some of our transportation safety practices:
1. Each bus driver is a Armed Services YMCA staff member who has completed comprehensive pre-employment screening including interviews, drug and alcohol testing, and reference and nation-wide criminal history checks. 2. Each driver is required to perform a pre-trip inspection for their bus before transporting passengers. 3. Each Armed Services YMCA bus is outfitted with seat belts and routinely inspected by the California Highway Patrol.
We do our best to maintain a reliable schedule of departure and arrival times and accomplish all planned activities. Please do your part to help by arriving on time to LIT and ready for the weekend retreat.

5:30 p.m.
Buses departs for YMCA Camp Surf.

Saturday, May 12th

7:30 a.m.9:00 p.m.
LIT retreat interactive activities, role play, skill building and recreational opportunities at YMCA Camp Surf.

Sunday, May 13th

11:30 a.m.
Buses leave YMCA Camp Surf

12:00 p.m.
LIT Pick Up/ Release at ASYMCA HQ

LIT Policies
Drop Off/Pick Up
All teens are required to ride with the ASY staff to Camp Surf. On Friday night LIT opens for drop off at 5:00 p.m. Buses will leave at 5:30 p.m., if you expect to be late please call the Armed Services Y by 5:15 p.m. at 858-751-5755.

respectful and everyone is safe bathrooms will be monitored by Staff. Leaders privacy will be respected, but showers will be supervised and take less then 5 minutes per person.

Behavior Management Guidelines

It is the Armed Services Ys goal to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all day LIT participants. Teens who attend the program are expected to follow the behavior guidelines based on the four core values and to interact appropriately in a group setting.

LIT pick up is at 12:00 p.m. at the ASY YCO building on Sunday afternoon. Teens must be picked up and signed out by someone on their authorized pick-up list. Please show courtesy to LIT staffers by arriving promptly for pick up. Behavior Guidelines: ASYMCA Staff will make every 1. We will care for ourselves and attempt to contact parents and for those around us. emergency contact for LIT teens not 2. Honesty will be the basis for all picked up by 12:30 p.m. If by 1:30 relationships and interactions. p.m. the parents are not reachable 3. People are responsible for their Child Protective Services will be actions. called. 4. We respect each other and the environment.

Attendance

Teens will be required to participate in the entire weekend. Any participants who fail to complete the three day training will not receive a certification of completion for the Leaders in Training Program.

Bathroom/ Shower
The ASY is responsible for the supervision and safety of each leader. To ensure leaders are

Our staff is trained and is expected to resolve behavior problems in a positive manner. In the event problems persist the child may be suspended or dismissed from the LIT. Some acts may result in immediate suspension or dismissal including but not limited to: fighting, intentionally harming others, theft, and possession of weapons or drugs.