Youth Leadership Camps Canada

Student Testimonials

• "I had a great time at YLCC! Thank you for making the whole day full of super fun activities! I really liked the blindfolded walk and all the games, but my favourite part was the canoeing. Thank you for the awesome lunch-you have a really good chef! My whole class agrees that our field trip to YLCC was the best field trip ever! Thank you so much for the awesome time.

  - Kayla

  Student

• "Thank you so much for inviting us to your camp-I had so much fun. I would like to give a special thanks to all the instructors: Alex for the fun activities (my favourite was huckle buckle), Carolyn for the extremely fun obstacle course, and Stacey for teaching us how to canoe. Hope to see you soon!

  - Niki

  Student

• "Shannon: Thank you for having us at YLCC. It was really fun and I enjoyed canoeing. Thank you for making us lunch!

  - Hayden

  Student

Teacher / Organizer Testimonials

• "Dear Stu,
  
  Please share our ENORMOUS gratitude to your entire staff, but especially Slim Tim (sorry if the nickname sticks), Brady, Walter, and Robbie - they absolutely made the trip for our kids. Their energy and interest was contagious and made a big impact upon our students. Having experience with the OELC, the Y camp, and Brock leadership camp, your staff are definitely ahead of the others and deserve kudos. The setting was great (thanks for turning on the sunshine), the physical equipment was cool stuff, ..... but it was the non-stop smiles and energy and teaching and caring attitude of your entire staff that made the difference, and will be what we remember.
  
  Many thanks also to Gillian for handling all of the pre-camp stuff very smoothly - made our teaching lives back at school quite a bit easier.
  
  Cheers,
  Mike Ready
  Mountain View

  - Mike Ready

  Teacher Coordinator

• ""Thank-you for your positive feedback regarding our schools three day stay. We have received the same feedback from our students regarding YLCC staff. Our leadership students are fortunate to have
  an organization such as yours to guide them in their endeavours to become better leaders themselves. Leading by example is such a powerful tool."

  - Chris Fair

  Teacher

• ""Your staff is amazing and one of the reasons I am comfortable booking with YLCC, especially for something as big as the grade 9 retreat. It was nice to see Tucker & Micky still with you and growing in their roles. We had students do an exit card the Monday back, and teachers did a debrief last night. Students overwhelmingly recognized the value in making new friends and meeting staff and admin in this alternative setting. Stu seemed to have a real impact. As follow up activities, we gave prizes today to campers who wore their camp t-shirts, and held a sports/clubs/activities fair to encourage participation in school events. Many teachers report that they are seeing the results of camp in socialization and attitude about being in high school already in their classes. Our goal was primarily to build community and spirit and I think this was a perfect start – now we need to follow through to make it habit."

  - Heather Newton

  Guidance

• "Usually our year end council trip is Wonderland, but when the board didn't like that idea any longer, I suggested YLCC. At first students were iffy, but in the end it really brought them together and I expect a close group next year. Also, seeing their former PM, Tim Stacey, working at the camp was a real positive for them, something to look up to! Thanks for the awesome weekend! We love you guys!

  - Tanya Lacey

  Teacher and Student Council Advisor

• "We have been to YLCC for the past three years for the purpose of allowing our gr. 6 students to have the best time, but also to help them develop leadership skills as they enter gr. 7. We have always been pleased with the results. Thanks for another awesome trip to YLCC!

  - Carla Collier and James Moreau

  Teachers

• "Shannon did a fantastic job of helping us organize this retreat! The students have learned to encourage others and have pushed themselves to achieve something that they didn't think they were able to.

  - Tim Boettger/Aaron Trick

  Teachers

• "Kudos to Rich for showing new activities to experienced camp staff. Also great that he was willing to provide my staff with games resources on a CD! Thanks again.

  - Adam Finkbeiner

  Organizer for Town of Halton Hills Daycamp

• "YLCC did a great job of getting the message across of leadership, trusting others and being empathetic towards others. The activities and games directly supported this theme and the staff did a great job at creating a welcoming and trusting environment. We had a lot of the students commenting on activities and experiences from the day trip and some of the students are still singing songs from the campfire! We would like to thank the staff again for a great time! We had a blast!

  - Cindy Dupuis

  Teacher and Student Council Advisor

• ""I find that the time at your camp allows our students the chance to bond and grow as a team. They learn, without even knowing it really, the enthusiasm and selflessness required to be student leaders from the examples of your staff. They also get a great intro to group dynamics and problem solving that they get to build on throughout their year together on SAC".

  - Jeff Gerber

  Teacher and Student Council Advisor

• ""The girls were very proud of their accomplishments and they are more comfortable with each other after only one day at YLCC"!

  - Sandra Clark

  Teacher and Rugby Coach (Park Street Collegiate Institute)

• ""I think the biggest contribution YLCC makes to our incoming council is the opportunity for students to get to know each other in non-threatening team situations. I have to say that Stu's presentation was very influential for our students".

  - Carla Aitken

  Holy Trinity C.H.S. Teacher

• ""The counsellors were excellent. Everyone was very positive, friendly and helpful. Some of the students who are more inhibited at school gain confidence at camp. We loved when the trumpeter swan came up on shore during our campfire. Great job with the campfire songs!"

  - Julie Metcalf

  Rama Central School Teacher

• "YLCC worked closely with the Simcoe County District School Board to help organize a day where senior high school students helped run activities for selected grade 8 students from every school in the SCDSB. Stu Saunders did a presentation and the students experienced many activities throughout the day. Below is Donna's feedback along with feedback from the other students success teachers in the SCDSB.
  
  "First of all, I want to thank you for all of the hard work and organization that went into planning on the part of the staff at YLCC. It was very well received by both staff and students. It has really opened many new doors for opportunities that we can provide for students in many different capacities, and I look forward to working with you on them next school year."
  -Donna Thomson-
  
  "YLCC provides an excellent program for schools in a wide variety of formats. I know that other leadership groups within our school will be looking to YLCC to programming to build leadership capacity. The staff at YLCC are incredible. I was highly impressed with the level of leadership skill and professionalism I observed from start to finish. The students engaged in the activities very quickly and readily and I attribute this to the high quality programming that was delivered." - Student SuccessTeacher-
  
  "Awesomely run camp!!! Very beneficial. I will be sending my own kids there in the future!" - Student Success Teacher
  
  "We have taken small groups of at-risk students to YLCC in past years - and always with great results. Thanks for re-connecting me with YLCC - I'm excited about the possibilities!"
  -Student Success Teacher-
  
  "Would like to see this offered to more students at various times of the year!" -Student Success Teacher- 

  
  "The YLCC staff are so well trained and so good at encouraging not only the enthusiastic grade 8 and Student Senate folks, but also the "at risk" or hard to serve students. The staff did an excellent job of de-briefing after an activity, to share the philosophy behind the activity and what can be learned from it. The "at risk" students are a tough crowd to motivate, but the YLCC staff did an excellent job of encouraging our students to participate and challenge themselves. All of my students really enjoyed themselves, and were very glad that they went. They were all smiles when they got off the bus.
The YLCC is such a gem! We are so fortunate to have this awesome facility in our own back yard. Other schools travel great distances to access this resource. We should be making better use of it!" -Student Success Teacher-
  
  "I feel that the camp does a great job. It helps bring students together from different levels, from different grades and schools. What I really like about it the most is that it gets them to look at themselves and know that nobody is judging them at camp. Everyone on staff is encouraging and so students feel more confident." -Student Success Teacher- 

  
  "I definitely would like to utilize YLCC next year. We've discussed targeting grade 10's for this initiative, as they are a group getting lost along the way!" -Student Success Teacher-

  - Donna Thomson

  IRT - Guidance and Cooperative Education Student Success, Simcoe County District School Board

• "THANK YOU for everything that you did to make our rainy, snowy adventure into the best leadership camp ever. The kids are exhausted but pumped and it is a great way to move into student council elections, support our improv teams at Rebelfest next week and have the energy to finish the year. So please pass these thank yous on to your staff:
  
  Thank you for:
  * campfire coaching of great songs and skits.... we all want to "rock the boat"
  * hot chocolate and big breakfast on the cold, cold morning
  * supervising the polar bear dip in the snow
  * extra blankets
  * flexibility
  * watching the workshops which makes my camp committee feel that their work is worthy of copying
  * all the yucky food stuff that you collected for our skits
  * great meals and an awesome banquet meal
  * wonderful rap song and the talent show contributions
  * a great slide show!!!
  * your enthusiasm all weekend long
  * laughing at the detectives and the crazy PPHS teachers in costume
  * high ropes, low ropes & waterfront
  
  It really was the biggest, smoothest camp we have ever had. It was so much fun I can't wait to do it again next year!!
  
  

  - Karen Kettle

  Port Perry H.S. Leadership Camp Organizer and Teacher

• ""We had a wonderful time and I have passed along my comments and suggestion to return to the new teacher. I was very pleased with the cleanliness of the student cabins and the teacher’s cabin was great-it was very comfortable and relaxing! Every student was pleased with the food that was offered and there was enough for everyone. The counselors at YLCC really led by example. During our time there our counselor, Stacy showed great team work and leadership among her own peers. My students were always treated with respect and given lots of opportunities to gain confidence in themselves and their abilities, which I believe will show in their future leadership roles in the school. I am very impressed by the camp and by all the staff members. Brenda warmly met me on our first day and gave us an extra activity that was a real bonus (the paddles), Stacey was wonderful and upbeat and was able to keep our small group on task at all times, every staff member made an effort to say hello, Tim made a fantastic souvenir of our trip (the powerpoint), and Stu made sure that we felt very welcome and asked if we needed anything whenever we met."
  

  - Allie Coutts

  Montessori Country School Teacher

• ""Your staff is amazing. Their spirit and enthusiasm made the day memorable for our students. Thank you so much for everything! Our leaders take so much away from your staff."

  - Reg Ramlogan

  Loretto College School Teacher

• ""It was amazing to watch the kids who have never had the opportunity to go to camp or participate in something like this before, come out of their shells, develop trust, confidence and work so well with others. It was magic! Trevor, Tim, Larissa, Mitch, Mikey and Simon had their work cut out for them and they were amazing! The kids loved it! The staff worked hard to engage some students who normally are quite difficult to motivate. I was very impressed. Our Principal has already committed the money to do the camp again next year, and I have already volunteered to accompany the group again! I can't wait!"
  

  - Terri Thomson

  H.B. Beal Secondary School-Teacher

• "Hi folks! Just wanted to pass along the message that my students from Angus Morrison E. S. had a fantastic time yesterday at the YLCC camp. You have an amazing group of young staff that were helpful, supportive and inspiring to our students.
  
  Much appreciated,
  Kerrie Fitzhenry
  

  - Kerrie Fitzhenry

  Teacher

• "Thanks so much for another great day at YLCC Brenda. Your staff has always been so wonderful and I really do sing your praises to all of my colleages.
  
  Actually, I will probably be getting in touch with you soon about bringing another group up in September.
  
  Thanks also for the info regarding the Advisors Weekend.
  
  Have a great spring.
  
  Anita Stalteri - Teacher Coordinator
  Rick Hanson S.S
  

  - Anita Stalteri

  Teacher Coordinator

• "Morning Brenda,
  
  YLCC was a positive experience for all of us. Each student gave feedback about what they learned and Ian and Shannon would be so proud to hear all of their answers. It totally proves that experientital learning is the most effective in terms of lasting impact on the learner. These students will never forget the campfire, waking up in their home made shelters, tracking wildllfe, and cooking perogies on an open fire!!!!
  
  Unforgettable! Thanks so much!
  
  Cathy

  - Sir John A. McDonald

  Teacher

• "Thanks again for an amazing camp experience! We are looking forward to next year already. I have to admit that I was a bit leery about a 2 night camping trip with 30 kids, but everyone at YLCC was fantastic and the kids were so well looked after by the staff that I am converted! I am a worrier, but the attention to detail and safety at the camp were very impressive.
  
  Thanks,
  
  Heather

  - Heather Newton

  Department Head - Clarington Central HS

• "We had an "ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS" time! Please thank Richard and the rest of the staff. They were amazing... the site was amazing and the weather could not have been better. I have sung the praises of YLCC to many of my colleagues already. The feedback from our staff was also very positive. Thanks again!

  - Jim Sammon

  Principal, Park Street Collegiate Institute

Parent Testimonials

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