For 90 years, the Louis August Jonas Foundation has been committed to helping young people grow intellectually, ethically, and globally through Camp Rising Sun, our full-scholarship, summer leadership program for teenagers from around the world. In the upcoming weeks, we will take a deeper look at our curriculum which has inspired, in so many young people worldwide, a commitment to compassionate and responsible leadership for the betterment of their communities and the world. 

In this issue, we will explore the pivotal role of staff and youth mentors in facilitating the experiential learning process for first year participants. 

At Camp Rising Sun, our summer counselors are acutely aware that one positive role model can have a lifelong impact on the trajectory of a young person’s life. As such, our staff take great responsibility in shaping the experiential growth process for program participants. While much of the actual program experience happens through interactions among participants themselves, summer staff act as catalysts in the learning process by creating the structure through which participants process and make meaning from their lived experiences. 

Our counselors undergo an intensive 10-day professional training program to develop the critical skills needed to implement the curriculum and pedagogy. During the training process, staff members develop the skills to provide constructive feedback and guide participants through thoughtful questioning and in order to reach their best thinking and decision-making as they take on leadership responsibilities. 

Rather than being front and center in the daily program, our staff are trained to lead from behind the scenes and encourage participants to take agency of their experience and become their own teachers and leaders. Feedback is thus framed not solely on praise or faults, but as a way to guide campers to reflect on their choices and consider adjustments based on lessons learned. 

The Role of Staff in Leadership Development

One of the most prominent ways that counselors guide youth leaders through the experiential learning process of reflection and action is through the role of Counselor of the Day. Each day at Camp Rising Sun, a counselor is assigned to mentor a pair of young people who assume leadership of the Camp program for an entire day. Counselors meet with their youth leaders before, during, and after the leadership experience in order to provide mentorship throughout the entirety of the planning, execution, and reflection process. 

Counselors provide direct coaching in individual settings then step back to allow youth to lead in front of peers while providing ongoing support and encouragement throughout the day. The Counselor of the Day encourages youth leaders to consider a variety of topics such as:

• Reflection on personal leadership styles

• Opportunities for collaborative leadership

• Cultural differences in leadership styles 

• Interpersonal and intercultural communication skills

• Equitable distribution of responsibilities among leader pairs

Through the mentorship process, youth leaders develop strong emotional intelligence skills such as self-awareness, stress management, intercultural communication, and responsible decision-making. 

Counselors understand that the relationships they develop with campers give them a better understanding of how they relate to the program and how the goals of the program might relate to their lives at home. Young people appreciate that counselors create a space to express doubts in a nonjudgmental relationship and to share concerns and problems. They want staff members to listen to their goals and aspirations and serve as an active listening partner to help them figure things out. 

The Unique Role of Peer Mentors

In addition to quality 1:1 mentorship from trained counselors, CRS participants also benefit from the guidance of peers who can better relate to what they are going through in adolescence. Each year, we welcome back a handful of individuals from the previous season as second year campers (2YCs). Together with staff, 2YCs set the tone, introduce traditions, and model positive leadership during the early days of a season. 

While 2YCs remain campers, they have distinct leadership responsibilities and are looked to as role models from the first days of camp. 2YCs also arrive early to receive training from staff members to prepare them for their new role as mentors. 

CRS alumna, Nataelle (‘16, ‘17), reflected on her new leadership role prior to her second season in 2017, saying,

“As a second year, I believe that my focus will be geared towards being a supportive sister within our camp community and being willing to help others in ways that can make all of our camp experiences the best that they can be.” 

On the first day of the program, new participants are greeted in New York City by 2YCs who model the leadership structure for the season and provide emotional support as campers transition into the new environment. It is important for first year participants to see peers of their own age, rather than adult counselors, leading the program in the first week because it builds confidence and motivates them to take ownership of their summer experience.  

According to Nataelle, “the responsibility of a second year is to help first years to adjust to camp life while allowing them to create their own camp experience no matter how different it may be than my own.” Because of this, it is central to the leadership of 2YCs to model productive and thoughtful behavior in alignment with the program values and to also be aware of how and when to step back in different situations, making it possible for first years to gain valuable leadership experiences and shape the trajectory of the season. 

Beyond the first week of the program, 2YCs continue to mirror many of the same mentorship skills found in counselors. They are continuously looked to for advice and support. Based on their experience with CRS, 2YCs provide support by:

• Checking in with youth leaders on logistical questions about planning the week

• Answering questions related to peers’ social adjustment to the international camp setting

• Passing down traditions from past seasons

Because of their unique duality as participants and mentors, 2YCs collaborate closely with counselors to identify the unique needs of their peers and play a critical role in the development of a cohesive group identity. 

The CRS curriculum creates a supportive structure that allows young people to challenge themselves and practice problem solving and decision-making within the security of adult guidance and peer support. In the upcoming weeks, we will continue to share more about how the CRS educational framework is implemented throughout our curriculum in support of our mission. 

Excerpts of this article were derived from the Camp Rising Sun 2020 Curriculum Guide. To read a full copy of our curriculum, please email contact@lajf.org