Choose Your Own Leadership Pathway at Pilgrim Lodge!

Join us for Pilgrim Lodge’s first ever Leaders-in-Training Program. If you love Pilgrim Lodge, want more connections beyond camp, and to grow your skills and opportunities, this program is for you! In this program, campers will have the opportunity to join a cohort of other youth who are exploring opportunities to grow their leadership qualities before, during, and after their time at Pilgrim Lodge through both virtual and in-person connections. This cohort of campers will be supported by one another and Pilgrim Lodge’s new Leadership Mentor through the course of their experience together. 

Pilgrim Lodge leaders are: 

  • empathetic, compassionate, and trustworthy people of integrity
  • campers who care about people and the natural world
  • role models who are willing to speak-up, take action, or be bold when called to stand for justice
  • service-oriented, inclusive and loving
  • campers who draw resilience from their spirituality and community at camp

Because we seek to nurture an experience that is tailored to the goals of each individual camper, this program has a lot of choice and flexibility. 

Start Here:

Pilgrim Lodge’s Leaders-in-Training (LIT) Program is for youth who are currently in grades 9-12 (during the spring of 2026). To participate, campers must:

  1. Register for a week of camp: options include Camp Pride, Middler+Senior Adventures, Senior High, and Justice Together: Climate, Identity, Community.
  2. Attend virtual sessions including an Opening Retreat to get to know other LIT participants, (Spring 2026) and Closing Celebration to share Capstone Projects (Fall 2026). Participation in a minimum of 2 additional online meet-ups is required.
  3. Connect with Pilgrim Lodge’s Leadership Mentor during camp to set goals and reflect on the learning experience.
  4. Create a Capstone Project: Together with the Leadership Mentor, you’ll decide what your project will be. This can be a creative way of reflecting on your experience such as journaling, an art project, a power-point, etc.
  5. Sign-Up for one additional experience:
    1. Become a Counselor-in-Training (CIT): This program involves a pre-camp orientation and volunteering as a CIT during Pathfinders, Elementary Adventures, Magical Mythical Adventures, or Middler Island Camp. There is no additional cost to participate, and CITs can use this volunteer opportunity to complete community service hours that may be required for school. CITs must participate in an online orientation (date: Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 6-8 PM) and must be must be age 16-18 by June 28, 2026. Sign up to be a CIT by emailing info@pilgrimlodge.org or calling 207-724-3200.
    2. Justice Together: Climate, Identity, Community: If you are registered for another full week session, you have the option to register for Justice Together for the cost of only the $100 registration deposit. (If Justice Together is your only full-week camp session, you don’t need to register for any additional programs in this section to be an LIT.)
    3. Sign-up as a volunteer to open camp during Jump Start Work Days from April 24-26, 2026. Attend with a parent, guardian or youth group.
    4. Attend Confirmation Retreat, May 8-9, 2026 with an adult mentor from your church.
    5. Attend Lifeguard Certification Training, June 17-19, 2026.
CIT Training
Justice Together
Jumpstart Workdays
Confirmation Retreat
Lifeguard Training

Sign up by March 15, 2026 to be part of Pilgrim Lodge’s first-ever cohort of LITs! To sign up, contact us at info@pilgrimlodge.org or 207-724-3200 and let us know that you’re ready to be an LIT! 

Reasons to participate:

  • Build your resume for future educational or work opportunities
  • Learn skills that could prepare you for volunteer or staff experiences at Pilgrim Lodge
  • Get new certifications or community service hours
  • Be part of a cohort of other Pilgrim Lodge campers who are learning together
  • Have the option to feature your participation on Pilgrim Lodge social media
  • Provide input to shape Pilgrim Lodge experiences to benefit you and other campers
  • Change the world!

“PL is a great place to grow as a person. I always leave with a new perspective on life and feel motivated to use my PL learnings in my everyday life.”
-Pilgrim Lodge Camper