MIDDLE SCHOOL JUNIOR GUIDE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
For campers entering grades 6 through 9
WHAT DO JUNIOR GUIDES DO AT CAMP?
- Junior Guides participate in everything Camp Wildcraft does — hiking and fort-building, big weekly art projects, theater and field games, working with clay, weaving and printmaking. But they do it as leaders: helping younger campers, being a role model, designing and running activities and learning real life team work as they collaboratively plan and lead our big all-camp Friday Fest. They have a green camp t-shirt that sets them apart from our younger campers.
- Each week, Junior Guides gather as a cohort with Katreia, our Junior Guide Director, to get to know each other, and build leadership skills — including how to design and lead activities for younger kids.
- We work with Junior Guides to identify their strengths, interests and skills. We then support them to plan and lead activities in that area — with mentorship from our Guides every step of the way. These might include:
- 🎨 Art + Story: Reading to younger campers after lunch, assisting with art activities, designing art projects for Friday Fest.
- ⚽️ Sports + Games: Leading active games in the morning and board games after lunch, organizing field games for choice activities.
- 🔎 Exploration + Nature: Designing and leading scavenger hunts, insect and bird ID, and taking a real leadership role during fort-building
- We meet kids where they are. Some middle schoolers want to take on more leadership, some are growing into that role; we give them opportunities as they are ready.
- Friday Fest! Junior Guides design and run a whole-camp event each Friday afternoon-- built around that week's theme. They brainstorm the concept, plan the activities, divide up roles, practice presenting to a crowd, gather supplies, and then pull it off — for all the kids. Past years have featured Camp Olympics, Talent Shows, An Ancient Legends Carnival, Water Days and more!
- We know kids this age benefit from opportunities where they can feel connection, safely challenge themselves and grow new skills. Our Junior Guides develop new competencies— which leads to greater confidence. They grow a sense of belonging to our camp community-- and the wild and natural world around us.
"This will be our children’s 6th summer with Camp Wildcraft. Every summer the weeks at camp have enriched their lives in so many ways: the storytelling, the adventures, the creativity, the friendships. One of the things that has been fun to watch is the growth year over year in passing milestones —graduating to the harder and longer hikes, helping the younger kids sew their pouches. But the transition to Junior Guide and the responsibilities that come along with it, has been a pinnacle. It has encouraged their independence, sense of self, leadership, purpose and compassion. They couldn’t wait until they were old enough to have this “job.” A great stepping stone from elementary school to middle school on the trajectory to teenager. The pride of wearing the junior guide pin, the different colored t-shirt, the excitement of leading activities, while also benefiting from the art, hikes, camaraderie and fun has kept the camp a highlight of our summers. We are very grateful to Benny and Shari and the role they’ve played in our children’s development and lives. Couldn’t ask for a more positive influence! ❤️"
— Kristin, Junior Guide parent
"The Junior Guide program helped our son transition into becoming a leader — accountability, empathy, and executive function among other social-emotional skills. Now he understands what skills he needs to develop to help others." — Adrian & David, Junior Guide parents
In their own words.....
"The Camp Wildcraft Junior Guide program is great because I enjoy helping other children with all the different projects. Besides, it is really fun!" — Clive, 13.5 years old
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Want to see more photos of our Junior Guides in action? Click here for a photo album!
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Katreia Mori, Junior Guide Director
This is Katreia's sixth year as a Wildcraft Guide, and for the past several years she has directed our Junior Guide program. A creative artist, expansive thinker, and gifted listener, Katreia has a real talent for being fully present with young people. She works with each Junior Guide individually throughout the week — checking in, connecting them with the right mentors, and helping them find the kind of leadership that fits who they actually are. She is a cellist currently studying music in college. |
To Sign Up
- Camp tuition is the same for all ages.
- To join, register your middle school camper in our registration system. They will be included in the Junior Guide Program.
- Question about whether it's a good fit? Feel free to text/call Shari at 818-489-3862. Anytime--evenings OK.
HAVE A CAMPER ENTERING HIGH SCHOOL?
Click here for more info about our Volunteer H.S. Guide-in-Training Program
Click here for more info about our Volunteer H.S. Guide-in-Training Program
