By Alyssa LaRocque
What are some key qualities of a leader?
This important question can be approached from so many different angles. At Widjiitiwin, participants in the SALT and LITE leadership training programs engaged with this question every day in all kinds of contexts that challenged them to grow in their faith and in their understanding of leadership. Here are a few things we discovered together along the way:
A leader knows the source of their strength.
At SALT and LITE, we prioritized spending quality time in God’s Word. Individual and community devotions bookended every day, allowing these young leaders to not only see and hear the Word receptively, but to also share it actively through observations, questions and discussions. Our desire was that they wouldn’t just tag along with the faith of people around them but would have their own deep roots in Christ as their source of strength.
A leader puts others’ needs first.
Our leaders-in-training had to roll with location changes, programming adjustments, shifts in weather and many other typical camp life interruptions. We saw that anybody can just passively go with the flow in changing circumstances, but a leader actively thinks about how to help and guide others through the process. This understanding of leadership underscores the heart of Widjiitiwin, which in Ojibway means “helping one another.”
A leader reflects on and learns from their experiences.
A major part of the SALT and LITE programs was taking the time to stop and think back on our activities to determine what went well and what we could have done differently. So much learning can pass us by without reflection. Our debrief times also became great moments of recognition and celebration for what was accomplished, allowing the participants to consider how God was at work and realize their growth.
Leadership lessons like these take place everywhere at SALT and LITE! It happens when you’re in a canoe with a partner on a windy paddle, when you’re working with a group to practice a new lifesaving skill, when you’re brainstorming prior to running an event, or when you’re chatting in the cabin and have the opportunity to share something real. The 24/7 nature of camp life means that daily leadership opportunities abound. The learning is intensive, experiential and community driven. There’s nothing like it!
So don’t miss out on the opportunity! SALT runs for four weeks in July, and LITE runs for two weeks in August. Anyone aged 14 to 16 who wants to explore the qualities of a leader firsthand at Widjiitiwin should check out the website to learn more. Applications for Summer 2026 are now open.
It’s worth noting that in addition to leader- ship development, SALT offers multiple certification options due to its longer run time: a Grade 11 high school credit, Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid certifications. Participants can indicate their interest in their application.
Alyssa LaRocque is MBC and Widjiitiwin’s SALT Coordinator.