Summer Leadership Conference FAQs
Where does the Summer Leadership Conference take place?
The Summer Leadership Conference takes place in beautiful Hardwick, NJ at YMCA Camp Ralph S. Mason. Camp Mason is one of the oldest continuously operating youth camps in the world.
Can I contact my son/daughter while they are at the conference?
It is recommended that you do not contact your son or daughter while they are at the LMTI Summer Leadership Conference. There is limited phone use available at Camp Mason and we need to keep all phone lines open in the event of an emergency. If there is an emergency, you will hear from us immediately. If you do not hear from us, rest assured that “no news is good news,” and that your son/daughter is doing great! IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE LMTI STAFF IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL (908) 362-8245 OR (908) 362-5767 AT ANY TIME.
Also, please do not encourage participants to bring/use cell phones while at the conference. There is virtually no cell phone reception and we don’t want to run the risk of a cell phone being lost. However, you are more than welcome to write a letter or to email any participant during their stay at Camp Mason by contacting:
Student’s Name
LMTI
c/o YMCA Camp Mason
23 Birch Ridge Road
Hardwick, NJ 07825
info@lmteeninstitute.org (please put student’s name and school in subject)
How is the LMTI Summer Leadership Conference staffed?
All full time and part time LMTI staff members are present at the Summer Leadership Conference. In addition, at least 1 adult advisor must attend the conference with any group of students. LMTI also has additional adult volunteers on site for additional support, as well as Camp Mason staff available for the duration of the conference. The student to adult ratio is approximately 3:1.
What is a YAC?
Members of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) are a vital part of the success of the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute. YACs are a diverse group of individuals who have previously attended LMTI and serve as leaders and role models for current participants. YACs undergo an extensive interview, application, and training process to make them into the TI experts they are. So much of the success of LMTI depends on the youth staff. Main responsibilities of a YAC include serving as an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug free leader in their school and/or community, developing skits and workshops to be presented at our conference, assisting with group facilitation and cabin chaperoning duties, and remaining involved with LMTI before, during, and after the Summer Leadership Conference.
What is a CAT?
Members of the College Age TI Staff (CATS) are essential to the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute. CATS are individuals who are ages 18-22. CATS serve as leaders and role models for current participants, making a commitment to remain alcohol, tobacco, and other drug free during their college age years. They may or may not have attended a Teen Institute Program in the past. Members of the College Age TI Staff undergo an extensive interview, application, and training process to prepare them for their role during and after our Summer Leadership Conference. Main responsibilities of CATS members include serving as an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug free role model for youth participants, developing skits and workshops to be presented at our conferences, facilitating groups and chaperoning cabins, and helping to staff LMTI follow up events.
What is an Action Group Representative?
Each LMTI Action Group has two Action Group Representatives. These individuals are responsible for keeping the LMTI Staff informed about their Action Group’s prevention events and activities throughout the school year. Action Group Representatives are required to submit reports monthly and to invite LMTI Staff members to their group's meetings and activities. These students are integral in being a liaison between the LMTI Staff and their Action Group.
What are the desired qualities of students attending the conference?
Students who attend LMTI:
- are proud to be or are willing to become alcohol, tobacco, and other drug free;
- are motivated to give service to their community and/or school and to do the hard work necessary to make a difference in the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs;
- have displayed or have the potential to develop leadership skills but may have been passed over for leadership roles in the past;
- have good listening skills and will respect others and their opinions;
- will reach out to people while still taking good care of themselves;
- are likely to earn the trust of peers, parents, and administrators;
- represent the diversity (race, ethnicity, religion, gender, peer group, etc) of their school or community.
What time should students arrive at the conference? What time should they be picked up?
Drop off and Registration for the Summer Leadership Conference occurs on Monday between 10:00am-12:00pm. Students should be picked up no later than 3:00pm on Friday. A Friends and Family Day program is offered on Friday from 2:00pm-3:00pm. Parents, family members, friends, principals, and funders are all encouraged to attend.
What are the sleeping arrangements at the Summer Leadership Conference?
Students sleep in comfortable dormitory cabins and lodges that sleep 10 to 14 to a room. They are separated into male and female cabins and then randomly placed with students from other schools/communities. This enables them to easily get to know other participants at the conference. Each cabin is staffed by 1-2 trained adult staff members.
What does a typical day consist of?
Each day of LMTI centers upon a theme, such as Diversity, Working in a Group, Making Healthy Decisions, Combining Personal and Group Wellness, and Motivating Others. Throughout the course of a day, students meet with their Action Group (consisting of students they know from home) to work on a prevention plan to implement in their school/community. Students also meet with a Process Group (consisting of students they do not know) to candidly discuss pertinent issues as they relate to high school students. In addition, students see nationally renowned keynote presentations that motivate and empower students to begin thinking about creating change. Students also participate in experientially based workshops to enhance their skills and knowledge. Free time and unstructured activities are also built into the agenda each day as well, allowing students to enjoy all that Camp Mason has to offer and to socialize with other students.
What options are available to fund attendance to the LMTI Summer Leadership Conference?
We know that funding can be challenging and are happy to work with you to brainstorm options that will work for you. Examples of funding sources include local and county municipal alliances, boards of education, student activity funds, parents and friends, and private funders. LMTI also offers scholarships for schools that attend Session 2 of the Summer Leadership Conference. Both weeks of the conference are programmatically identical, but due to back to school dates and extracurricular demands, Session 2 tends to be slightly smaller than Session 1. To encourage growth, for every 7 paid students that attend the conference, LMTI will provide a free scholarship for an 8th participant. |
