Summer Programs
Service & Leadership Opportunities
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At Ekone Summer Camp, we are committed to cultivating leadership and important skills among the young people in our community.
Youth Internships
In 2024 we'll have a few options for for internships, only for youth over 16 and only for teens who have previously participated in our Ekone Leadership program (see below for more info). Please email summercamp@ekone.org if this is something you're interested in!
Our Intern program applies to youth aged 16-22 seeking an in-depth volunteer leadership
opportunity at Ekone Summer Camps, usually for 3 weeks at a time. Interns will work closely
with camp staff, and participate in planning the camp program, daily decision-making, and
leading activities as appropriate. Experienced staff will provide mentorship.
This is an excellent opportunity to spend an extended period at Ekone, gain some real
experience, and build your resume or college application.
We happily provide references and recommendations for our interns, and Ekone
experience is proven to be valuable later in life. Internships are unpaid--we consider your
service to summer camp a fair exchange of learning for work.
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Ekone Leadership Program
As of 2024, we'll be requiring that teens take part in our Ekone Leadership Program *before* they can apply for internships. This program is open to teens from age 14-18.
This program will provide an opportunity to learn about all the behind the scenes aspects of working at the ranch, with a cohort of other Ekone-loving youth and supported by our year-round staff. Just like ranch life, this program will be driven by what most needs doing, and what skills campers are most interested in learning about and experiencing. Our focus will be on making, fixing, and tending the many of the aspects of ranch life, while we also tend to our camp community and learn more about how to effectively support each other and gain the support we each need to be compassionate leaders in the areas of our lives.
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Possibilities include: learning how to safely use power tools, fixing and building things, unfencing and making giant a barbed wire ball, learning how to best tend the garden, chickens, and pigs, doing kitchen projects, cleaning All The Things, and learning all the coolest secret spots around the land.
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Counselors-in-Training
In 2024 there are a few sessions accepting CITs! Please see the session schedule for more details.
For campers interested in learning about leadership and giving back to Ekone, we offer a selective CIT opportunity. Most of our CITs have attended camp for a few seasons and have shown that they are hard working, a positive example for other campers, and ready to take on more responsibility. CITs are ages 13-17, and are almost always returning campers. A maximum of four CITs will be selected for select camp sessions (no CIT positions for Wrangler Camps, Young Rider Camp, Horse Connection, or Ekone Youth Leadership). This mentorship is provided as part of the cost of camp--we consider it an investment in the future leadership of summer camp!
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For more information on becoming an Ekone summer camp CIT, click below. The CIT application will be included as part of the camp registration process.
