Junta's program evolves as boys age and progress through their camp summers.  When boys finish the eighth grade, their needs and interests change.  So, too, does the La Junta program.  At La Junta we address these changing needs and maturity with our Two Year Leadership Training Program.  

For our eighth graders we offer an ADVANCED CAMPER program.  For our ninth graders we have a COUNSELOR IN TRAINING program.

The AC program includes Trailbike Riding, Rappelling, Advanced Hunter Safety, Welding, Athletics, Aquatics, SCUBA, Horseback, Orienteering, Ranch Skills such as carpentry, electricity and concrete work,  the safe operation of such vehicles as tractors, backhoes, bulldozers, graders, and crane and bucket trucks.   In addition, the ACs are challenged with all day Horseback, Orienteering and Trailbike trips.  A Solo Overnight Camping experience is often a highlight of the term.

Advanced Campers are also offered a "specialty" during their term.  This is an opportunity to focus their energies in support of an important facet of the main camp program.  Current specialties include helping at the Stables, with the Black Eagle program, with the Ranch Competition program and with the Program Directors.  The goal is not to plan for future summers, but to experience first hand the successful feeling of giving back to younger campers.

Toward the conclusion of the term the ACs begin work on the necessary leadership skills for becoming a Counselor in Training.  They get an opportunity to assist with activity classes, participate in discussions with Program Directors and utilize their camp experiences to help out with cabin groups.  The AC program is a culmination of the camper experience and the stepping stone for a leadership based staff experience

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Camp La Junta's counselors in training are young men who at the age of fifteen have completed the Advanced Camper program and were selected to make the transition to staff member because of their maturity, responsibility, good judgment and teaching potential. Camp La Junta realizes that the transition from begin looked after by the staff to looking after others as part of the staff is a difficult and time consuming one. Therefore, La Junta has designed a special program that enables CITs to gradually experience the staff side of camping while assisting in many of the activities, working with campers of various ages and learning the behind the scenes aspects of the general operations.

The purpose of the CIT program is to provide a high quality life skills, leadership and counselor skills training program while simultaneously offering a smooth, entertaining transition from camper to staff member. In other words, the CIT program will mirror the regular camp program in quality and result.

While precise topics may vary, below is a sampling of concepts taught during the CIT training sessions:

CIT Job Description, Camp La Junta Program and Philosophy,  Why have Camp Rules and Policies, Camp Safety, Liability and You, Responsibility, Team Work,  Problem Solving, Communicating, Time Management, Professionalism - Going beyond an Employee Mentality, Evaluations - productively accepting them, Outstanding Counselor Traits, Listening, Observing and Learning, Game Management - Referees, Communicating with Kids,   Positive Reinforcement , Managing Negative Behavior ,  Instructional skills,  Success through a Positive Attitude

Our goal with the CIT program, and each of these sessions in particular is to gear them toward very camp specific skills as well as life time leadership skills. It is our intention to train very successful young men as well as very successful future counselors.

La Junta is proud to conduct the industry's most exciting, productive and perspective building Counselor in Training program.