Leading, Learning, Adventure

Gravatt Explorers | Leaders-In-Training

After your camper’s final Junior High year, there are multiple opportunities for them at Gravatt. Both the Gravatt Explorers and Leaders-In-Training (LIT) Programs offer your high school camper the opportunity to learn from our summer staff, grow in their leadership skills, and experience Gravatt in a new way. Below are a number of FAQ’s about our offerings for high school campers, and please feel free to reach out to us at any time with any questions you may have.

What are the options at Gravatt for my camper once they are in high school?

Your camper qualifies for our Gravatt Explorers program and our Leaders-In-Training (LIT) program once they reach high school. Both programs are registration-based, meaning that you sign up for them in the same way you always have, and your child is still considered a Camp Gravatt camper if they register for these programs. Campers and families should not view the LIT/Explorer camper experience as an extension of the traditional camper experience they may have been used to as a Junior High camper. Rather, campers and families should view this as a developmental opportunity to explore various leadership, outdoor, and experiential opportunities.

Campers and families should know that the Explorer/LIT camper experience can be just as, if not more, rewarding as being a traditional camper, but the Explorer/LIT camper experience is indeed different. Explorer/LIT campers should be prepared to learn from staff in class-like sessions, lead various activities, help with behind-the-scenes tasks, work directly with elementary campers (LITs) and engage in off-site backpacking/camping/canoeing (Explorers). If you/your camper feel that you are not ready for this type of experience, then you should prayerfully consider your enrollment in an Explorers/LIT session. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about whether or not your camper is a good fit for Gravatt Explorers or our LIT program.

What is an LIT/Gravatt Explorer?

Gravatt Explorers is open to campers who are rising 10th graders through rising college freshmen. This program is designed for campers of any skill/experience level who want to challenge themselves in a more experiential way through overnight tent camping, backpacking, and canoeing. Gravatt Explorers gain valuable leadership skills directly from Gravatt staff while developing a sense of confidence and independence throughout the session. Explorer Sessions run concurrently with our Junior High 1 and Junior High 2 summer camp sessions. 

LIT stands for Leaders-in-Training and provides Rising 10th Grade campers with an experience that focuses on leadership skills and lessons that can be applied to any part of their lives, including Gravatt. LITs attend two traditional Camp Gravatt sessions and are for campers who wish to grow in their leadership abilities while also participating in camp life. This session provides leadership training directly from Gravatt staff and provides participants with the opportunity to grow as leaders. LITs return home in between sessions and will have expedited Check-In procedures.

What exactly do LITs/Explorers do?

During their ten-day session, your Gravatt Explorer will spend time on-site at Gravatt learning a variety of skills including hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing, outdoor food preparation, safety, and more. Then they will head off for two exciting overnight off-site excursions: a backpacking trip to Shining Rock Wilderness Area in Pisgah National Forest located near Brevard, NC, and a canoe trip down the Broad River in Columbia to make camp at Congaree National Park. This will give your Explorer a new sense of leadership, independence, adventure, and confidence that they can apply to their time at Gravatt and beyond.

During their time as an LIT, your camper will engage in lessons and guidance from our Program Staff. They will observe each program area (Swim, Ropes, Footprints, etc.) and will receive guidance and advice from the leaders of those areas as well. During their second week, LIT campers will spend more time with a specific tent/cabin and will practice, under the supervision of our counseling staff, working with younger campers. All of this will give your LIT camper a wide variety of leadership experience that they can draw on in the future.

Can I be an LIT and an Explorer?

Yes! LIT and Explorer sessions do not overlap, and we encourage signing up for both as you are able. And while you can be both an LIT and an Explorer in the same summer, you can only be an LIT once and an Explorer once in the same summer.

Are LITs/Explorers considered staff?

No, but we have found that this can be a common misconception. Explorers/LITs are campers, and go through the standard camper registration process, including paying a registration fee. Additionally, there is no selection or hiring process for Explorer/LIT campers in the way there is with our Junior Staff and Permanent Staff. The Explorer/LIT camper experience is simply different from the traditional camper experience, but Explorer/LIT campers are still campers, and being an Explorer/LIT camper has no bearing on whether or not someone may eventually be offered a position on staff in the future.

Will being an LIT or an Explorer increase my chances of being on staff one day?

While being an Explorer/LIT is certainly not a requirement for consideration as a staff member, it is true that many of our current Junior and Permanent Staff were Explorers and/or LITs. Explorers/LITs will have additional responsibility and a unique experience that will give them practice in many of the skills we look for in our staff, but being an Explorer/LIT is not the only path to becoming a Camp Gravatt staff member in the future. As such, we encourage your Explorer/LIT camper to simply be present and enjoy their experience, and please know that they have plenty of time to decide if they would like to explore being on our staff in the future.

Where do Explorers/LIT campers stay and how should they pack?

Explorers campers stay in our normal tents/cabins on our Boys and Girls Sides while they are on site, and they camp in pop-up tents while they are on both excursions. Explorers counselors stay with Explorers campers while they are on-site but will sleep in adjacent tents while off-site. Explorers counselors monitor/address camper activities, skills, and behavior while providing guidance and advice throughout the session. Your Explorer will need to pack for ten days, and the packing list will include Explorer-specific items related to hiking, backpacking, canoeing, and overnight camping. These details will be provided closer to your session.

LIT campers live in cabins on our Boys and Girls Sides with each other for each of the two Camp Gravatt sessions they are attending. Your LIT camper will have an LIT Counselor who will live in the LIT Cabin with them, monitor/address their activities and behavior, and provide them with guidance and advice throughout their time with us. Your LIT camper will need to pack for one week since they will be able to go home in between sessions to wash clothes, rest, and get ready for the next session. LIT camper drop-off and pick-up will be expedited due to the back-and-forth nature in between each session, and you will receive those specifics closer to your session.

What’s next at Gravatt after being an Explorer/LIT?

Campers can sign up to be a Gravatt Explorer throughout high school, and the LIT experience is for Rising 10th Graders only. We begin accepting employment applications for Junior Staff in the fall of your junior year.

What if I have other questions?

Please reach out directly to us if you have any questions or concerns. We know that the Explorer/LIT experience is new for most families, and we are happy to assist you in any way that we can!