Leader-In-Training (LIT) Program

The one-year LIT program is for rising high school juniors and seniors and focuses on helping teens develop strong leadership skills, lessen summer learning loss, increase 21st Century and social & emotional skills, and gain hands-on employment experience. The program consists of intensive work during a six-week summer residential program with additional touch points throughout the year.

Learn more about the LIT Program

How to become an LIT

Students from historically marginalized communities who are nominated for the program complete an application and a competitive interview process to secure one of ten spots. Students receive a $1,000 stipend upon successful completion of the summer program that includes:

  • Exploring a range of leadership styles, identifying their default leadership style, and actively developing leadership skills;

  • Honing critical 21st Century and social & emotional skills like communication, cooperation, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, teambuilding, and decision-making through the Center’s program initiatives, challenge courses, and high ropes courses;

  • Engaging in hands-on financial literacy, literacy, and STEM classes to combat summer learning loss;

  • Rotating through four job areas at the Center to learn hard and soft employment skills;

  • Receiving mentoring and practicing goal setting to develop a plan for school and work;

  • Developing a resumé and a personal statement; and

  • Learning the value of reflection through conversation in small groups with a focus on one’s personal journey and developing the tools needed to navigate forward in life.

Dates for 2025 are June 30th - August 9th.
Participants must arrive on June 29th to check-in.
For more information, or to receive a nomination form, please contact Pat Karl at pkarl@princetonblairstown.org.

  • ‘“Through our long nights on the porch in Twins and countless team building activities, I learned to love and trust the LITs as though they were my biological siblings.  More importantly, I learned things and made memories that I will cherish forever. PBC was a huge learning experience. In some way or another, everything that happened [there] impacted me.”

    - Bailei, 2018 Leader-in-Training Participant

  • "When I was a Leader-in-Training in 2019 I spent three weeks at PBC. It was the longest I had ever been away from home. I learned so much about myself, developed a deep network of peers from other cities and states, and had caring staff mentors who helped me learn about financial literacy, leadership, and how to work as part of a team."

    - Isaac Evans, 2019 Leader-in-Training Participant

  • "My fellow LITs and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at the lake, canoeing and swimming. We also got to cook several meals outside, like during our Overnight Expedition. We went on many hikes, including going over a three-line bridge and visiting mini waterfalls. We also worked in the garden composting and harvesting vegetables for the kitchen."

    ~ Malaysia Rice, 2023 Leading-in-Training Participant

Leader-In-Training (LIT)

2024 Outcomes

Following students’ completion of the six-week Leader-In-Training (LIT) 2024 Program, they were asked to complete a survey to measure the percentage of students who perceived themselves to have gained strength in the three following domains:

Teamwork, Problem-Solving Confidence, and Affinity for Nature

Who Participated?

A total of eight students, aged 16-18, who attended the Leader-In-Training (LIT) 2024 Program completed this survey.

Gender

2024 LIT Outcomes participants by Gender

Ethnicity

2024 LIT Outcomes participants by Ethnicity

The Data

Appendix

Please inquire for full survey results