Mentoring the next generation: Inside Pine Tree Camp’s workforce leadership initiative
When Tina Hall first arrived at Pine Tree Camp in 2016, she was a college undergraduate looking for a meaningful summer job. She figured that spending a few months working as a camp counselor would offer some practical background for her goal of becoming a teacher. Instead, that single summer sparked a lifelong passion for educational inclusivity and directly informed her professional career, leading her to teach third grade for six years before transitioning into a public school life skills program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students with moderate to severe disabilities.
“Working with children and adults with a wide range of physical and intellectual disabilities at camp pushed me to think about how I wanted my classroom to feel,” she recalled. “Pine Tree Camp is truly inclusive, fully accessible and barrier-free. That made a deep and lasting impression on me.”
Tina still returns to Pine Tree Camp every summer. Today, she is channeling her extensive experience — which includes a master’s degree in special education and ongoing work toward a PhD in inclusive practices and teacher leadership — back into the very camp that shaped her journey. As the supervisor of camp’s innovative Leadership in Training (LIT) program, she is mentoring the next generation of Maine’s workforce; equipping them with employment and leadership skills that extend far beyond the camp boundaries. Under Tina’s guidance, the structured summer LIT curriculum spans multiple weeks, striking a balance between theoretical knowledge and real-world execution. The first three weeks are dedicated to classroom-style learning, diving into books and active practice to build core foundational communication skills. Afterward, the participants step directly into the cabins, getting hands-on experience working side-by-side with experienced counselors to understand the daily responsibilities of managing care, building personal accountability, and fostering team collaboration.
Through LIT, Maine youth discover a new sense of self-confidence and professional purpose. Tina has witnessed this immense growth firsthand among her participants; including Pine Tree Campers who want to become staff members.
“Emily is a long-time camper who just finished her second year in the program,” Tina said. “This summer, she entirely shifted her mindset from that of a camper to that of a mentor and leader. As she prepares to step into a program assistant role, she has learned how to dedicate her energy toward helping other campers thrive.”
By allowing young people to navigate problems, make decisions and support peers with diverse abilities, the LIT program fosters independent, dependable leaders. The skills learned through this unique workforce initiative give Maine youth the skills they need to grow their careers long into the future, whatever professional path they choose.
