At a certain age, kids are simply too old go trick-or-treating on Halloween. In a similar vein, there comes a point in every child’s life when sitting around all summer just won’t cut it anymore. They might be too young to get a part-time job, but they’re never too young to learn a few things about leadership.

Certain summer programs have been strategically created to be leadership camps that help teens cultivate their inner potential for success and foster growth. How to develop leadership skills primarily depends on getting kids in touch with their ambition and drive to succeed, even at an early age while they’re still teenagers. Of course, there are a few aspects to examine before you send your child off to any youth leadership camps.

They’ll probably be homesick once they arrive.

It’s important to talk with your children about the emotions they’ll likely go through once they first get to camp, especially if they’ve never spent time away from home before. Homesickness is extremely normal, so let your son or daughter know that. It’s important to also point out to them the positive experiences they can take away from any overnight summer camps for teens, especially when it comes to making new friends and trying new activities.

Challenge your kids to challenge themselves.

Homesickness is just one of the obstacles your children might face away at camp. Most camp settings are positioned near a body of water (like a lake) and have water activities like swimming, canoeing and even sailing to try. How to develop leadership skills starts within themselves by opening up to try new things, especially when it comes to exercises and experiences that might initially frighten them. These usually lead to lifelong lessons in expanding their horizons.

Riding a horse can help develop self-discipline.

The process of preparing a horse to be ridden by humans is often referred to as “breaking the horse.” While your child will likely be working with an already-broken horse, this is a great metaphor for how to develop leadership skills, too. Certain barriers must be broken down in order for teens and other kids to fully realize their potential as leaders as they grow older in the modern world.

Getting kids in a new environment often inspires creativity.

While a summer spent on the couch staring at a television provokes little inspiration for children, allowing them to explore the natural world can help significantly boost their creativity. Leaders must be creative, as creativity helps improve problem-solving skills and helps people relate to each other better. Plus, a more relaxed mind is a more creative one.

It all comes down to challenges. When a child can learn put him or herself up against an unfamiliar situation, there is always a lesson learned in the process. Lessons like that help a person realize how to develop leadership skills of their own, and all this can start with a simple summer away at camp. See more.