Camp Counselors in Training
CIT programs at summer camps are generally educational in scope. Traditionally for campers ages 16-18, most programs are equipped with curricula designed to develop the people and technical skills necessary to become an effective camp counselor. Such programs are often not'working' at camp. In other words, many CITs are still paying a (usually reduced) tuition and are bound by many of the camp's rules for a camper.
While some camps open enrollment in their CIT programs to anyone who meets their criteria, many others restrict their program to former campers. It is important that the CIT candidate show initiative and call the camp on his or her own to request the application materials. Any essay questions should be in the applicant's own words and neatly handwritten or typed. Many camps require that the CIT candidate go through a formal interview process, which may happen in person or over the telephone, depending on how far the candidate lives from the camp.
There is no guarantee that once the CIT has successfully completed the program that he or she will subsequently be hired by the camp. Most states in New England require that staff at an overnight camp be at least 18 years old before they may supervise campers on their own. Some camps tend to hire a limited number of junior counselors (usually 16 or 17 years old) as part of their staff development process, but they must also ensure that they still have the appropriate number of adult staff to supervise the campers and those junior counselors.
ACA-accredited camps have a few additional standards with regard to the hiring of minors:
- At least 80% of the staff must be 18 years old or older. If the camp primarily serves special needs campers, that percentage rises to 100%. This isn't an issue if the camp treats its CITs as campers instead of staff.
- All staff need to be at least 16 years old, and at least two years older than the minors with whom they are working.
Why Bother?
Many camps have invested a lot of time and effort recently in developing CIT programs that really cultivate the next generation of camp staff members. They teach management and leadership lessons and often provide useful training and certification in, for instance, first aid, lifeguarding, group leadership, time management, and a variety of outdoor safety skills. CIT programs can lead to leadership opportunities at school, in extracurricular activities, and at future jobs. Camps seeking staff tend to favor the former CIT, understanding that they have formal training in camp, an understanding of their particular camp, and developing leadership skills.
ACA New England is surveying our camps this fall to find out how their CIT programs have evolved over the past few years; we will update our information on this page when we've analyzed that data. You may also be interested in reading our interview with Dr. Chris Thurber on campers as leaders.
To search for CIT programs at camps in New England, use our searchable database. Under 'activities,' choose 'Counselor-in-Training (CIT)' to narrow your search.