counselor in training job description

Counselor-In-Training (CIT)

Counselor-In- Training programs should be geared to training young people for a staff role in a day or resident camp. Each CIT should become familiar with the roles played by a counselor in the day-to-day living situation at camp. If the aims and objectives of the program are to be met, it is important to use as many learning situations as possible with the young people involved. CITs who assume responsibility for the day-to-day care of their own area and the governance and behavior of their CIT group are practicing skills necessary for successful leadership.

Who Are They?
CITs may be entering their junior or senior year in high school and they are the type of young people you would want as staff in the future. They may currently be campers who you see as having the potential to be leaders.

What Do You Do With Them?

	Teach them activity skills
	Involve them in camp seminars
	Involve them in camp work programs
	Involve them in camp service programs
	Involve them in their own group activities
	Involve them with campers in skills and in cabin (or group) activities

How Do They Live in a Resident Camp?

With each other in a designated area
In cabins with campers, spread throughout the camper age groupings

How Can They Function in a Day Camp?

With each other in a designated group
With campers, assigned to a group or activity

What Programs Might They Have?

	Overnights and backpacking trips
	Trips to visit camps
	In and out-of-camp community projects
	Resident camp -days off away from or in camp
	An evening out -dinner and a movie; a cultural event

What Responsibilities Might They Have?

	Their cabin (group) and areas
	Their behavior
	The group's behavior (on a rotating basis)
	Evening or special programs for the entire camp, a unit program, or for their own program

How Do You Find CITs
The easiest way to find CITs is to use the resources you may already have in place.

	Camp brochures and applications
	Word-of-mouth
	Former campers
	Staff recommendations
	Reunions, general recruitment methods (same as for camper recruitment)
	On-going programs -YMCA, YWCA, Girl Scouts of America, church, etc.
	Board, committee, staff members' children
	Campers who are not old enough to be staff members but do not want to be campers again

Source: It's My Job: Job Descriptions for Over 30 Camp Jobs. Edie Klein, CCD. 1992. Martinsville, IN. American Camping Association. 765-342-8456. Reprinted by permission of the publisher

Counselor-In-Training (CIT)

[return to chapter 5 lesson] [Class]