Each year we welcome a group of Counselors-in-Training (CITs) to RAW Camp. After attending the Teen Adventure and Leadership Camp, selected CITs are able to return to any camp throughout the summer for free, in exchange for a little help. CITs must be between the ages of 13-17, enjoy being outdoors, and have an interest in working with children.

there is a 4 step process to becoming a cit:

1. Sign up for the Teen Adventure and Leadership Camp

2. Read the below overview, and reach out if you have any questions

3. Fill out the application during the Teen Adventure Week of Camp

4. Come to the Adventure Camp and practice your leadership skills, showing us why you want to be a CIT

CIT Program Overview

Goals and objectives:

• CITs will be trained in empathic listening techniques, team building, and communication

• CITs will shadow a counselor to learn how an activity is run

• CITs will write out 1 activity plan to be reviewed by the director

• CITs will lead an activity for other campers as an individual or a small group

How does the selection process work?

• A CIT Application will be filled out by the camper, prior to, or during the Teen Adventure and Leadership Camp. The online application will include open-ended questions such as:

  • Why do they want to be a CIT?

  • What would they like to learn from being a CIT?

  • When have they demonstrated responsibility in their lives?

  • What does being a leader mean to them?

  • When have they demonstrated leadership in their lives?

  • Staff will observe and monitor applicants throughout the week to take note of communication, leadership, and collaboration skills. 

  • Applicants will be notified of our decision after the camp, by Saturday, June 7th

Who will determine selection?

• A team of Counselors and the Program Director will determine who is selected. We will reach out to the candidate via their preferred method of communication (text, email, call).

How many CITs will be selected?

• We welcome our CITs to the camps they wish to help with, so long as the grouping does not become a hindrance to the overall experience of camp. 

• Due to the large volume of interest in CITs, we may need to cap the number of CITs per camp to accommodate the needs of everyone involved 

What is the cost of the CIT Program?

• CITs will be expected to attend the Teen Adventure and Leadership Camp ($350), and will then be welcomed to return to additional camps of their choosing for FREE, with the exception of the following field trip expenses:

  • Horseback Adventure: $30

  • Splashdown: $5

  • Bouldering Adventure: $10

• We will try our best to make space for CITs to attend field trips of their choosing; however, we are a VERY large group and some facilities we will visit have a limited # of spaces available. 

Are CITs still campers?

• As minors on camp, CITs are still campers, despite the added responsibility**. They will never be left alone to look after a full group of campers, and will still require supervision of staff. When sending CIT’s along with campers away from the main camp, there must be at least two CITs with the camper. CITs may want to join programs that younger campers are engaging in, and will be welcome to do so at the discretion of the staff. During lunch, The CIT’s are allowed an unsupervised lunch away from the campers.

• **Added responsibilities include different behavioral expectations, described below. 

Behavior Expectations

• CITs are expected to arrive at camp at the same time as campers, but report to counselors and/or the leadership team to see if they can help support any logistics/operations.

• CITs are expected to always use appropriate language, and maintain appropriate topics of conversation while at camp. Topics to avoid include:

  • Relationships

  • Illegal behaviors or substances

  • Appearance of self of others

• CITs should feel empowered to redirect conversations among campers that are inappropriate or unkind. If a CIT does not feel safe to do this themselves, they should let a counselor and/or the leadership team know.

• CITs are our first line of defense against bullying. If a CIT witnesses an interaction in which a camper “puts down” another camper, they should let a counselor and/or the leadership team know immediately.

• CITs are expected to keep their phones away while at camp, unless they are asked to use their phone or there is an emergency.

• CITs should learn to develop the skills of boundaries and compartmentalization over the summer; it is important to not internalize and adopt the challenges that campers and even your peers may be experiencing, but rather to find ways to support that also allow you to be healthy and happy.

Behavior Policy

• Discipline structure: 

  • Verbal warning/check-in: A member of the Leadership Team would pull aside a CIT if they have witnessed or heard of any behaviors that contradict the expectations and responsibilities laid out here. This is an informal check-in in which the CIT will be warned that if behaviors continue a formal behavior plan will follow.

  • Formal behavior plan: Depending on the behaviors, the CIT will work with a member of the Leadership Team to develop a plan for how to continue to develop in this area, which will likely include increased supervision. Any deviation from the formal behavior plan will result in immediate dismissal. 

  • Dismissal

• Grounds for immediate dismissal (no warning, no behavior plan):

  • Causing direct harm whether it be physical violence, verbal abuse, or any behavior the Leadership Team determines to be grounds for dismissal.

Responsibilities

• The main responsibility of CITs is to act as a role model for campers. This means modeling positive conflict resolution, integrity, friendship, teamwork, and so on. While at camp, CITs need to practice the mindset that the campers are always listening. 

• CITs will be asked to assist with minor workloads and/or leading of activities. 

The following are NOT the responsibility of CITs:

• Major First Aid

• Conflict resolution between campers

• Strenuous labor

• Supervising a large group of campers for an extended period of time

• The health and well being of campers to your own detriment

• Communication with caregivers