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Counselors-in-Training

Age 17

Do You Want to Be A Counselor?

Are you mature? Do you think you are ready to cross the line from being a camper, whose primary goal is having a great time, to being the counselor whose role is to help others have a great time?

The Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Program at Adirondack Camp provides participants with leadership, apprenticeship, and service opportunities to further their growth in their self-awareness and interpersonal skills.

To become a CIT (Counselor-In-Training) you must be 17 years old at the start of Camp. With a limited number of CIT positions, they fill up quickly after the summer. While exceptions can be made, the CIT program is open almost exclusively to former campers.

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As a CIT you must understand:

  • This is a job, and it’s hard work
  • It isn’t always fun, but it is rewarding
  • We don’t expect you to know how to do everything, but you must be willing to learn
  • We know you’re going to make mistakes, and that’s OK
  • While you’re busy supporting others, we’ll be busy supporting you
  • Being a CIT is an extension of being a Ranger, but with full immersion in our advanced leadership program that stresses teaching, coaching, and mentoring younger campers.

CITs will:

  • Live in a cabin with campers and serve as role models
  • Assist counselors in teaching specific activities
  • Attend focused workshops on elements of leadership, communication, and best practices for working with children
  • Receive specific weekly written feedback
  • Help Camp leadership with Blue/White games, Awiskini ceremonies, and Parents’ Visit
  • Plan and facilitate ADK events, e.g. Carnivale
  • Participate in an overnight camping trip and other team building experiences

Parent Notes

Over the course of the program, with staff mentoring, the CITs work to increase their unique skill sets in Camp activities and assist in activity instruction. They benefit from exposure to a range of different activities, teaching styles, and best-practice approaches to imparting activity-specific instruction.

The purpose of the CIT Program is not only to build camp counseling skills for CITs who hope to be future ADK staff members, but also to help these teens build real-world life skills that will enable them to be successful leaders and contributors to society at ADK and beyond.

CITs who complete the program are eligible to apply for Camp counseling positions the following summer at age 18, however, participation in the CIT Program does not guarantee employment.

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