CIT: Counselors in Training

Step up with an idea and see it’s lasting impact on our program and campers.

CITs are encouraged to share their ideas – either to help solve a problem or just to help make more magic for our campers.

Our camp strives to be a place where campers can be themselves, away from the pressures of everyday life. This is reflected in a large number of campers returning year after year.

Camp is the ultimate safe space – come as you are, learn as you go, and use your powers for good.

Each CIT is assigned to a group of campers for the week so you can get to know them, as we as the other Counselors, and learn to work together as a team. By the end of the week, your tight knit group will have made friends that last throughout the summer and into the next as many campers and CITs return year after year.

CITs are often called to help with All-Camp activities and Quests.

• Learn the rules ahead of time
• Play a role w/ or w/o costumes
• Set up props, hide clues
• Surprise campers

Overall, the role of a CIT is to proactively help the younger campers be successful with scheduled activities – games, crafts, stories, and puzzles.

Sometimes campers feel unsure or even scared to try something new. Sometimes they get very frustrated when they can’t get the project to work. CITs can step in here and reassure them that we are all learning and that is totally ok.  With a few kind words and some hands-on support, those campers walk away feeling confident. The camper will take those positive feelings with them through the rest of the week and beyond camp. Kindness matters!

All CITs attend a training session before camp starts.  This allows you to get to know us, our camp, and learn new skills that camp counselors use every day with the intention that when they turn 16, they will have gained enough experience to be paid employees at SQDC.

• How to teach a game effectively
• Behavior management,
• What to do in an emergency
• and more

CITs straddle the line between campers and paid counselors, which is reflected in our discounted tuition.

Not every teenager gets excited about IRL Mario Kart game or wearing a Pokémon costume to the final battle. We totally get it, but rest assured that these things and more are par for the course at SQDC. From the owners, down to the littlest camper, we come together every summer to geek out on whatever fandoms we love.

Do you have to know everything about Mario or Percy Jackson to enjoy?
Absolutely not! Each week is based around one of these fandoms, but in the end, it’s all just treasure hunts, games, and adventurous fun that anyone could enjoy.

With the Camp Owners on site every day, CITs will get a look at what it takes to runs a summer camp and bring to life all the fund our campers enjoy every day.

Make no mistake about it – it can be hard work – but it is also some of the most fulfilling work we have done.

Not all teens are interested in (or capable of) being a CIT. If your teen isn’t interested in being a camp counselor in the future, but is interested in our camp, reach out and let us know about your situation.

At this time, we are unable to provide a true teen camper program, but we hope to in the future!