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Developing a Counselor-in-Training Program for Camps provides a practical and comprehensive training curriculum for CITs, new counselors, or returning staff. The book includes 28 successful programs that are organized, complete, and easy to adapt to almost any camp environment. It is structured in a way that allows the counselor-in-training director to use these ready-made programs, or create his own programs.

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Developing a Counselor-in-Training Program for Camps

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Developing a Counselor-in-Training Program for Camps provides a practical and comprehensive training curriculum for CITs, new counselors, or returning staff. The book includes 28 successful programs that are organized, complete, and easy to adapt to almost any camp environment. It is structured i...

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100 Outstanding Summer Camp Program Ideas https://a.co/d/0fkmGjlm

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100 Outstanding Summer Camp Program Ideas

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Amazon.com: 100 Outstanding Summer Camp Program Ideas: 9780692495971: Jackson, Curt “Moose”: Books

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Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know

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Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know

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An essential guide for young aspiring leaders, detailing core concepts in leadership that can be applied in a camp setting.

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Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know

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Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know [Maxwell, John C., Runnette, Sean] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know

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A teen-friendly version of Stephen Covey's classic, focusing on habits that can help teenagers become more effective leaders.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls

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How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls

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This adaptation of Dale Carnegie's timeless book focuses on the challenges faced by teenage girls and how to build strong, positive relationships.

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Donna Dale Carnegie, daughter of the late motivational author and teacher Dale Carnegie, brings her father's time-tested, invaluable lessons to the newest generation of young women on their way to becoming savvy, self-assured friends and leaders. offers concrete advice on teen topics such as peer pressure, gossip, and popularity. Teen girls will learn the most powerful ways to influence others, defuse arguments, admit mistakes, and make self-defining choices. The Carnegie techniques promote clear and constructive communication, praise rather than criticism, emotional sensitivity, tolerance, and a positive attitude-important skills for every girl to develop at an early age. Of course, no book for teen girls would be complete without taking a look at how to maintain friendships with boys and deal with commitment issues and break-ups with boyfriends. Carnegie also provides solid advice for older teens beginning to explore their influence in the adult world, such as driving and handling college interviews.

How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls

Full of fun quizzes, "reality check" sections, and true-life examples, How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls offers every teenage girl candid, insightful, and timely advice on how to influence friends in a positive manner.

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How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls

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How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls [Carnegie, Donna Dale] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls

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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

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A guide to master the art of having difficult but essential conversations, specially tailored for young leaders.

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Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler

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crucial conversations: tools for talking when stakes are high

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business & economics / business communication / general

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business & economics / business communication / general

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family & relationships / interpersonal relations

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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

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Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High [Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Stephen R. Covey] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

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Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication

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Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication

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Teaches the fundamentals of nonviolent communication, which can aid young counselors in developing empathy and active listening skills.

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say what you mean: a mindful approach to nonviolent communication

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mind & spirit / mindfulness & meditation

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family & relationships / conflict resolution

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relationships and families: advice and issues

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self-help / communication & social skills

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personal development and practical advice

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somatic; insight meditation; meditation; attention; intention; awareness; diplomacy; empathy; compassion; mindfulness; dialog; communication; nvc; nonviolent communication; compassionate communication; insight dialogue; mindfully; mindful; presence; connection; relationship; dialogue; spirituality; marshall rosenberg; counseling; peace; mediation; conflict resolution; psychology; self help; buddhism; happiness; mental health; healing; zen; relationships; motivation; communication skills; social; social skills; confidence; anger

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mind & spirit / mindfulness & meditation

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family & relationships / conflict resolution

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self-help / communication & social skills

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relationships and families: advice and issues

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personal development and practical advice

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Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication

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Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication [Sofer, Oren Jay, Goldstein, Joseph] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication

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Social Skills Activities for Kids: 50 Fun Exercises for Making Friends, Talking and Listening, and Understanding Social Rules

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Social Skills Activities for Kids: 50 Fun Exercises for Making Friends, Talking and Listening, and Understanding Social Rules

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Engaging activities designed to help young teens improve their social skills, essential for their role as counselors.

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What are the Dos and Don'ts for making and keeping friends? How can you decode body language clues? What's the best way to keep a conversation going? Just like learning multiplication tables, social skills don't come naturally―everyone has to learn them.

This kids' workbook makes mastering social skills accessible for kids with 50 awesome activities. Give children the confidence to successfully navigate social situations at home, school, and the world in between.

Perfect as a summer workbook to practice new skills between school years, this guide includes:

Life lessons ―From learning about compromise to practicing good table manners, these activities help kids develop and use essential people skills.

50 interactive activities ―Games, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and reflective prompts keep kids learning and engaged in a variety of ways.

Real scenarios ―Kids will explore important topics like bullying, using social media, setting and respecting boundaries, and more.

Give kids the courage to be their best selves with this social skills book for kids!

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Social Skills Activities for Kids: 50 Fun Exercises for Making Friends, Talking and Listening, and Understanding Social Rules

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Social Skills Activities for Kids: 50 Fun Exercises for Making Friends, Talking and Listening, and Understanding Social Rules [Natasha Daniels] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Social Skills Activities for Kids: 50 Fun Exercises for Making Friends, Talking and Listening, and Understanding Social Rules

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The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict

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The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict

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Provides valuable tools and models to help young leaders effectively manage and resolve conflicts at camp.

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In real-life conflict resolution situations, one size does not fit all. Just as a mechanic does not fix every car with the same tool, the conflict resolution practitioner cannot hope to resolve every dispute using the same technique.

Practitioners need to be comfortable with a wide variety of tools to diagnose different problems, in vastly different circumstances, with different people, and resolve these conflicts effectively. The Conflict Resolution Toolbox gives you all the tools you need: eight different models for dealing with the many conflict situations you encounter in your practice.

This book bridges the gap between theory and practice and goes beyond just one single model to present a complete toolbox - a range of models that can be used to analyze, diagnose, and resolve conflict in any situation. It shows mediators, negotiators, managers, and anyone needing to resolve conflict how to simply and effectively understand and assess the situations of conflict they face. And it goes a step further, offering specific, practical guidance on how to intervene to resolve the conflict successfully.

Each model provides a different and potentially useful angle on the problem, and includes worksheets and a step-by-step process to guide the reader in applying the tools.

Offers eight models to help you understand the root causes of any conflict.

Explains each model's focus, what kind of situations it can be useful in and, most importantly, what interventions are likely to help.

Provides you with clear direction on what specific actions to choose to resolve a particular type of conflict effectively.

Features a detailed case study throughout the book, to which each model is applied.

Additional examples and case studies unique to each chapter give the reader a further chance to see the models in action.

Includes practical tools and worksheets that you can use in working with these models in your practice.

The Conflict Resolution Toolbox equips any practitioner to resolve a wide range of conflicts. Mediators, negotiators, lawyers, managers and supervisors, insurance adjusters, social workers, human resource and labour relations specialists, and others will have all the tools they need for successful conflict resolution.

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The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models & Maps for Analyzing Diagnosing and Resolving Conflict

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Amazon.com: The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models & Maps for Analyzing Diagnosing and Resolving Conflict: 9780470835173: Furlong, Gary T.: Books

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A simple, kid-friendly book that emphasizes the importance of kind and constructive communication, perfect for younger teens.

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Words Are Not for Hurting By Elizabeth Verdick | Kids Book Read Aloud

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Colorful illustrations and simple text teach the importance of peace in everyday interactions, useful for promoting a positive camp environment.

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Peace is making new friends.Peace is helping your neighbor.Peace is a growing a garden.Peace is being who you are.The Peace Book delivers positive and hopeful messages of peace in an accessible, child-friendly format featuring Todd Parr's trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes. Perfect fo...

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This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work

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This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work

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A comprehensive guide for teens to understand and combat racism, fostering an inclusive environment at camp.

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Review

“A book that brings together kids, families, teachers, and administrators in conversation. Tough, vulnerable, important conversation.” ―Matthew Winner, The Children's Book Podcast
"STARRED REVIEW: A guidebook for taking action against racism. The clear title and bold, colorful illustrations will immediately draw attention to this book, designed to guide each reader on a personal journey to work to dismantle racism. In the author's note, Jewell begins with explanations about word choice, including the use of the terms "folx," because it is gender-neutral, and "global majority," noting that marginalized communities of color are actually the majority in the world. She also chooses to capitalize Black, Brown, and Indigenous as a way of centering these communities' voices. Organized in four sections—identity, history, taking action, and working in solidarity—each chapter builds on the lessons of the previous section. Underlined words are defined in the glossary, but Jewell unpacks concepts around race in an accessible way, bringing attention to common misunderstandings. Activities are included at the end of each chapter; they are effective, prompting both self-reflection and action steps from readers. The activities are designed to not be written inside the actual book; instead, Jewell invites readers to find a special notebook and favorite pen and use that throughout. Combining the disruption of common fallacies, spotlights on change-makers, the author's personal reflections, and a call to action, this powerful book has something for all young people no matter what stage they are at in terms of awareness or activism. Essential. (author's note, further reading, glossary, select bibliography)―
Kirkus Reviews
“WOW. Have you ever wanted to better understand who you are? What’s happening to us in this racially-divided world, and what we can do about it?
This Book Is Anti-Racist is bold in its honesty, and brilliant in its illustrative breakdown of an essential vocabulary on race and identity. This racial and intersectional literacy tool models what creative anti-racist work can look like. It has renewed us to keep up the fight.”―Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi, student activists, authors of Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture, and Identity, and co-founders of Choose.org
“I was so fortunate to have my kids learn about social justice in Tiffany’s classroom, so I know firsthand the profound impact her teachings have. Now young people everywhere can benefit from Tiffany’s wisdom with her debut title,
This Book is Anti-Racist. This book is a gift to our future.”―Jarrett J. Krosoczka, National Book Award Finalist and author of Hey Kiddo
"STARRED REVIEW: Using clear, compelling language, Jewell employs four sections to deftly explain progressive understandings of identity, history, action, and solidarity as tools to encourage antiracist reflection, thought, and action. From the author’s note introducing the idea that “racism is a problem, a very serious problem,” to the volume’s explorations of “spending that privilege” and “calling out and calling in,” Jewell offers readers at various points in their activist journeys a necessary primer on antiracist thinking (a glossary helpfully defines underlined terms used throughout, including cisgender, neurodiverse, and femme). Thoughtful, energizing calls to action and journal prompts encourage readers to check in with themselves and to “grow from our discomfort.” Durand’s stylish illustrations punctuate the text-heavy pages; robust supplemental materials, including notes on the text and suggested reading, point toward ongoing learning."―
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“…help[s] young people learn in a gentle, thoughtful way.”―
USA Today
“…equip[s] young people with the tools they need to be actively antiracist.”―
TIME Magazine
“…empower[s] teens and young adults to undo racial oppression.”―
ESSENCE
“…a clear guidebook for how to stop racism in our own hearts and minds.”―
TODAY.com
“Writer and educator Jewell successfully combines personal experience and social and historical issues in this colorful and informative guidebook. Each chapter contains exercises to help readers conceive of their own identities, recognize how society allocates power to certain people, and learn how individuals can stand up to injustice while keeping themselves safe from harm. Durand’s vivid, dynamic illustrations are as crucial to the book as the text itself. Though the formatting, which involves pull quotes, font changes, shifting columns, and other graphic elements, may be confusing to some young readers, the information is written clearly and thoughtfully. Concepts like institutional racism and internalized inferiority are relayed in concise language without talking down to the audience. Several terms are underlined and defined in the glossary. Footnotes and a bibliography also appear in the back matter. A further reading list includes a mix of adult, teen, and children’s materials. The work will particularly resonate with fans of Anastasia Higginbotham’s Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness. VERDICT A visually exciting and well-crafted antiracist guide for all children. A work that fills a much-needed gap between the feel-good but vague messages of empathy and acceptance in some picture books, and the advanced terminology and theory in young adult nonfiction on racial justice. Recommended for any juvenile nonfiction collection.”―
School Library Journal, Starred Review

About the Author

Tiffany Jewell is a Black biracial writer and Montessori educator. She spends her time baking bread, building LEGOS, watching British detective shows, and dreaming up how she can dismantle white supremacy. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her two sons, her husband, and a turtle she's had since she was nine. This is her first book for children and young adults. Find her on instagram: @tiffanymjewell
Aurélia Durand is a French illustrator based in Paris. Her work is dedicated to representing people of color in society, and she uses bold art as a vivid demonstration. "I use vibrant colors and joyful music to spread good vibes to talk about diversity and open a conversation about why it matters to include more color in our society." She wants to create more nuanced illustrative stories by portraying women of color standing proudly and fiercely. Her work has been featured in advertising campaigns, galleries, and editorial magazines. Her clients include Apple, Refinery29, and Tinder. She shares her work online on different platforms, mainly Instagram, where she posts daily illustrations, live paintings, and animations. Find her on Instagram: @4ur3lia.

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This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work (Empower the Future, 1)

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This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work (Empower the Future, 1): Jewell, Tiffany, Durand, Aurelia: 9780711245211: Books

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We Are All Different: A Celebration of Diversity

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We Are All Different: A Celebration of Diversity

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Teaches young readers to appreciate and celebrate diversity, helping to create an accepting and inclusive camp atmosphere.

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There are BILLIONS of wonderful ways to be human―as many ways as there are people on planet Earth. We Are All Different

Vibrant and diverse, We Are All Different is both a beautiful gift book and a highly accessible home reference. It reinforces that everyone has something to offer, that diversity enriches our lives, and it also considers what all human beings have in common―that there is more that unites us than divides us.

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We Are All Different: A Celebration of Diversity!

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We Are All Different: A Celebration of Diversity! [Turner, Tracey, Gilland, Åsa] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. We Are All Different: A Celebration of Diversity!

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A heartwarming story that emphasizes inclusivity and making everyone feel welcome, aligning with the goals of a diverse camp environment.

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Suzanne Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of All Are Welcome. She is the recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Mentorship and Portfolio Honors.

Her books have been awarded Washington State Book Award, Bank Street College Education Best Children's Books of the Year Honors, Notable Books for a Global Society, Mathical Honor Award, Bologna Children's Book Fair Spectator Child Exhibition and Amazon Best Children Book of the Year. Her books include her own book Confiscated and illustrated work: Big Feelings, Take Your Pets to School Day, 100 Bugs, Naughty Claudine Christmas, and Samanthasaurus Rex.

Over the years, she's done everything from animating special effects for Universal and Discovery, animation lead on games that were awarded the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences "Innovation in Art Direction", "Innovation in Animation" and "Children's Title of the Year". She has lectured about illustration and animation around the US, England, Japan and Peru. When not tramping through the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, you will find her working in her studio. She lives on Beacon Hill in South Seattle with her husband and two creative daughters of her own. Visit her at www.suzannekaufman.com.

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All Are Welcome [Penfold, Alexandra, Kaufman, Suzanne] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. All Are Welcome

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CIT stands for counselor in training and is typically a program for high school students to volunteer within your camp program. If the program is set up properly, it will provide students on the job training to assist your paid counselors in hopes they become counselors down the road.

A CIT program can not only help current staffing needs by having extra hands on deck, it's also a feeder program to provide a pipeline of quality paid counselors who will already have training and experience. Here are some guidelines to start your CIT program.

Plan and Outline Your Proposed Program

When starting, put together the outline and materials that will guide your program. Like your staffing plan, you want to have a plan to recruit, train, manage and retain your CIT's. Here are some things to include in your program outline:

A volunteer job description. Set clear expectations for your CITs and treat them like staff.

Outline program benefits that you can market to potential CITs.

Create marketing material for recruiting CITs. You want to market your program as on-the-job training that could lead to employment. Make sure your potential CITs see the value of joining and don't think of it as just working for free.

Create a timeline on how you envision the volunteers come through your program. This would be from the time they are recruited to when they complete the program. You want to make sure you are prepared for the commitment it takes to manage your program.

Have an application for students to fill out and apply.

Partner with Local High Schools

The best thing you can do to get your CIT program started is to partner with all your local high schools. Get the principal and guidance counselor on board with the value your program will bring their students so they can help you promote it and recruit.

Many high school programs and clubs will also have mandatory volunteer hour requirements. If students know they can get their required hours in your CIT program, it provides a fun way to do so and will gain attention. Partnering with schools is key in making sure students get this information.

Set Clear Expectations

When your CIT program starts to gain traction, it's important to set expectations before they officially join. If you fail to set expectations prior to getting started, you may see students start to drop out, which is the last thing you want. Here are a few things you can do to make sure they know what there're committing to.

Have time commitments and availability as part of your application process. It's ideal to find students who can commit for the entire program, but chances are they will tell you which weeks of camp they can work. Schedule them accordingly. If they cannot work the entire program, you can set minimum requirements.

Do an orientation with their parents in attendance. This should be the only time you want their parents involved, but it's a good idea to make sure they know what is required as well. If something does come up, they are the ones who will hold the student accountable. After orientation, there is no need to have their parents involved once they join the program.

Review the counselor handbook with them. You will treat them the same as staff within your CIT program so go over some main points in your handbook and make sure they are aware of what they can and cannot do as part of your program prior to joining.

Training and Development

The most important part of your CIT program is the training and development of your volunteers preparing to be future staff. Having untrained volunteers in the field can become as much of a liability as having untrained staff, so you want to put forth the effort needed to prepare them. Here are some guidelines for training your CITs:

Put them through the same training program with your paid staff.

Add training with just the CITs to get them acclimated to your program and review expectations before you get them started.

Use ice breakers and teambuilding to get them out of their shell and working together.

Train your counselors on how to get the most out of the CITs they work with and what tasks are appropriate to take on. If your counselors are not utilizing the skills of the CIT they are working with, you may end up with a disconnected volunteer who is more likely to drop out.

Managing Your CITs

Once camp starts, you will begin to manage your CITs the same way as your staff and treat them as assistant camp counselors. Here are some guidelines to manage your CITs:

Be as flexible as you can with scheduling and only schedule them based on their availability that meets your minimum requirements. Schedule out the entire camp and once they receive and confirm their schedule, make them responsible for filling a shift if something comes up.

Make sure your CITs are given some responsibilities within their groups. They shouldn't just do all the dirty work or things their counselors don't want to do. Give them the opportunity to coordinate activities and other camp things just as counselors would.

Don't leave your CITs in charge of groups on their own. They should be paired with paid staff to assist them where needed.

Keep parents informed if disciplinary action is needed or if the student is not meeting expectations. The last thing you want is a CIT who has to be supervised like a camper. If that's the case and improvement is not made, remove them.

Give recognition after they complete the program. Make sure to keep in touch with those who advance to a paid staff member and have a way to facilitate that transition. Those not ready can continue in the CIT program until they can become a staff member.

Planning, creating partnerships, training and managing your CIT program can provide your camp with a consistent flow of quality staffing resources. Combat any shortfalls you may have with staffing with a well-run and organized CIT program that will take your camp to the next level.

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CIT stands for counselor in training and is typically a program for high school students to volunteer within your camp

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A counselor-in-training program at summer camp, also known as CIT, valuable component of any summer camp. Not only do they offer young people an opportunity to develop leadership skills and gain experience in a camp environment, but they can also help to build a strong staff team in the future. While most companies have a clear delineation of those they serve and the staff that supports them, camps have to be intentional about how they bridge the gap between camper and counselor.

Marty Ferguson, a Sales Manager at Campminder, spent two years running the training program at YMCA Camp Chief Ouray, and then worked there for 11 years as Camp Director. Here are his suggestions for important elements and strategies to include in your CIT program.

Create Time for Bonding

One key element to a successful CIT program at summer camp is providing opportunities for the group to bond with each other. CITs are typically between the ages of 15 and 17 and are in a transitional stage of their lives. They are trying to figure out what kind of adult they want to be and may be torn between the fun of being a camper and the responsibility of being a counselor. Marty explains that a successful CIT program should give them a taste of both worlds, allowing them to have some camper experiences while also introducing them to the responsibilities of a counselor.

Creating bonding opportunities is an important part of achieving this balance. In Marty's case, he took his CIT group to Rocky Mountain National Park for four days. This gave them a chance to get away from the distractions of camp and have meaningful conversations in a beautiful location.

When they returned to camp, the CITs were sent to learn how to teach different activities. They often said that they missed the times when they were together as a group, which was a teachable moment in itself. As Marty explains, staff members experience the same bonding and separation during staff training, so this prepares the CITs emotionally for what it will feel like to be on staff. They need to understand that a CIT summer is not just about hanging out with friends; it's also about learning and growing.

Learn from Staff

Another valuable element of a CIT program is the opportunity to shadow staff. CITs can talk to the staff members who are leading different activities about their safety protocols, how they set things up, and other tasks that happen before the campers arrive. This gives them a better understanding of what it takes to be a counselor and helps them appreciate the effort that goes into preparing for camp.

It also gives them a chance to evaluate what they have learned as a group, discuss what went well, and identify areas for improvement. Often, CITs would say to Marty, "I've been doing archery at camp for years, but I never knew the counselors did so much to prepare."

However, it's important to ramp up responsibilities gradually. Some CITs may be overconfident and believe that their camper experiences have prepared them for a counselor role. Be intentional about how responsibilities are introduced to prevent burnout and ensure that CITs are prepared for the challenges they will face as staff members. As CITs are given more independence, it's important to bring the group back together periodically to recharge their batteries and hear what others are learning.

Plan a CIT-led activity

Marty's program at YMCA Camp Chief Ouray included one activity that was completely owned by the CITs. They planned it and ran it from start to finish, which provided them with a valuable leadership opportunity. It was also something they would remember and talk about for years to come. By giving CITs ownership over an activity, camp leaders can help them develop their leadership skills and gain confidence.

Encourage Evaluation in your Counselor-in-Training Program

Another important element of a counselor-in-training program at summer camp is to encourage evaluation and feedback. After shadowing staff members or helping with activities, CITs should have the opportunity to evaluate what went well and what could be improved. This allows them to learn from their experiences and make adjustments as needed. It also helps them develop critical thinking skills that will be valuable in future leadership roles.

Set Clear Boundaries

Marty emphasizes that it's essential to be clear about boundaries from day one. While some CITs may be eager to step into the staff world, staff members should be firm about what is and isn't allowed. During staff training, Marty ran a specific session with staff to ensure that everyone was on the same page about what is expected of CITs and how to appropriately interact with them.

Include Skills that Go Beyond Camp

Ultimately, the more valuable you make the CIT experience, the more likely they are to come back as staff members. However, it is important to balance this goal with an understanding that the counselor-in-training program at summer camp should not simply be a means to fill staff roles in future years. Marty recommends focusing on skills that are not specific to camp but are instead geared toward the developmental age of the CITs.

The Right Combination

A successful CIT program requires a combination of bonding opportunities, unique camp activities, a ramp-up to responsibilities, ownership over a specific activity, clarity about boundaries, and a focus on the developmental needs of the participants. By implementing these strategies, you can create a CIT program that benefits both the CITs and the camp as a whole. Whatever it is at your camp that connects with your mission or culture, give the CITs a way to feel that they are lucky to be there and that you are lucky to have them.

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Build a Strong Counselor-In-Training Program at Summer Camp

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Discover the transformative power of a summer camp Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program and bridge the gap between camper and counselor.

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The Ultimate Camp Counselor Manual: (How To Survive And Succeed Magnificently At Summer Camp) https://a.co/d/01TwmAYl

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The Ultimate Camp Counselor Manual: (How To Survive And Succeed Magnificently At Summer Camp) [Richman, Mark] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Ultimate Camp Counselor Manual: (How To Survive And Succeed Magnificently At Summer Camp)

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The 175 Best Camp Games: A Handbook for Leaders https://a.co/d/06ycy2Gs

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Camp games are meant to be fun. Here are the very best camp-tested games for boys and girls aged 4 to 16, with easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations. The Frasers include indoor and outdoor games for both small and large groups, with some old favorites and lots of new, soon-to-be favorites.

The 175 Best Camp Games also includes advice on:

This practical guide is easy to use, and the more than 175 games are divided into five chapters:

Break the Ice (Name Dropping, Life Raft)

Taking It Easy (Speed Rabbit, Electricity)

Getting Them Moving (Soh Koh No, Kitty Wants a Corner)

Running Them Ragged (Pairs Tag, Fox in the Henhouse)

Wet and Wild (Battleship, Sharks and Mermaids).

Though written with camp leaders in mind, this book will appeal to youth activity directors, counselors, counselors-in-training, coaches, scout leaders, parents, teachers and any other adult looking for creative group activities for youth that include all participants and require little or no special equipment.

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The 175 Best Camp Games: A Handbook for Leaders

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The 175 Best Camp Games: A Handbook for Leaders [Fraser, Kathleen, Fraser, Laura, Fraser, Mary, Lum, Bernice] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The 175 Best Camp Games: A Handbook for Leaders