The Hermann Sons Life Counselor in Training (CIT) program is a leadership program designed to offer educational opportunities to past campers aged 15 and 16 whose goal is to become a camp counselor.
At Hermann Sons Life Camp we believe it is very important for us to grow our own staff and we’d like to invite you to join our program. There is nothing better than to have a camper move up through the ranks to become a counselor or even a future camp director!
Why be a Counselor in Training?
• Gain a behind-the-scenes experience of the camp community.
• Establish job and character references.
• Develop new skills.
• Challenge yourself in regard to personal growth and expanded self-esteem through leadership opportunities.
• Gain the ability/skills needed to work with children in a camp community, after school program or any youth program.
• Earn community service hours.
• Have fun helping kids.
• Learn to work as team.
As a CIT camper, and as a potential staff member, you will be peeking behind the scenes of what makes the camp tick. You will begin to see camp through the eyes of a staff member. Being a staff member at camp is an incredibly fun summer job. It is, however, hard work. It is a job. The needs and wants of the campers are always paramount in our actions. This program focuses on making sure that you, as a CIT candidate, are a match to be a camp counselor. It is just as important for you to determine if being a counselor at Hermann Sons Life is a fit for you. If you accept the responsibility of being a CIT and fully immerse yourself into the program, I think you’ll realize that being a camp counselor provides for so much personal growth and is so much more rewarding than even being a camper!
HOW TO BECOME A CIT-1
The FIRST STEP on the road to becoming a CIT-1 is for the APPLICANT to complete the application on the bottom of this website page. The application is for past Hermann Sons Life campers ages 15 (as of Sept. 1, 2024) who wish to be considered for the first level of the CIT Program.
The SECOND STEP will be an interview with the Executive Camp Director. Approximately 150 candidates are expected to interview for the limited availability. Once we have received your application, the Executive Camp Director will email you to schedule an online interview.
– Be sure to request an interview time slot as soon as possible since so many interviews must be coordinated to occur in a short amount of time. For your convenience, the interviews will be scheduled predominantly via Skype, FaceTime or Google Meet/Chat.
https://calendly.com/ianbrassett/hermann-sons-life-interview
Interviews WILL NOT be conducted after Jan. 31, 2024.
The THIRD STEP is to get three (non-family member) references. This can be teachers, coaches, clergy, etc. You can simply have them do it online, the link is below. The deadline for references is March 1, 2024. Please make sure they list you as the applicant! Letters of recommendation can also be mailed to Camp. Please do not send the same reference in multiple ways. If mailed to camp, please send to: Hermann Sons Life Camp - CIT Program Admissions, P.O. Box 629, Comfort, TX 78013
– To submit references online, click HERE
In the FOURTH STEP, successful applicants will be invited to enroll in the CIT Program in early February.
– Spaces for successful CIT-1s will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
– The cost of the CIT program is $225/week. (Includes a non-refundable $20 camp store voucher).
The weeks tentatively allocated for CIT-1s in 2024 are:
RIVERSIDE
Session #3: June 23 – June 29
Session #5: July 14 – July 20
Session #6: July 21 – July 27
HILLTOP
Session #4: July 7 – July 13
Session #5: July 14 – July 20
Session #6: July 21 – July 27
PROGRAM OUTLINE
CIT-1 "Leadership"
Sunday – Your Value as a CIT-1; Arrival Day - Greeting the Campers; Setting expectations for the Week.
Monday – Communication (Focus and Listening); Decision Making & Self Esteem; Risk Management (observation); GAME NIGHT
Tuesday – Identifying Camper Behavior (homesickness); Age Characteristics at Camp; Line Dancing and Camp Songs with RS & HT CITs; Social Media and Social between RS and HT CITs
Wednesday – Human Diversity - The changing world we live in! Bullying. 1.0 Dinner meeting with the Executive Camp Director; Camp Dance
Thursday – History of Hermann Sons Life & Camp; Jobs and their role in the operation of camp! Motivation of the Camp Program;
FRIDAY FUNDAY – Bragging Rights; Water Balloon Fight; Evaluations; CIT Nightly Activity
For questions, email Executive Camp Director Ian Brassett: ianb@hermannsonslife.org
COUNSELOR in TRAINING JOB DESCRIPTION, click HERE
FILL OUT THE APPLICATION BELOW: