At Hermann Sons Life Camp, we believe it is important for to grow our own staff. We invite you to join our  Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program. Our CIT program is a leadership program designed for past Hermann Sons Life campers aged 15 and 16 whose goal is to become a camp counselor.

For the summer of 2025, we will be operating a coed summer camp at the Hilltop site with three dorms allocated to females and two for the boys. During each session we will house 20 CIT females and 20 CIT males in separate dorms.

The CIT program will be very similar to previous summers.

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 regarding personal growth and increase 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 a team.

HOW TO BECOME A CIT-1

STEP ONE:

The CIT-1 APPLICANT (not the parent) is to

• DOWNLOAD the application, click here
• COMPLETE the application and
• SAVE IT AS “Last Name_First Name_ 2025 CIT application
• EMAIL the application

Please make sure you download the fillable PDF before you try to compete the form.

The CIT program is for past Hermann Sons Life campers aged 15 (as of Sept. 1, 2025) .

STEP TWO:

Interview with the Executive Camp Director. We typically receive between 90-150 candidates to interview for the limited availability. Be sure to request an interview time slot as soon as possible. For your convenience, the interviews will be scheduled via Skype, FaceTime, or Google Meet/Chat.

To schedule the interview, click here

STEP THREE:

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.

STEP FOUR:

The final step will be to provide the camp with three (non-family member) references. This can be teachers, coaches, clergy, etc. Directions for collecting references will be sent out after the CIT candidate has enrolled.

The cost of the CIT program is $320/week. (Includes a non-refundable $20 camp store voucher).

The weeks allocated for CIT-1s in 2025 are:

• Session 1: June 15 – June 21
• Session 3: July 13 – July 19
• Session 5: July 27 – August 2

COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING JOB DESCRIPTION:

A CIT is a mix of camper – counselor. We set higher expectations for our CIT-campers. Junior members look up to their CITs and pattern their attitudes and behaviors accordingly. Please read the CIT Job Description provided below.

As a CIT Camper and potential staff member, you will be peeking behind the scenes at 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. The needs and wants of the campers are always paramount.

This program focuses on making sure you are a good candidate to be a camp counselor. It is also important for you to determine if being a  Hermann Sons Life Camp counselor is a good fit for you. If you accept the responsibility of being a CIT and fully immerse yourself into the program, you will find working as a camp counselor provides for personal growth and is very rewarding.