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Our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs are designed for campers who are going
into the 11th or 12th grade. The basic CIT program consists of 5 training weeks (Staff
Training Week and the 1st 4 weeks of camp). If the CIT is successful in the program they may
be invited to stay for additional time (up to 5 additional weeks) during the camp season. There
is also a “mini” CIT program which consists of 3 training weeks (Staff Training Week and 2
weeks during the 3rd session) and the potential for being invited for one additional week.
Please call us for clarification of either program or if neither of these options work for you.
Depending on how well someone does in the program, there is the possibility of being hired as
a paid counselor the following summer.
CIT’s are selected based on their potential for becoming staff members in the
future. We expect a certain level of maturity, responsibility, people skills, flexibility and
helpfulness before accepting someone into the program. In certain cases we might defer
acceptance until the following year, or we might just recommend that it would be better to enroll
in the program the following year, or we might accept someone for the ‘mini’ program and not
the basic program.
CITs are trained in all areas of the camp operation; including the waterfront,
camper guidance, night programs, crafts, kitchen and dining hall, maintenance and cleaning,
sports activities, etc. If you have knowledge and skill in the riding area, you may also be
trained as assistants for horse care and/or instruction. CITs also help out with office duties,
such as horse show and bonfire planning, slideshows, taking pictures, etc.
CITs are generally given as much responsibility and opportunity as they are
capable of and are interested in. Although you have a unique role at camp, it is important
for you and your parents to understand that in many cases we treat you just as staff. We
expect high standards of behavior and dedication, and hope to aid you in developing
responsibility and other life and work skills such as communication skills, problem-solving
ability, etc.
The CIT program is not for everyone, and it's totally different from being a camper.
We'd like you to realize that we still accept campers going into the 11th grade. You can
postpone being a CIT for another year, or you may choose not to be a CIT at all.
The cost of the 2011 full CIT program is $4235. The cost for the “mini” program is $2295. If
you are interested in applying, please fill out the camper application and CIT application form.
Although there is no specific deadline for applying we would love to start selecting our 2011
CIT’s by December 1 so please get your application in as soon as possible. If you or your
parents have any questions, please call.
into the 11th or 12th grade. The basic CIT program consists of 5 training weeks (Staff
Training Week and the 1st 4 weeks of camp). If the CIT is successful in the program they may
be invited to stay for additional time (up to 5 additional weeks) during the camp season. There
is also a “mini” CIT program which consists of 3 training weeks (Staff Training Week and 2
weeks during the 3rd session) and the potential for being invited for one additional week.
Please call us for clarification of either program or if neither of these options work for you.
Depending on how well someone does in the program, there is the possibility of being hired as
a paid counselor the following summer.
CIT’s are selected based on their potential for becoming staff members in the
future. We expect a certain level of maturity, responsibility, people skills, flexibility and
helpfulness before accepting someone into the program. In certain cases we might defer
acceptance until the following year, or we might just recommend that it would be better to enroll
in the program the following year, or we might accept someone for the ‘mini’ program and not
the basic program.
CITs are trained in all areas of the camp operation; including the waterfront,
camper guidance, night programs, crafts, kitchen and dining hall, maintenance and cleaning,
sports activities, etc. If you have knowledge and skill in the riding area, you may also be
trained as assistants for horse care and/or instruction. CITs also help out with office duties,
such as horse show and bonfire planning, slideshows, taking pictures, etc.
CITs are generally given as much responsibility and opportunity as they are
capable of and are interested in. Although you have a unique role at camp, it is important
for you and your parents to understand that in many cases we treat you just as staff. We
expect high standards of behavior and dedication, and hope to aid you in developing
responsibility and other life and work skills such as communication skills, problem-solving
ability, etc.
The CIT program is not for everyone, and it's totally different from being a camper.
We'd like you to realize that we still accept campers going into the 11th grade. You can
postpone being a CIT for another year, or you may choose not to be a CIT at all.
The cost of the 2011 full CIT program is $4235. The cost for the “mini” program is $2295. If
you are interested in applying, please fill out the camper application and CIT application form.
Although there is no specific deadline for applying we would love to start selecting our 2011
CIT’s by December 1 so please get your application in as soon as possible. If you or your
parents have any questions, please call.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much riding will I get?
I would count on it averaging about 3 times a week. This may be concentrated more during
the first 4 weeks. The riding that you do may be in a camper lesson, a dedicated CIT
lesson, a staff lesson, backing a trail ride or a supper ride, leading a group swimming with
the horses, or in mock lessons taught by CITs designed to give CITs practice teaching.
Your riding time may also be increased by arranging extra lessons at the CIT rate of $20 for
semi-privates or privates at $30.
What if I can’t make it to the staff training week or another week of the program, or
I definitely don’t want to stay past the 1st 5 weeks?
Staying past the 1st five weeks of the summer are totally optional for the CIT and in fact, the
CIT has to be invited to stay for additional time. Sometimes it is beneficial to leave for a few
days to a couple of weeks and then come back. There is also some flexibility in missing part
of the first five weeks of the program. Please call and talk to us about any concerns that
you have about the schedule.
Will I get hired the following year?
That depends on how well you do in the CIT program, how well you interact with campers
and other staff, and also what area(s) of camp that you prove useful. We do not hire
anyone under 18 to be riding instructors, or archery instructors. But you may be hired to
teach barn programs or back trail rides, to work in the sports program, the arts & crafts
program, the office, the kitchen, the waterfront, or a combination of these areas. Usually,
the more skills and interests that you have, the more likely that we will hire you. It also
depends to some extent on how many other returning CITs that are interested, because we
can only hire a certain ratio of staff that are under 18. We will consider hiring both 16 and
17-year-old junior staff.
Do I get any time off?
We do not automatically schedule CITs for days off like we do for staff. However you can
request time off to be away from camp with family or friends and this does not have to be
limited to the 1 day a week off that is allotted to staff. You may also request a morning off,
occasionally, to sleep in. CIT’s can only go out with staff who are 21 years of age and
approved by our insurance company. Also, you are allowed to go off camp property with
other adults only with written permission from your parents specific to each adult but these
adults cannot be SJ staff.
In what ways will I be trained to be a counselor and to teach riding?
As in all areas of camp, you will spend some time evaluating other staff so that you will
become aware of what makes a good instructor/ counselor. You will also assist staff in all
areas and depending on your teaching and leading ability can start to take on more of the
responsibilities of leading groups and instructing. Obviously, your skills will also influence
which activities and groups that you will lead. For instance if you don’t know how to play
soccer it’s unlikely you will be able to do that activity and if you are an intermediate rider,
then you will not be assisting with advanced groups.
For the riding there is a program to broaden the knowledge that you have. The CHA
clinic is a 5 day certification program run by a national organization that our riding staff
attend prior to staff training. During the CIT program we do many of the activities of this 5
day course spread out over the course of the summer. This gives you a chance to extend
your knowledge of riding and teaching and gives you practice teaching lessons where you
are the head instructor.
Oh, then am I eligible to take the actual CHA course with the riding staff before
camp starts?
You need to be 18 in order to be certified as a Riding Instructor. If you are 16 you can be
certified as an Assistant Instructor. If you are 16 we would offer the course to you for half
price or $350. This would include books, meals, lodging, certification, and CHA
membership. It is an excellent course and would be well worth it if you are interested and
are available during the week of June 12. You could also just audit the course for $175.
I would count on it averaging about 3 times a week. This may be concentrated more during
the first 4 weeks. The riding that you do may be in a camper lesson, a dedicated CIT
lesson, a staff lesson, backing a trail ride or a supper ride, leading a group swimming with
the horses, or in mock lessons taught by CITs designed to give CITs practice teaching.
Your riding time may also be increased by arranging extra lessons at the CIT rate of $20 for
semi-privates or privates at $30.
What if I can’t make it to the staff training week or another week of the program, or
I definitely don’t want to stay past the 1st 5 weeks?
Staying past the 1st five weeks of the summer are totally optional for the CIT and in fact, the
CIT has to be invited to stay for additional time. Sometimes it is beneficial to leave for a few
days to a couple of weeks and then come back. There is also some flexibility in missing part
of the first five weeks of the program. Please call and talk to us about any concerns that
you have about the schedule.
Will I get hired the following year?
That depends on how well you do in the CIT program, how well you interact with campers
and other staff, and also what area(s) of camp that you prove useful. We do not hire
anyone under 18 to be riding instructors, or archery instructors. But you may be hired to
teach barn programs or back trail rides, to work in the sports program, the arts & crafts
program, the office, the kitchen, the waterfront, or a combination of these areas. Usually,
the more skills and interests that you have, the more likely that we will hire you. It also
depends to some extent on how many other returning CITs that are interested, because we
can only hire a certain ratio of staff that are under 18. We will consider hiring both 16 and
17-year-old junior staff.
Do I get any time off?
We do not automatically schedule CITs for days off like we do for staff. However you can
request time off to be away from camp with family or friends and this does not have to be
limited to the 1 day a week off that is allotted to staff. You may also request a morning off,
occasionally, to sleep in. CIT’s can only go out with staff who are 21 years of age and
approved by our insurance company. Also, you are allowed to go off camp property with
other adults only with written permission from your parents specific to each adult but these
adults cannot be SJ staff.
In what ways will I be trained to be a counselor and to teach riding?
As in all areas of camp, you will spend some time evaluating other staff so that you will
become aware of what makes a good instructor/ counselor. You will also assist staff in all
areas and depending on your teaching and leading ability can start to take on more of the
responsibilities of leading groups and instructing. Obviously, your skills will also influence
which activities and groups that you will lead. For instance if you don’t know how to play
soccer it’s unlikely you will be able to do that activity and if you are an intermediate rider,
then you will not be assisting with advanced groups.
For the riding there is a program to broaden the knowledge that you have. The CHA
clinic is a 5 day certification program run by a national organization that our riding staff
attend prior to staff training. During the CIT program we do many of the activities of this 5
day course spread out over the course of the summer. This gives you a chance to extend
your knowledge of riding and teaching and gives you practice teaching lessons where you
are the head instructor.
Oh, then am I eligible to take the actual CHA course with the riding staff before
camp starts?
You need to be 18 in order to be certified as a Riding Instructor. If you are 16 you can be
certified as an Assistant Instructor. If you are 16 we would offer the course to you for half
price or $350. This would include books, meals, lodging, certification, and CHA
membership. It is an excellent course and would be well worth it if you are interested and
are available during the week of June 12. You could also just audit the course for $175.
