Counselor-in-Training

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) and Wrangler-in-Training (WIT)

Want to spend the summer making lifelong friends and transformative leadership skills? Do you dream about working at Camp Menzies someday? Do you want to serve as a role model and mentor for younger Girl Scouts? You can do all that while earning your Counselor-in-Training (CIT) award! Through the Camp Menzies CIT/WIT program, Girl Scouts can prepare our next generation of leaders through training in youth development, group dynamics, safety, and outdoor living.

Goals and Objectives:

The CIT/WIT program is for older girls (ages 15-18) who want to dramatically expand their leadership skills. As a team, participants are challenged daily with problem-solving and unity building exercises that encourage them to overcome both figurative and literal obstacles.

The CIT/WIT program is all about growth and relationships: a Girl Scout’s relationship to themselves, their own leadership capabilities, others in their CIT group, and the world around them.

This training program is taught through the lens of running a camp, and WIT/CITs gain invaluable childcare experience in an outdoor setting. Participants learn and execute powerful leadership techniques that will serve them for the rest of their lives - not just at camp.

What the CIT Program is:

Experiential outdoor training is designed to help Girl Scouts develop their awareness and abilities in youth work, coupled with intentional leadership development and curriculum.
Develop the technical skills necessary to be an effective, competent, and compassionate worker, possessing all of the core competencies Girl Scouts recognizes are vital to success as a counselor in either a camp, school, or community setting.
Teaches management and leadership skills, time management, curriculum development, hands-on training, workshop shadowing, and interview experience.

What the WIT Program is:

Our Wrangler-in-Training (WIT) program earns the CIT award and runs parallel to the Camp Menzies CIT Program.
CITs and WITs levels I and II sleep in the same unit and complete much of the same personal leadership reflection and curriculum based work.
In addition to learning important leadership skills alongside CITs, WITs additionally are able to work with our wranglers to learn about horse care and delivering horse programs.
Previous horse experience is mandatory and must be referenced in applications. Participation and movement in the WIT program is subject to the approval of the Camp Director.

Resident Camp CIT/WIT:

We offer three levels of CIT/WIT at Camp Menzies:

CIT/WIT I
Open to high school girls at least 15 years old or entering 10th grade. This first tier of the CIT/WIT program focuses heavily on personal leadership styles and growth. This is perfect for Girl Scouts who love camp, and want to learn more about themselves to bloom into the best role model they can be for younger campers.

CIT/WIT II
Open to high school girls at least 16 years old or entering 11th grade. Must have completed the CIT/WIT I program or its equivalent. This tier of the CIT/WIT program also focuses on personal leadership growth, but takes the learning to a deeper level. This tier is best for Girl Scouts who want to learn more about the leadership and decision making that goes into running a summer camp.

Junior Counselors
Open to high school girls at least 17 years old or entering 12th grade. Must have completed both CIT I and CIT II programs or equivalent. (An example of equivalent experience would be multiple years of childcare experience or an extensive leadership background). The Junior Counselor program is designed for older girls who are passionate about supporting younger Girl Scouts, as they take healthy risks in the outdoors. Junior Counselors work alongside GSHCC staff and receive unparalleled hands-on childcare experience. They’ll learn about age characteristics, budget planning, risk management, and badge work augmentation. Junior Counselors sleep in units with camp staff and campers.

-OR-

Junior Wranglers
Open to high school girls at least 17 years old or entering 12th grade. Must have completed both WIT I and WIT II programs or equivalent. (An example of equivalent experience would be multiple years of childcare experience or an extensive leadership/equestrian background). The Junior Wrangler program is designed for older girls who are passionate about supporting younger Girl Scouts, as they learn important life lessons through horseback riding. Junior Wranglers work alongside our Horse Experience Manager and will help create their own riding lessons, age-specific workshops, and area risk-management plans. Junior Counselors sleep in units with camp staff and campers.

How Girls Benefit:

Develop new skills that will help in future leadership roles
Make new friends and memories
Gain a reference for future job applications
Earn the CIT Mentorship award
Positively impact the lives of others