CIT (Counselor-In-Training) Program
Timber Pointe’s CIT program teaches young people (ages 15-17) what great leaders do and say, and gives them opportunities to practice this in a fun, safe, and positive environment, while impacting the lives of children with disabilities and challenging illnesses! CITs will learn the skills necessary to be positive role models, intentional helping hands alongside experienced camp staff members, and future camp/recreation/youth development leaders.
Goals of the CIT Program:
Make an impact!
Provide intentional extra hands to assist Counselors and Program Staff in supporting campers in the development of life skills, self-esteem, and independence in areas including but not limited to: behavior, social interaction, and emotional regulation.
Connect with people different than you!
Increase participants’ ability to connect with people who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, especially individuals with disabilities and/or challenging illnesses.
Learn leadership, teamwork & job skills!
Equip participants with knowledge and hands-on experience of critical personal and professional skills that improve functioning and independence in all aspects of life (problem-solving, time-management, decision-making, empathy, conflict-resolution, etc.).
Find new passions & perspectives!
Develop young leaders who emerge with new passions and perspectives, and the confidence they’ve made definitive steps forwards on their journey to find their identity and direction in life.
PROGRAM FORMAT
The first week and a half will be spent alongside camp Counselors, Program Staff, and Specialists learning and growing during our “All-Staff/CIT Development,” which will include teambuilding and bonding activities, as well as training on the following topics:
-
Regulation, dysregulation, and behavior
-
Specific disability overviews
-
Sensory needs and integration strategies
-
Diversity, inclusion, and adaptation
-
Conflict resolution
-
Following a schedule/time management
-
Personal care and transferring
-
Communication and feeding techniques
-
Safety and supervision policies
-
Dealing with homesickness
-
And more!
The remaining weeks will be spent putting this knowledge into action by supporting, supervising, and nurturing campers and their development alongside experienced camp staff members (ages 18+). Each CIT will spend 4 of those weeks assisting assigned Counselors with their designated campers and receiving coaching/mentorship from the counselor role/perspective, and 1 week working with Program Staff to experience and support the preparation, facilitation and clean-up of adaptive camp activities.
Throughout their entire experience, CITs will be led by a CIT Supervisor, who will ensure their health, safety and welfare as well as provide feedback and strategize with CITs on methods to improve their skills and performance.
Details & Dates:
Overnight CIT Program:
May 28th-July 10th 2026. First camp session begins June 7th. CITs must begin on the program start date (May 28th) and be available for the entirety of dates listed. Overnight CITs are required to attend our All-Staff/CIT Development prior to the camp season, which will be held May 28th-June 5th (with a break day on June 2nd).
​
Overnight CITs will stay overnight at camp in cabins with campers, other CITs, and staff during the program. Overnight CITs arrive at 10:00am on Sundays and stay through Friday evening, with the exception of Development Week, which begins on a Thursday. CITs will leave site on weekends (Friday evenings-Sunday mornings).
​
Overnight CITs will receive a weekly participation stipend of $175/week.
​
Day CIT Program:
May 28th-July 10th 2026. First camp session begins June 7th. CITs must begin on the program start date and be available for the entirety of dates listed. Day CITs are required to attend our All-Staff/CIT Development prior to the camp season, which will be held May 28th-June 5th (with a break day on June 2nd).
For our Day CIT Program, CITs will depart each evening and sleep at home, then come back to camp the next morning. Day CITs will need to have reliable transportation and the ability to arrive on time and attend consistently each day of the program. The final week of the Day CIT Program will be an overnight camp, and Day CITs will stay overnight from Sunday-Friday, joining in with our Overnight CITs and Camp Staff. Meals will be provided, with the exception of dinner during weeks where Day CITs leave at 5:45pm (we are inclusive/accommodating of any dietary restrictions).
Day CITs will receive a weekly participation stipend of $125/week. ​
