Counselor-in-Training at Kentwood
For ages 11-16

The Kentwood Counselor-in-Training (C.I.T.) Program has been developed specifically for young teenagers who stand to benefit from the skills taught and practiced throughout our Summer Camp, but who feel, however, that they are “too old” for camp.

We emphasize to our teens that they are Counselors-in-Training, and are therefore required to adhere to the Kentwood rules, to act in a manner that justifies their positions, and that they are expected to be role models for the younger campers with whom they will be working.

Each C.I.T. is allocated a couple of younger campers that they will work in the company of, mentor, and engage with in confidence building activities. All this will be accomplished through clubs, sports and projects as outlined in our Summer Camp Brochure.

C.I.T.’s, through working with the younger campers, will actually, while unbeknownst to them, be reinforcing for themselves the very skills that they too are deficient in. These skills include organizational skills, task analysis skills, focusing skills, behavioral skills and social skills (see brochure for more details).

Kentwood staff actually orchestrate the groups – guiding, directing and encouraging the C.I.T.’s in their roles as pseudo-assistants. C.I.T.’s are given checksheets, in which their duties and responsibilities are outlined. These checksheets are graded and filled in by staff members so that C.I.T.’s are being given immediate feedback on their performance. These grades are important and valuable tools for the C.I.T. from a financial standpoint as well, since their pay is directly tied into their performance.