YMCA Camp Ralph S. Mason
23 Birch Ridge Rd. Hardwick, New Jersey 07825
P: 908-362-8217 F: 908-362-5767
www.campmason.org
CIT Applicants 2016!
Congratulations on a successful summer!
As we come off the summer season we are already getting ready for next summer. We’re looking
forward to finding out who our CITs for next summer will be. The CIT program is a very competitive
program that is designed to take campers who have demonstrated a strong desire to work with
children and a love of camp and give them the training and skills to be successful. The participants in
the CIT program are held to high expectations. You will be expected to lead activities for younger
campers as well as your peers. You will be expected to meet the responsibilities that are given to you
as a CIT. The CIT program is fun but for different reasons than being a camper. It is about discovering
what you are capable of and finding your inner leader. Please fill out this application and return it to
me as soon as you can.
Here are a few helpful tips for finishing the application process:


Please write clearly. If I can’t read it I can’t understand it.
Fill it out yourself. Nothing shows initiative and commitment more than taking on the
responsibility yourself.
Because the program is so competitive and spaces are limited there is a deadline for applications of
February 1st, 2016. Any applications received after the deadline will still be reviewed, however
availability and/or likelihood of acceptance may be significantly reduced.
I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck!
-Jackson Patterson
YMCA Camp Ralph S. Mason
23 Birch Ridge Rd. Hardwick, New Jersey 07825
P: 908-362-8217 F: 908-362-5767
www.campmason.org
CIT Program Overview
Program Summary:
The CIT Program is designed to teach leadership, community and counseling skills to 16 year-old
participants through group living, learning and service at camp. The CIT Program is defined by the
following criteria: service to camp, detailed leadership training, including contents of the staff
handbook dealing with behavior management, developmental characteristics of children and other
counselor-specific topics, participation in creating/supporting/leading camp activities and living in
junior cabins shadowing/assisting the counselors. A successful participant will have shown themselves
to be enthusiastic, dedicated, hard-working and devoted to the camp’s mission.
The CITs at Camp:
Each CIT group is, in effect, a cabin group of its own and the leaders will use the dynamics of shared
experience and responsibility to bond the participants. CITs will be visible at camp as well – CIT skits at
campfires, hosting chapel and the talent shows, helping with the operation of meals, assisting
counseling staff in cabins and highly-visible service projects are some of the ways the CITs will make
themselves known to the camp community. By carefully using the tools at their disposal (service,
participation in camp events, cabin chat, and direct instruction) the Teen Programs Director will instill
the mission of the camp, a sense of camaraderie and a thorough understanding of what it means to
work at camp.
They are eligible for hire as Junior Counselors the following year at the age of 17. The CIT experience is
longer in duration, has higher expectations of excellence and includes all of the training the rest of the
staff receives, including studying the contents of the Staff Handbook. The CIT group should be built
stronger, be more enthusiastic and more ready to join the staff at the end of their 4 week experience.
However participation in the CIT program does not guarantee employment in subsequent summers.
The Essential CIT Experiences:
- Energetic, highly visible participation in the camp community
- Service at camp
- Learn skills that will help with working in a camp setting
- An in-cabin experience
- Receive evaluations of their participation
- A graduation/acknowledgement ritual
- A love of working with children!
YMCA Camp Ralph S. Mason
23 Birch Ridge Rd. Hardwick, New Jersey 07825
P: 908-362-8217 F: 908-362-5767
www.campmason.org
The Weekly Schedule
Week One – The Odyssey: A three-day, two-night off-site trip lead by staff.
The Experience:
- Participate in a three day backpacking and canoeing trip through the Delaware Water Gap and down
the Delaware River.
- Instruction on all the relevant skills that they will use on the trip.
- CITs will push themselves physically and mentally while taking in beautiful views, bonding with other
participants and discovering their own capabilities.
- A group debrief of the experience after returning to camp.
Week Two – Staff Training: The focus of this week is training, service, and activity planning.
The experience:
- Group-building and activities at ASE and high ropes.
- Several sessions of training including sections of the staff handbook, child development, essentials of
running activities and policies and procedures.
- Initial research into possible camp service projects.
- The group is formed, built and supported through shared experience.
- Understanding of the camp’s programs and mission and the role of staff members.
Week Three – Leadership Week: The focus of this week is a service project within the camp
community, and planning/leading activities and events.
The experience:
- Putting into practice the skills learned during the first week.
- Community service project.
- Organizing and running cabin activities, evening activities and village activities.
- Planning and hosting an all-camp event.
- Working as a group in the community.
Weeks Four – In-Cabin: CITs will put their cumulative experience together to move into a cabin with
campers and function as a counselor.
The Experience:
- Experience what it is like to be a counselor through the in-cabin experience.
- Both observe and participate in common counselor responsibilities.
- Receive performance feedback from counselor mentor, CIT Coordinators, and Teen Director.