The Frost Valley YMCA CIT Program is designed for 16 year olds who are interested in becoming counselors at Frost Valley YMCA. The month-long program concentrates on leadership training, team building, skill development, service to camp and personal growth. The program will provide a time of transition for each participant as they develop from campers into counselors.

Our Program
The month long CIT experience includes an in-camp portion and a 5-7 day wilderness trip in the Catskill Mountain Preserve. Planning for the CIT program begins early in the spring. The CIT Coordinators work hard to ensure that the schedule they create is designed specifically to challenge each group. The CIT’S will be evaluated twice during the four weeks.

CIT applicants can apply for 3 possible areas in the CIT Program.  They are:

1. The Resident Camp CIT Program – this month long program is offered twice in the summer. Session A (June 29th-July 25th) and Session B (July 27th-August 22nd). This program gives participants a well-rounded overview of the entire Frost Valley Camp Counselor experience. Participants will spend a portion of their trip on either a 7 day backpacking or canoe trip, in addition to valuable workshops and experiences learning to work with children.  To learn more about the resident camp at the Frost Valley YMCA, please click on this link: http://frostvalley.org/for_parents/camp_programs/summer_camp.php

2. The CIT-MAC Program – is a month long program offered only during Session B (July 27th-August 22nd) allows teens with an interest in learning more about being a counselor working with special populations.  This includes specific trainings, a longer “in-cabin” experience working with special needs children as well as a 7 day overnight adventure. CITs in this program will work predominantly with Frost Valley’s MAC program (Mainstreaming At Camp).  To learn more about Frost Valley YMCA’s MAC program, please click on this link: http://frostvalley.org/for_parents/camp_programs/mainstream.php

3. The CIT Adventure Leaders Program – is a month long program offered only during Session A (June 29th-July 25th) allows teens to develop crucial leadership skills necessary to become counselors in resident camp, but also experience towards working with campers in our Adventure program. Participants will spend a portion of their time on a multi-day canoe trip as well as gain valuable trainings and experiences working with campers in Frost Valley’s Adventure Village.  To learn more about Frost Valley YMCA’s Adventure Village, please click on this link: http://frostvalley.org/for_parents/camp_programs/teen_adventure.php

What specifically happens in the program?  Each component of the CIT program is split into two parts: The “In-Camp” and the “Wilderness Trip”.

In Camp

• Workshops…Coordinators, Camp Directors, and seasoned camp counselors will help facilitate programs with the CIT’S. Topics could include What ifs?, Hip Pocket Games, How to be a Counselor, Safety First, Behavior Management, and more. These programs are what helps you learn and develop ideas that will help you adjust to your in-cabin experience.
• In-Cabin……Five days will be spent in a cabin observing, teaching cabin activities and becoming accustomed to the camp routine and schedule. Each CIT is placed with two counselors that are chosen for their strengths, creativity and leadership.
• Program Leadership ……CIT’S will have the opportunity to learn about the summer camp program and what makes it work. Each CIT will have the chance to get partnered at one of our program areas. These areas include: waterfront, incredible edible, out-trip, arts & crafts, sports, adventure, nature, the horse barn, Day Camp and the Farm. This will help them become comfortable with our programs and encourage the chance for each CIT to want to teach in their specific field of study.

Wilderness Trip

• Trail travels …Individual and group challenges in a safe outdoor setting are the medium for the wilderness experience. The CIT’s will head out on an extended backpacking and/or canoe trip in the Catskill Mountain Preserve.
• Lead…The group will plan meals, set-up and break down camp, and plan their route everyday. Each CIT will have the chance to be a leader for the day, taking responsibility for the movements of the group on their assigned route. The Coordinators will ensure that the days are being conducted in a timely manner. Their role is to offer group activities, advice and medical assistance if needed.
• Learn…The extended backpacking or canoe trips requires resourcefulness, confidence, the ability to cooperate with peers and leaders and the ability to trust other individuals. These wilderness trips will also teach respect for the environment, how to protect the environment for the use of others, low impact camping skills, and some natural history of the Catskills.

Leadership

• The CIT coordinators are hired to work with the CIT’S during the course of the summer. The coordinators are adults who have experience working with teens, outdoor skills, CPR and First Aid, and a familiarity with Frost Valley YMCA’S philosophy and routines. The coordinators are selected on the basis of maturity, level of experience and sound judgment ability. Prior to camp, the coordinators will participate in a two-week training program.

To Apply
1. Applicants must turn 16 before the start of the session you plan on attending. This means that you can be 15 during the first two sessions, but your birthday is on the Saturday before the start of third session.
2. Complete the application. Please submit the application with a cover letter detailing your greatest personal accomplishment and your order of preference for the three CIT programs with an explanation (Resident, MAC or Adventure).
3. Handout your two references to teachers, recent counselors, employers, or people who have seen you work with children or have seen you in a leadership position. The reference should provide some information to us that we may not know from your camp experience or confirm things we already knew. Be sure to tell your references that they need to mail the references in by December 1st, 2007. We will not process your application without the references.
4. The application, cover letter and references must be at Frost Valley YMCA no later than December 1st, 2007. All application packets received after this date will be returned to the sender.
5. Cost: $1750.00 per CIT for this month long program. There is no application fee, payment is upon acceptance into the program.

It is expected that the teen interested in this program is the person taking the initiative in the application process.  Applicants should be completing the application & cover letter as well as corresponding with the Frost Valley YMCA for any inquiries.  The CIT program is about teens developing their leadership skills.  Leaders showing initiative begins with the application process. 

It is important to note that space is extremely limited in these programs. Preference towards a particular Session or program (Resident, MAC or Adventure) is not guaranteed.

Interviewing Schedule
Once you have sent in your application, Frost Valley will email the applicant with details about the interview schedule after December 1st.

All Face to face interviews will occur during Winter Camp at the Frost Valley YMCA. Winter Camp at the Frost Valley YMCA is from December 27th- December 30th.  Applicants that attend Winter Camp will be interviewed in person on December 28th or December 29th of Winter Camp. Interview times during Winter Camp will be scheduled once Winter Camp has begun. Only applicants who attend Winter Camp can schedule face to face interviews (please note – space is very limited for

Winter Camp and it will fill up, register soon if you wish to interview face to face). Click here to register for Winter Camp online.

Attendance at winter camp is highly encouraged.  It gives applicants 3 days to display any growth they may have undergone as leaders since the previous summer to the Camp Directors as well as gain valuable insight from their Winter Camp counselors about interviewing tips, etc….There are no other face to face interviews for the CIT program. 

If you cannot attend Winter Camp, you can schedule a phone interview with Kelly Zingone between the dates of January 3 and January 28th. You may contact Kelly to schedule a phone interview after December 15th. In addition, Kelly will also be in contact via email with applicants to schedule phone interviews after December 15th. Applicants will receive work of their acceptance into this program by mid-February.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kelly Zingone by telephone or email at anytime.  Her phone number is 845 985 2291 x271 and her email is kzingone@frostvalley.org.  We look forward to receiving your application to the Frost Valley YMCA CIT Program.