LIT...Leaders in Training...ages 15-16
LIT is a 3-week Resident Camp Program. Teens experience leadership, learn outdoor living skills, & groups skills while experiencing adventure along the way! LIT can be seen as the first step to becoming a camp counselor & transitioning out of the traditional camper role. LIT campers will be challenged by their counselors with problems to solve, tasks to complete, and a service opportunity. The curriculum includes a multi-day/night trip for the entire group (campers and counselors) during the second week, and campers will be taught every skill needed to be successful at this achievement. While this is a fun and engaging program for teens, education and leadership are the primary focus of the LIT program.
CIT...Counselor in Training...ages 16-17
Youth who take our 4-week CIT program that includes 4 weeks Resident Camp sessions, should not only want to improve their leadership skills, they should also want to be a camp counselor! Teens in this program will be taught leadership, outdoor living, and recreational programming skills, instruction techniques, and childcare skills through group challenges and practical experience. CITs are role models for the younger campers and, while they themselves are still campers, they have opportunities to be seen as assistant counselors during their third week. At the end of the session, CITs are evaluated for their performance in the program and are given a recommendation as to whether the camp administration should hire them next year. For youth who eventually want to be Y-Owasco staff, CIT gives them the benefits of learning to interview, learning our procedures, and experiencing much of what a counselor does firsthand before applying for the job. CITs who do well and interview well may be hired when they are 17 years old, a year before people who do not participate in a CIT program.
All interested participants must complete an application and interview process with the Camp Director. Acceptance into the CIT program is selective!