Spend two weeks at camp learning and practicing skills to work with campers!

Counselor in Training Program

Our Counselor in Training (CIT) Program is a special leadership opportunity for rising high school seniors who aspire to return to camp one day as a counselor.

First Week

CITs are campers their first week! You will participate in many Fire Village activities with other teens, but you will also participate in teambuilding activities, learn leadership skills, and complete a group service project.

This week is a great opportunity to build community and grow in your spiritual walk by practicing prayer habits and having more accountability with your CIT “parents” and peers.

Second Week

During the second week, CITs are place in cabins so they can shadow experienced counselors. You will get a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to work at camp and do relational ministry!

As a CIT, you will have responsibilities to assist with the campers in your cabin, helping you learn leadership skills and grow in your own ministry abilities. Our hope is that by serving in ministry alongside us, you’ll also allow the Lord to challenge and grow you as he does our staff all summer!

Applying to be a CIT

The demand for CIT spots is high and competitive. Due to the importance of these positions, CITs go through an application process similar to a hiring process that allows The Pines to match our needs with the talents and qualifications of applicants.

Please email Tara Harvey, Director of Retreats (tara@thepines.org), with questions.

We look forward to receiving your application!
God bless, and Go Trees!

  • Applications for the CIT program open at the same time as regular camp registration on November 6th.

    Priority is given to applications submitted by December 6th.

  • Final decisions for who is accepted to the CIT program are made by mid-December.

    The Pines Staff will communicate the status of your application at that time and provide further instructions to register, if permitted.

  • In the event that the program does not fill with the first round of applicants, rolling applications will be accepted and reviewed until the program is full.

    Most years, female spots are filled quickly, but we will continue to accept applications for male CITs.

Not interested in CIT? No problem!

You do not have to be a CIT to join us for your last summer as a camper! Rising high school seniors can register as a Fire Village camper, too.

Worried about future applications?

Participation in the CIT program is not a prerequisite to applying for or serving on Summer Staff in future years!

While we would love to have you participate in this program, we do not expect past campers to have been a CIT to eventually be on SWAT or be a counselor in future summers!

If this form does not display correctly, please click here.