Counselor In Training

Wild Earth’s Counselor In Training (CIT) program is for for teens who are ready to serve others and grow into their leadership skills.

To be eligible for a CIT position, applicants must have the following qualifications:

• 14 years of age before the first day of camp
• One of the following:
  • 2 years of Red Tailed Hawk Summer Camp
  • 1 year of Ropes Year Round
  • Comparable experience
• Available for all of these:
  • A virtual interview
  • The entirety of a session at camp
  • Required trainings/orientations

How To Apply:

1. Complete Wild Earth’s Summer Camp Job Application by February 1st. Please make sure to look at the dates carefully with your guardian to make sure you have the availability to attend all the dates of the session you are applying for. Late applications will be reviewed, however, positions may already be filled.

2. Upon completing your application, you will receive an email from our staff for the next steps in the process. Interviews for new applicants will take place between March and April. You will hear back from us about your participation in Wild Earth’s CIT program promptly after applying. Please know that specific camp placements may not be made until as late as May, shortly before the start of camp. Please note that first year applicants are qualified for an unpaid CIT position. Returning CITs will be considered for paid positions.

CIT Responsibilities:

Accountability

• Arrive to the program on time, with your gear and materials ready
• Maintain a basic understanding of Wild Earth policies and Emergency procedures
• Support yourlead by offering to facilitate activities in your group, or by offering to take care of small group tasks such as: setting up tarps, collecting wood, or starting a fire.
• Provide your team with as much notice of any absences.

Physical Safety

• Know and understand the hazards of the land you are working on 
• Read and review knife safety
• Model safe behavior
• Report anything questionable to your fellow staff to help you assess (ex. “Is it ok for them to be throwing rocks over there?” or “This camper asked to walk down to the water over there is that ok?”)
• Report any injuries, falls, ticks or anything in need of first aid to the lead staff

Emotional Safety

• Model and uphold the group culture of respect and inclusion
• Look for kids not having the best time, feeling left out, or any behavioral issues and communicate this to your lead staff
• Report to lead instructor (or Program Coordinator) when situations feel unusual, unsafe or confusing
• Supporting Disruptive Behavior
• If a child is exhibiting disruptive behaviors that compromise the safety and the well being of themselves or anyone else in the group, alert the lead most instructor of your group to de-escalate and bring everyone to a space of safety. During this time, assistants may support in a number of ways
• Tend to those impacted by the incident, depending on the severity of the incident
• Lead or assist a game or activity while coinstructors work with the student exhibiting challenging behaviors
• Sit with the student who is exhibiting disruptive behaviors, as long as it is safe to do so, making sure to be in eye shot of the group
• If you were there for the incident that needs reporting,meet with program coordinator, lead instructor and/or join a phone call with parent/guardian to provide any necessary details of the incident
• Debrief the incident with the team

Planning & Activities

• Join your co-staff for planning meetings
• Stay engaged!
• Ask your lead where you can be useful during an activity (ie. “Where will I be most helpful during hawks and robins?” or “What should I do while you are telling the story?”
• Set goals that build up to leading an activity
• Join in on games and activities when appropriate, sometimes it may be your job to just run and play with the campers

Communication and Feedback

• Ask lots of questions and write down all non-urgent questions to be answered with your staff during debrief.
• Communicate any needs or concerns with the lead staff
• Set goals for yourself in areas you wish to improve-regularly check in on them
• Seek Feedback from your co-instructors

Posted in: General Job FAQ