Campers see the counselors as role models throughout their time at camp. They watch them lead activities, help younger campers, handle bunk challenges, and make camp feel like home. Some may even wonder what it would feel like to be on the other side of that.
At Camp Lakota, the Counselor In Training (CIT) year is when they get that opportunity.
For many campers, it’s a summer they’ve been looking forward to for years. It’s the bridge between being a camper and preparing to become a leader.
If you’re a parent trying to picture what your teen’s CIT summer will look like, this guide will walk you through what it’s like to be a Counselor In Training at Camp Lakota.
What Is a CIT at Camp Lakota?
CIT stands for Counselor In Training. While many summer camps offer CIT programs, Camp Lakota’s is designed to help 16-year-olds gradually take on leadership responsibilities through real, everyday experiences.
Throughout the summer, CITs work alongside experienced counselors, support younger campers, and learn what it takes to become a positive role model. They gain confidence, strengthen communication skills, and develop the responsibility and maturity that prepare them for future leadership opportunities.
For many campers, the CIT year feels like a natural next step after growing up at Lakota and progressing from Braves through Chiefs.
If your teen is new to Camp Lakota, the program is based on readiness and maturity. Our team is happy to talk with your family to determine whether the CIT experience is the right fit.
What Is the CIT Experience Really Like?
Every CIT’s summer is unique, but the experience follows a similar journey. From the first day of camp to the final adventure, CITs begin seeing Camp Lakota from a new perspective.
Here’s a closer look at what a summer as a CIT is really like.
A Different Kind of First Day
Arriving at camp as a CIT feels different from previous summers. Instead of simply settling into another session, there’s a sense of excitement that comes with reaching an important milestone.
CITs become part of a close-knit group of teens who are beginning the same journey together. Many have grown up at Camp Lakota, sharing years of camp memories, and this final camper experience creates an even stronger bond. From the very beginning, there’s a shared understanding that this summer is about growing as a leader while making the most of one last summer as a camper.
The Daily Life of a CIT
No two days are exactly alike, and that’s part of what makes the CIT experience so rewarding. A typical day still begins with familiar camp routines like breakfast, morning lineup, and heading out to activities. From there, CITs step into a new role.
Throughout the day, they may assist counselors during activities, help younger campers feel included, offer encouragement when someone needs extra support, or lend a hand wherever it’s needed. The responsibilities change from day to day, giving CITs the chance to work with different campers, activities, and staff members while gaining real leadership experience.
Even with these added responsibilities, CITs still enjoy the traditions that make Camp Lakota special. Evening programs, campfires, special events, and time with friends remain an important part of the summer. They’re still campers, just experiencing camp from a new perspective.
Still a Camper, While Learning to Lead
One of the things that makes the CIT program unique is the balance it provides. CITs continue participating in camp life while gradually taking on more responsibility alongside experienced counselors and staff.
Rather than learning leadership in a classroom setting, they develop it through everyday experiences. They observe, ask questions, receive feedback, and discover what it means to lead with patience, kindness, and responsibility. It’s a gradual process that allows confidence to grow naturally throughout the summer.
The CIT Cabin
One of the most memorable parts of the CIT year is sharing it with other teens who are experiencing the same transition.
CITs live together as a group, creating a supportive community where they celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and encourage one another throughout the summer. Many have grown up together at Camp Lakota, making this final camper year an opportunity to strengthen friendships that have been years in the making.
Being together every day also gives CITs time to reflect on their experiences, learn from one another, and enjoy the unique camaraderie that comes with reaching this milestone together.
Growing More Confident Along the Way
Confidence often develops in small moments throughout the summer. As CITs become more comfortable taking initiative, helping others, and handling new responsibilities, they begin to recognize how much they’ve grown.
Many parents notice that growth when their teen returns home with greater maturity, stronger communication skills, and a renewed sense of independence.
A Summer That Ends With an Incredible Adventure
The CIT experience also includes an optional West Coast trip, allowing CITs to celebrate the end of their camper journey with an unforgettable adventure.
It’s a memorable way to recognize everything they’ve accomplished throughout the summer while creating even more lasting memories with the friends they’ve grown alongside.
What Comes After the CIT Summer?
For many of our teens, the answer is a return to Lakota, not as a camper, but as a full counselor. The CIT program is the first real step toward joining our staff, and plenty of our current counselors were Lakota CITs themselves not so long ago.
Others take what they learned into school leadership positions, part-time jobs, and college applications. Either way, the confidence and maturity built during that summer tend to show up in ways that reach far beyond camp.
Is a CIT Program Right for Your Teen?
The CIT program is a great fit for teens who are ready to take on new challenges while continuing to enjoy everything they love about camp.
A successful CIT doesn’t need to have all the answers. Instead, they should be willing to learn, support others, accept feedback, and embrace new responsibilities with a positive attitude.
For campers who hope to become future counselors, it’s a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience while continuing to grow as individuals.
Ready to Learn More?
If your 16-year-old has grown up at Lakota, there’s a good chance they’ve already been looking forward to this summer for years. And if they’re new to camp, our staff works closely with every CIT to make sure the transition feels supported rather than overwhelming.
Check session dates and tuition, or request more information. We’d love to connect with your family, answer your questions, and share more about the CIT experience at Camp Lakota. with your child year after year, so each summer builds on the last.
If you want to understand what a summer at Camp Lakota actually looks like, request more information and someone from the team will get back to you. You can also take a closer look at how the programs are structured to see where your child would fit too!