CIT Training Program

[troop251scout]

I am putting together a CIT training program for this summer and i need some help with it.

 

Does anyone out there have a CIT training manual they could email over to me so i have something to go off of? let me know and i will send you my email address.

[Eamonn]

While I'm sure someone will prove me wrong!!

I think each camp has specific needs and the Commissioner In Training program they offer is based on the needs of the camp and the area in which will be worked.

Last year at Camp Conestoga we had 16 or 17 Scouts attend Summer camp as CIT's.

The big thing was exposing these Scouts to what being a camp staff member is all about.

As far as I know most of them are coming back to serve as Staff members this year. Many in the areas that they worked in last summer.

Eamonn.

[pizzafrisbee84]

At our camp, the CIT's are on a rotation. They usually spend 4 weeks (I think) as CIT's and come with their troop for one week as well. They have the option to spend the other weeks of camp as CIT's if they want to though. Each week, the CIT works in a different area. As a part of the application process, they make a list of areas that they'd want to work in and we do our best to accomidate that.

 

Now as a program area director, this is how I deal with the CIT's. First of all, I explain to them on Sunday what badges we teach and I ask what they would like to help out with. They chose which badges they want to "teach" and they attend all of the classes with the staff instructor. Monday through Thursday, the CIT spends time observing the classes and helping with lesson plans, blue cards, etc. On Friday, the last day of classes, the CIT actually teaches the class and the staff member sits back and observes. The staff member helps the CIT to develop a lesson plan and is there to help out if needed, but I think the best way to learn something is to do it.

 

I also make sure that the CIT is free for at least one time slot in the morning so that he can work on his own advancement if he'd like to. In my opinion, this should be a requirement for the program.

 

Most of the CIT's that have passed through my area have returned as staff either in my area or another. Two of the people working under me this summer were CIT's in previous years and said that they came back to Nature because they enjoy working with me.

 

This might not work at every camp, but it seems to do just fine at ours.