Our Counselor-in-Training  program has some real teeth.  Potential future Kingswood staff go through a 3-4 week program in “Kingswoodology,” meaning they learn what it takes to be a leader.  “You can take with you everything we have discussed and apply it to any endeavor,” we keep telling them over and over.

All the counselors participate in the training sessions.   Some help us run the CIT discussion meetings where we cover everything from camp philosophy to dealing with contentious issues in the bunk.  Other counselors request CIT assistance in the cabins during clean up, rest hour, and bed time.  They report back to the administration on how their charges have handled various assignments.

Besides working in the kitchen for a weekly allowance, the CIT’s look forward to the big week when we deem them ready to run their own personal clinics.  All the photos below were taken during yesterday’s sessions.  Every CIT was observed by an older staff person, including this director.  I both handed out and overheard some very supportive bits of advice to the rookie leaders.  “Every camper was fully engaged in your clinic,”  “You used your voice most effectively,”  “Try to explain the purpose of the drill,” were three such constructive comments.

I was quite impressed with most of the boys’ efforts.  It is no small wonder why we have over 700 years of collective staff experience in 2013.  Almost all of our counselors come from the ranks of past campers who have been through the CIT regimen.

After their challenging efforts as clinicians, the CIT’s are seen relaxing in their luxurious quarters in the Barn.  We have not yet come to the chapter on hygiene, evidently.