● Counselors in Training
A Bridge to Youth Leadership
Our Counselor in Training (CIT) program bridges youth leadership and community care. CITs learn how to support campers, collaborate with staff, and build programming that reflects their values. We treat leadership as a practice, not a role, and we encourage CITs to explore what it means to care for others while staying grounded in their own identities and boundaries. This program is designed for youth aged 16-19.
● Counselors in Training
What You’ll Do
By the end of the week, each CIT creates a Final Project: an original workshop, activity, or idea that could be used at future camps or in their own communities. These projects have ranged from queer history games to fashion shows celebrating queer identity. The goal is to help young leaders design something that reflects their passions while practicing how to teach, plan, and hold space for others. CITs are both learners and role models. They follow a CIT Code of Conduct, which emphasizes respect, inclusivity, and collaboration. CITs are never responsible for crisis management or camper supervision alone; staff and counselors are always available to guide, support, and ensure safety.
● Counselors in Training
What You’ll Learn
CITs learn by stepping directly into the daily life of camp. You’ll work alongside counselors during real moments, including supporting camper drop-off, helping guide small group activities, and learning how to show up for campers who are nervous or homesick. You’ll practice youth leadership that’s rooted in care rather than control: communication, community building, conflict support, and the small, relational skills that keep a cabin or workshop feeling safe. You’ll also dig into what makes Camp Lavender’s approach different from traditional leadership programs. We talk openly about queer liberation, power-sharing, and how to lead without hierarchy. CITs explore queer history, mutual aid, community safety, and how youth work can be a form of organizing. By the end of the week, you leave knowing how to help create spaces where young people feel held, not managed, and why that matters beyond camp.
Gain Leadership
Skills
Connect with Other Activist Youth
Q: Do CITs run their own workshops?
A: Sometimes! CITs write their own workshop as part of their final project, and there may be opportunities to co-facilitate or support counselor workshops throughout the week.
Q: Is this a path to becoming a counselor?
A: Yes! Our hope is that all CITs will continue to be a part of our camp community, however they’re eligible to participate. We also encourage CITs to engage in their community outside of camp, and allow those experiences to enrich our camp environment.
Q: Do CITs have to pay for camp?
A: As part of our camp registration process, we allow all of our camp families to set their own price for camp, starting at $0. CITs are still considered campers, and expected to register for camp, even if 18 or older.
Q: What if I’ve never done leadership before?
A: That’s okay. We meet you where you’re at. No experience is necessary, and we practice a culture of consent, where we always encourage you to say no to things that feel like too much right now.
