By Paige Lambert 

Hannah Williams directed campers on how to play the next activity, ending another day at summer camp. While the kids were trying to win, Hannah was thinking of how to use skills she gained years ago at the Kyle counselor-in-training (CIT) program.

The program is part of the Kyle summer day camps, geared for students in grades 10 to 12. Spots are open for six campers during the sessions, June 16-27, July 7-25 and July 21-Aug. 1. 

During the program, teenagers learn how to become good counselors.

Karen Gray, camp director, said there hasn’t been a camp for older ages for a couple of years.

“Kids were aging out of the program and they didn’t have a camp to go to,” Gray said. “I observed a CIT program in Temple which worked so well, that it inspired me to bring it back here.” 

During the morning, campers do team icebreakers, learn leadership skills and have problem-solving discussions. 

In one game, the “fake planet” game, campers map out how the planet will operate, how the people will get along and what problems might arise. 

“Afterwards we discuss how they reached those decisions,” Gray said. “We push the idea to focus on the process, not the product.”

Along with the group discussion, CITs observe how counselors of the younger camps work with the kids. 

A CIT and his/her counselor might discuss why the counselor used boundaries, grabbed in a kid’s attention instead of talking at them first or even why the counselor was standing while the kids were sitting.

These may seem like little observations, but are important when you are interacting with kids, according to Andrea Zepeda, CIT facilitator.

CITs also learn life skills such as communication, listening and self-monitoring, which are essential when working with kids. 

“At the young age of 6-7, they don’t know how to communicate their feelings, and they might throw temper tantrums, so [counselors] also learn a lot of patience,” Zepeda said. 

Williams said those skills helped her learn how to relate to the campers.

“If they see us as adults and not one of their own, they don’t open up to you as much,” Williams said. “If they see you as a kid, then they feel like they can talk to you as a friend.”

As the campers spend more time with the CITs, Zepeda said they want to go through the program, too.

“A lot of times, I’ll hear, ‘I can’t wait to be 14 when I can be a CIT,’” Zepeda said. “They are so excited and eager to become a CIT, to give back to what they’ve been receiving.”

Some campers take their CIT skills into their careers and volunteer work.

“These campers learn how to get out of their comfort zone and shine, and help others do the same,” Gray said. “These are behavioral management techniques and life skills they can take into the education field and other camps.”

Williams said all the techniques and skills she gained in the program helped her want to become a counselor and work with kids even more. 

“That’s our goal, to keep them involved in the community and learn good leadership skills they can use anywhere,” Gray said.