The Service of a CIT

The service of a CIT (Counselor In Training) at Pfeifer Camp is not for the feign of heart. The expectations are high and the demands are physically, emotionally, and intellectually exhausting. Ask any CIT though and they will tell you the exhaustion at the end of the week is well worth it. It is well worth it because for most of them, they have been looking forward to this opportunity since they first attended camp; which for some could have been as early as nine years old. To be a CIT is a huge honor for anyone that knows the system of Pfeifer Camp. It requires a high school aged student to dedicate themselves to serving the kids at camp through the ups and downs alongside an AmeriCorps Counselor. As one of these counselors, I find each of these CITs to be amazing in the work they do. Not only do they sacrifice their summer and the possibility of having a job to earn some extra cash; they do so to come out into the mosquito infested woods, run around in 100 degree heat, and on occasion get some serious attitude from campers. On top of all this- they do it for absolutely free. This last year we had many of the CITs volunteer week after week. That is essentially volunteering Monday morning until Friday afternoon in some very stressful conditions for five weeks. What seems to draw these CITs back week after week is multifaceted. Not only do they get to give back to the place that for many of them they call a second home; they get to serve alongside their peers. Some of these peers they grew up with at camp. As they serve with the AmeriCorps Counselors that have travelled from all over the country they also get to learn about the culture and background they come from. They learn leadership skills as they are put in a position alongside the AmeriCorps Counselor and get to teach the kids the skills they grew up learning at camp. These skills include problem solving, outdoor living skills and team building. They get to meet, interact with, and positively influence kids from all over the city. Each week they come back with an unparalleled energy and a drive to serve together so as to continue the traditions that make Pfeifer Camp such a magical place. So when I think of success as it relates to summer camp here at Pfeifer Camp, I can’t help but acknowledge the huge success our CITs are because of their courage, intellect, and tenacity.