Our Leadership & Development Programs

Fun. Friendship. Growth. Impact.

Sandy Hill’s Junior Staff Programs are an excellent opportunity to help former campers become resilient, responsible, and confident individuals that are ready to take on life’s opportunities and challenges!

The three-part progression from Counselor-In-Training (CIT), Junior Counselor (JC) to Assistant Counselor (AC) at Sandy Hill also introduces interested high-schoolers to the exciting, challenging, and rewarding world of being a camp counselor, being an employee, being a leader and serving others.

CITs earn 40 volunteer service hours, and JCs earn 110 volunteer service hours during their session.

Future leaders grow here!

Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Program

The CIT program is open to campers who have completed 9th or 10th grade and have attended at least one week of camp at Sandy Hill in the past. CITs attend morning workshops covering topics included in Sandy Hills regular staff training. In the afternoon and evening, CITs spend time staffing recreation areas and getting to know their campers. They "shadow" senior counselors, assist with teaching activities to campers, attend a staff meeting, help prepare and serve some snacks, and get an insiders view of the details that go into the operation of Sandy Hill Camp. CITs typically live together with a Senior Counselor although some weeks they may live in the cabin with the younger campers that they are assisting.

The CIT program is a prerequisite to volunteering as a Junior Counselor at Sandy Hill. CITs attending other camp sessions this summer should do so before their week as a CIT.

Eligibility Summary:

  1. Be interested in working with children and developing their leadership and interpersonal skills

  2. Be able to put the needs of their campers above their own and be a positive role model for children

  3. Currently be in 9th, 10th or 11th grade

  4. Have completed or be registered for at least one traditional camp session at Sandy Hill before your CIT session (can be a session this summer or a prior year).

To sign up for a CIT session, use the online camper registration system, just like you registered for camp in previous years. See the Jr Staff FAQs section below for answers to Frequently Asked Questions as well.

Fast Facts for CITs:

  • Eligibility: Past camper who has finished 9th or 10th grade (age 15 or 16)

  • Selective: No

  • Costs: $950

  • Length: One-week (5 nights)

  • Sessions Offered: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8

  • How to apply: Online camper registration

Junior Counselor (JC) Program

The two-week, volunteer, selective JC program is the second step in the Junior Staff progression for those who have completed the CIT program. JCs live in a lodge with middle-school aged two-week campers for one week and live in a cabin with younger one-week campers. JCs spend their days shadowing full-time counselors, assisting with activities, helping with afternoon free-time and cabin activities, working around campus, helping to prepare and serve some meals in the kitchen, and getting to know the kids in their cabin. The application process for JCs is the same as the process to be on full-time staff. Go to the staff section of the website and apply online there.

Eligibility Summary

  1. Have successfully completed a CIT session

  2. Currently be in 10th or 11th grade


To apply to be a JC, read through the "Join our Staff" section of the website, and then click here to apply online. See the Jr Staff FAQs section below for answers to Frequently Asked Questions as well.

Fast Facts for JCs:

  • Eligibility: Past CITs who have finished 10th or 11th grade (age 16 or 17)

  • Selective: Yes

  • Costs/Pay: $0 - Volunteer

  • Length: Two back-to-back one-week sessions

  • Sessions Offered: 1&2, 3&4, 5&6 or 7&8

  • How to apply: Online staff application

Assistant Counselor (AC) Program

Assistant Counselors spend part of their day supporting the camp program (assisting in activity areas, helping in the camp store, etc); around 6-7 hours each day in food service including food preparation, serving, and cleanup; and part of their day participating in camp activities with the campers in their cabin (going to dances, talent shows, evening competitions, etc.).

ACs sleep in cabins or lodges as a third staff member. ACs are invited to attend as much of the staff training week as they are available. They are also eligible to join in to the specialty training week for lifeguard, ropes, sailing, and other specialized training as well provided that they have relevant background in one of these areas.

ACs are paid approximately $500 per camper-week and are eligible to stay at camp on weekends between sessions as well as attend the staff trips to NYC, Washington DC, the beach, etc.

Eligibility Summary:
Option 1)

  1. Have successfully completed a JC session

  2. Currently be in 11th grade

OR Option 2)

  1. Currently be in 12th grade or have graduated from high school

To apply to be an AC, read through the "Join our Staff" section of the website, and then click here to apply online. See the Jr Staff FAQs section below for answers to Frequently Asked Questions as well.

Fast Facts for ACs:

  • Eligibility: Past JCs who have finished 11th grade -OR- not be a past JC and have finished 12th grade

  • Selective: Yes

  • Pay: $450 per camper-week

  • Length: Minimum five one-week sessions although typically is all or most of the summer

  • How to apply: Online staff application

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Junior Staff Program FAQs

Can I be with my friend in a cabin as a CIT or JC?
For CITs, typically yes. For most weeks, CITs of the same sex live in a cabin together with a Senior Counselor>
For JCs, no. There is only one JC per cabin.

Do CITs get to do instructional activities, cabin activities, or free time?
No, yes, and yes. CITs assist senior staff to teach an instructional activity for one period each day. CITs typically go with their campers to their cabin activities. CITs do get some "free time" on some days with their own age group and spend other days playing with the younger campers in their cabin.

Can I do CIT and JC or JC and AC in the same summer?
Yes.

Can I be a camper and a CIT or a camper and a JC in the same summer?
Yes. CIT weeks count toward the maximum of three camper-weeks per summer. JC weeks do NOT count toward the three-week maximum. So a person can be a camper for 3 weeks and also a JC for two additional weeks in a single summer. If you are considering being both a camper and a CIT or JC in the same summer, we strongly encourage you to do the camper part first and the staff part second.

Can I sign up for a CIT session more than once?
Under normal circumstances, no. The CIT program is intended to be done only once.

Can the CIT/JC program count towards community service?
That is a question for your school. If your school counts it, then we are happy to vouch for the experience that you have completed. Typically, a week of CIT contains 40 volunteer hours. Each JC session contains about 110 hours across the two weeks.

I'm currently in 9th grade, but I've never been a camper at Sandy Hill. Can I be in the CIT program?
Yes, but you must come as a camper this summer for at least one week of Sandy Hills traditional camp before your CIT session later in the summer. For example, you can come as a camper week 4 and then do any of the CIT sessions from weeks 5 thru 8.

Why do CITs have to have been a camper before they can be a CIT?
Although many aspects of working with children in the camp setting are universal, much of a staff members ability to be an effective counselor at Sandy Hill stems from their specific knowledge of how our camp works. For example, one of a CITs first tasks on registration Sunday is to show campers to their cabins. If you've never been a camper, its a bit difficult to know where to direct the arriving campers.

Can JCs and ACs stay at camp on the weekend between their two weeks of camp?
JCs - yes as part of the two-week session. ACs - with parental consent. ACs are also eligible to attend staff weekend trips to NYC, DC, Rehoboth Beach, etc.

Are CITs and JCs allowed to drive themselves to camp?
Sandy Hill permits campers, CITs and JCs to drive themselves to camp as long as they are fully licensed to do so. Like campers, CITs must drop their keys off at the office once they have arrived. They can pick them up at the end of their session. JCs may use their vehicles during the course of the week during their time off if they so choose. If driving themselves to camp, campers, CITs and JCs must have written permission from their parents/guardians before their arrival.

If I want to be on staff at Sandy Hill someday, do I have to go through the CIT/JC/AC program?
No.