Lead / Create / Contribute
235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  /  732.542.4777

More Stories

List of 10 news stories.

Counselor-in-Training Program Creates Leaders

This year, Ranney School offered its first Counselor-in-Training (CIT) day camp program for 14-year-olds. By summer’s end, approximately 30 students will have completed the full-day CIT program, which includes special camp and trip activities for this age group, as well as CPR training and opportunities to assist Ranney Day Camp Staff with specific camp duties.

“The CIT program was developed as a means of properly training young teens to be effective camp counselors in future years as well as a method of bridging our school’s regular camp program with our junior counselor and regular staff program,” said Mr. Mike Ling, who is managing the CIT program. Mr. Ling teaches History in the Middle School and also coaches the Varsity Boys’ Soccer time during the school year.

The CIT program emphasizes the development of leadership skills with themed work projects where accountability, collaboration, compassion, respect, responsibility and sportsmanship are discussed and practiced in camp interactions with children, peers and adults. “The program is designed to build quality adult leadership and includes a strong support system, which is a key element for success,” explains Mr. Ling.

For example, the young counselors—or CITs as the campers call them—develop skills tied to problem solving, role modeling and teamwork by working not only with groups of students but also under the supervision of senior counselors, camp specialists and staff members. “We aim to bring these skills out among the 14-year-olds in a way that makes a difference in the lives of our campers, who are between the ages of 3 and 13,” says Mr. Ling. “One is never too young to be a leader, and Ranney CITs engage in a series of hands-on challenges, workshops and activities designed to teach the skills and mindset of exceptional leadership.”

Michael Abelar has spent his past three summers as a Ranney summer camper and knew he wanted to work his way up to being a counselor. He participated in all eight weeks of the CIT program this summer to prepare. “I needed to get experience first so that I’d be ready to go in and be a good counselor next year,” he says.

Michael split his time between working with groups of campers, primarily eight- and nine-year-olds, and working in the camp office. As a result, he was able to work with students in their art, music, science, computer, sports and swim classes and gain an understanding of how camps are run. For example, Michael helped with the daily dismissal lists, escorting kids to different activities across campus and interacting with parents who had questions. “Counseling is harder than I imagined,” he said. “But it was great to see what goes on behind the scenes, like organizing each week’s activities and how to set up the ice cream stand.”

This fall, Michael is headed into his freshman year.

Christine Church, a rising 10th grader, also participated in the CIT program and says she has thoroughly enjoyed her summer here at Ranney. “I’ve always liked spending time with little kids because I have three young cousins. My assigned CIT group was the preschool group of 3- and 4-year-olds, so it worked out perfectly,” she says.

As a CIT, Christine helped the children with art and music activities and assisted in leading their sports sessions. “At the beginning of the summer, I didn’t know quite how to take care of kids or how to discipline them if they were doing something wrong, but now I feel pretty confident with this age group.”

Christine also boosted her leadership skills as a CIT. Not only did she earn her CPR certification through the program, but she also participated in the leadership seminars where she learned how to work with campers and manage day-to-day camp situations in a fun way. “We learned about a lot of different rules, but it wasn’t boring,” says Christine.

Adds Mr. Ling, “Overall, we have developed a rewarding, challenging and fun training program. CITs that complete the program not only will have strong potential for successfully making the transition to a staff member in future summers, but they also will have developed a skill set that can be used for success in daily life.”

Both Michael and Christine plan to apply to become junior counselors at Ranney next summer. We wish them a safe and happy school year and hope to see them back on campus next summer!
Back

Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.