Farm Camp Training for Teens
Farm and Garden Camp offers successive opportunities for teens to become staff members at camp by building farm and garden skills, developing teaching and facilitation skills with children, and learning to serve as leaders in their communities. Participants develop the competence and confidence they need to be successful leaders at camp and anywhere else they pursue their passions and interests.
Jr. CITs (7th-9th graders)
Program Description
Jr. CITs explore complex topics related to food systems, community building, wellness, and leadership through workshops, hands-on time with the animals, work projects in the garden and farm fields, craft projects, and independent and small group projects. Jr. CITs spend a large amount of time with their peers and have special opportunities to buddy up with younger campers for projects, meals, and stories. Field trips and/or special guests add depth and breadth to the Jr. CIT experience.
Jr. CIT SESSIONS ARE ONE WEEK LONG. The program costs $435 per one-week session. Jr. CITs may attend one or two week-long sessions per summer.
2026 Jr. CIT:
Jr. CIT session 1: July 6 - 10
Jr. CIT session 2: July 13 - 17
Jr. CIT session 3: July 20 - 24
Jr. CIT session 4: July 27 - July 31
Jr. CIT session 5: August 3 - 7
Jr. CIT session 6: August 10 - 14
Jr. CIT session 7: August 17 - 21
Program Description
Jr. CITs explore complex topics related to food systems, community building, wellness, and leadership through workshops, hands-on time with the animals, work projects in the garden and farm fields, craft projects, and independent and small group projects. Jr. CITs spend a large amount of time with their peers and have special opportunities to buddy up with younger campers for projects, meals, and stories. Field trips and/or special guests add depth and breadth to the Jr. CIT experience.
Jr. CIT SESSIONS ARE ONE WEEK LONG. The program costs $435 per one-week session. Jr. CITs may attend one or two week-long sessions per summer.
2026 Jr. CIT:
Jr. CIT session 1: July 6 - 10
Jr. CIT session 2: July 13 - 17
Jr. CIT session 3: July 20 - 24
Jr. CIT session 4: July 27 - July 31
Jr. CIT session 5: August 3 - 7
Jr. CIT session 6: August 10 - 14
Jr. CIT session 7: August 17 - 21
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CITs (Counselors-In-Training, 10th-12th grades or age 15+)
Program Description:
CITs participate in a four-week program focusing on counselor skill development. The first two weeks include a series of workshops on counseling skills as well as time with campers. The second two weeks are spent with camper groups to apply learning and practice skills. Opportunities for 1-on-1 and group check-ins are included throughout the entire program. CITs participate in a self-reflective evaluation process with the CIT Instructor at the end of their time at camp. The training weeks occur during sessions 2 and 3; CITs may select any other sessions during the summer to complete their two practice weeks.
2026 CIT training dates: July 13 - 24 (M-F)
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Topics Covered In Training Weeks:
~ Child Development ~ Stages of Group Development ~ Behavior & Conflict ~ Leadership ~ Using Your Voice ~ Leading Games ~ Accessibility & Neurodiversity ~ Nervous System Regulation ~ Activity Planning, Implementation & Evaluation ~ Giving and Receiving Feedback ~ Time Management and Organizational Strategies ~ and more! “I am very thankful to have had this experience, this past few weeks and this summer, to come be a CIT and help out. It has taught me so much about kids, the farm, and garden. It has grown my interest in farming and studying agriculture in college. I hope there will be more programs this year that I can come and help at, and if not I really hope to come back in the summer. Thank you and to all the people who made this possible at a time like this. I wish to be back soon!!!” Former CIT 2020 |
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Assistant Instructors (11th grade and older or age 16+)
Program Description:
Teens who have demonstrated skill, commitment, camp knowledge, and maturity in the CIT program are eligible to work as Assistance Instructors. Assistant Instructors are ready to take the next step towards becoming Instructors by serving as paid stewards of campers, animals, and plants on the farm. Assistant Instructors receive mentorship from the Core Team as well as other staff to develop in the following areas:
For more information, see the Staff Hiring Page.
Program Description:
Teens who have demonstrated skill, commitment, camp knowledge, and maturity in the CIT program are eligible to work as Assistance Instructors. Assistant Instructors are ready to take the next step towards becoming Instructors by serving as paid stewards of campers, animals, and plants on the farm. Assistant Instructors receive mentorship from the Core Team as well as other staff to develop in the following areas:
- Knowledge about camp routines and infrastructure, and animal/plant health and care;
- Skills with farm tools, plant identification, animal handling, communication with staff, teaching campers;
- Awareness of camp operations and safety.
For more information, see the Staff Hiring Page.