CONSIDER THIS

Does your teenager need something fun and productive to do this summer? Do you want peace of mind as to where they are and what they are up to? Send them our way to be a CIT at the Colorado Mountain Ranch. Teens thrive on being and feeling important. At the ranch, they not only feel like it, they are stars! CITs get a one-of-a-kind summer in a wholesome outdoor setting, having fun and growing as leaders.

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HOW THE MENTORING PROGRAM WORKS

High-school-age teen leader CITs are matched in advance with a mentor who is a group counselor or activity instructor. When being mentored by a group counselor, the group’s campers are generally 2-3 years younger than they CIT. This may be a group of elementary-school-age campers or middle-school-age campers, either Explorers or Mountaineers. The CIT will be mentored by the counselor as they learn to assist with the younger children. They are junior counselors while also participating in all the fun activities.

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WHEN A CIT PARTICIPATES FOR MULTIPLE WEEKS

At the end of their first week as a CIT, the participant can choose who they wish to be their mentor for subsequent weeks. They may submit three choices from both the counselors and the activity instructors, including the wranglers.

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WRANGLER-IN-TRAINING WEEKS

When a CIT mentors a wrangler for a week, they become a CIT Wrangler-in-Training (WIT) for that week. They then have the opportunity to learn more about working with horses. They learn how to both keep and care for horses. Their responsibilities include mucking, tacking, untacking, and overall support towards the horse program. This does not necessarily mean more ride time.

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FOR TEENAGERS WHO WISH TO RIDE HORSES MORE

Being a CIT doesn’t necessarily mean more ride time.The Western Rider program accepts participants as old as 12th graders. The Western Riders is the program for those who really wish to ride a lot and improve their riding skills!

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COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The objective of the program are for each teenager to gain personal competence, confidence, resilience, and a sense of responsibility in today's world. Goals for the CIT include learning how to interact with all ages in a positive way, training to become a children's group leader, developing skills in teaching various activities by assisting, and feeling the satisfaction of community service.

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2023 COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING TIME WITH PEERS

The 2023 Teen Program at the Colorado Mountain Ranch is designed to be safe as well as allow for peer time together, along with the CIT counselor. In addition to always being with the adult counselor or instructor that they are assisting, the CITs ride on their own bus together and eat lunch with all other CITs.

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CAMP ACTIVITIES

Each CIT who is helping with a group has the same opportunity as all the others in the group to participate, learn, practice individual skills, and enjoy all the activities.

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GUIDANCE, FEEDBACK, AND DOCUMENTED COMMUNITY SERVICE

While gaining experience as care-takers, instructors, and positive role models for young children, CITs will also receive guidance and feedback. Their time with children assisting a group counselor or instructor will be documented as Community Service hours. This documentation may be helpful for high school graduation or college applications and can be helpful when applying for volunteer or paid jobs in the future.