Ready to take the next step in your Camp Sunflower journey? Our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program is designed just for you — starting the summer after you graduate high school (when you’re officially too old to come as a camper) and available through age 21.

Whether you dream of becoming a future camp counselor or just want to deepen your leadership skills while soaking up the magic of camp, the CIT Program is your opportunity to grow, lead, and make a real impact.

CITs are youth leaders gaining hands-on experience at camp. They:
🌻 Assist counselors in daily activities and camper support
🌻 Learn from and shadow experienced staff
🌻 Contribute to camp culture by modeling kindness, inclusion, and enthusiasm
🌻 Take initiative on tasks and projects that support the whole team

You’ll experience the joy of Camp Sunflower with increased freedom and responsibility, have your own CIT cabin, and follow a special schedule that balances:
🌟 Leadership training
🌟 Supporting campers and camp activities
🌟 Just-for-fun CIT bonding and community

This isn’t just any leadership experience — you’ll receive:
🌻 Training and mentorship from seasoned youth leaders, camp directors, and counselors
🌻 Formal leadership development designed just for queer youth
🌻 Opportunities to practice your skills in a real, joyful camp environment
🌻 A chance to build your own CIT community and stay connected to the heart of Camp Sunflower

Since it launched in 2022, the CIT Program has grown from just a few participants into a vibrant pipeline of future camp staff — turning campers into confident, compassionate leaders who help shape the next generation of queer youth at camp.

We’re looking for passionate, motivated youth who:
🌟 Care deeply about the queer community and supporting queer youth
🌟 Embody the Camp Sunflower mission, vision, and values:

• 🌻 QUEER JOY: We celebrate the vibrant, unapologetic expression of queer identities, fostering an environment where joy is a powerful act of resistance and affirmation.
• 🌻 QUEER COMMUNITY: We build and nurture communities that embrace and uplift queer individuals, creating spaces where everyone feels a deep sense of belonging and connection.
• 🌻 UNWAVERING ACCESS: We break down barriers, ensuring that all queer individuals, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the support and spaces they need to thrive.
• 🌻 ADVOCACY & AWARENESS: We actively promote understanding and advocacy beyond our community, equipping allies and advocates with the knowledge and tools to elevate queer voices and foster inclusivity in the broader world.

Check out our About page to learn more!

If you’re ready to be a role model, take on meaningful responsibility, and help spread the sunshine, we’d love to have you join the CIT Program! You can apply to be a CIT by filling out a camp registration form on our Events page (when registration is open).

We want you to feel excited and confident about coming to Camp Sunflower! If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to Finn, our camp director at campdirector@campsunflower.org.

🌻 Ready to make memories that last a lifetime? 🌻