SUCCESS STARTS WITH A SMILE
March 8, 2020
By Darlene Conway
I am so happy to announce that we are running a new program this year for our CITs (Counselors in Training). I had planned on starting this program last summer but, like with most plans, it was pushed off until this summer. However, this summer is an excellent opportunity for teens to get involved in their community and get out of the house and out of their comfort zone.
This summer, we are running a full CIT program with so many opportunities for learning and for teens ages 14 and 15 yrs old to learn new things and get a behind the scenes look at a small business right here in Hillsborough. In addition to gaining some insight into the various operations of a small business, our CITs are required to participate in courses that will give them the skills to be able to apply and possibly secure a job here at Pinnacle when they turn 16.
The courses our CITs are required to take are the Safe Sitter course which is run by an outside vendor that will provide certifications in infant/child CPR as well as a certificate that says they have completed a Safe Sitter child watch course which educates teens on childcare safety, stages of childhood development, and life and business skills.
Our Jr Lifeguard program is run by our own Pinnacle SPLASH team. CITs will be trained in the basic skills of lifeguarding, how to handle water emergencies, first aid, chemical testing of the pool. In addition, all Jr Lifeguards will shadow current lifeguards for 2 days after completing the Jr Lifeguard course.
Finally, each of our CITs will be mentored by a SMILE camp counselor throughout their time here. They will be learning through experience and by shadowing our camp counselors and interacting with our campers throughout the day. Trust me, by the end of the summer if not the week, our CITs will know whether or not being a camp counselor is something they would want to pursue as their summer job.
I am so excited to give our CITs this exposure and the opportunity to ask questions and to learn through on the job training! I think it is extremely important to give our teens opportunities to learn, ask questions, and obtain skills that can be useful as they get older.
