A Typical Day at Camp It Up!

Mornings

Start your day with yoga, meditation or a nature walk. After breakfast, on Thursday-Saturday, the Youth Groups (ages 5-17) gather, while adult programming happens (9:00-12:00). Youth activities may include: Arts and Crafts, Group Games, Sports, Archery, Rock Climbing, Nature Walks, Percussion Class, or other special programs and activities led by Camp Counselors and CITs (Counselors-in-Training). Each morning, we also offer a Play Group for Littles (4 years and under) with their Parent/Guardian.

The Adult Program offers a variety of opportunities for adults to meet, play together, socialize, network, and build community. Adult programming is scheduled in the morning while children and teens are in their groups (9:00-12:00). Activities might include (but are not limited to): Arts & Crafts. Mosaics, Vocal Music, Performing Arts, Sports, Walks and Hiking, Bridge and other games, Healing Arts, Workshops on various topics, Affinity Groups, as well as Orientation Sessions for first-time campers. Of course, all activities are optional. Many adults choose to relax at their campsites or sit in the center of camp, comfortably relaxing on a chaise lounge, reading, and just hanging out.

Afternoons

After lunch is Family Time! Many families like to go swimming, wading, or floating on the river. Others grab their book to enjoy some reading or take a nap in one of the many hammocks hanging about. Others do Tie Dye, finish their art projects, go on a hike, take a bike ride, do archery, Rock Climbing, or make new friends while hanging out playing cards with other families. Play Volleyball, Badminton, Bocce Ball, Corn Hole, Soccer, Football, Kickball, Frisbee, or Tug a Rope; the options are endless!

Evenings

Nighttime programming and activities may include singing, game nights, nightly Bonfires, a S'mores party, a Dance, Disco Bingo, Camp Talent Show, a walk to the special Stargazing place, and more!

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Youth Leadership Development Program

In the last few years, CIU! has had an intentional organizational goal to increase the number BIPOC LGBTQAI+ families and families with LGBTQAI+, Nonbinary (NB), Genderqueer, Gender Non-Conforming (GNC), and Gender Expansive youth attending our Family Camps. As of our 2022 Camp, participants, staff, and the Board of Directors have been majority BIPOC. At our 2023 Camp 100% of CITs were LGBTQAI+, 58% were BIPOC and 27% Non-Binary (NB)/Transgender.

Representation matters! For children and teen campers to see themselves reflected in the CIU! Leadership increases their self-esteem, blooms pride, increases hope, and inspires them to lead. Camp It Up! is fun! Laughter brings joy builds community, in the beauty of nature are essential components of transformation; it’s grounding, healing, and enables us to thrive. Being a leader in a Queer Normative Family Camp that is fun, family and youth focused, and builds community is empowering and life changing. This year our goal is to have a minimum of 60% BIPOC LGBTQAI+ CITs.

Many current and former CITs and Counselors have shared their desire to be in leadership at our Camps because they want to give other LGBTQAI+ kids the opportunity to attend a Camp they never had as a kid. They share how traumatic it was for them to never have a safe environment like CIU! to be their authentic self as a child. They want to heal themselves, and their inner child. Staff who have grown up coming to CIU! share that it was the only place they felt safe; a sacred magical space for them. They want to be “out” Camp leaders now, showing young Queer kids they can be themselves and be an example of what LGBTQAI+ leadership looks like.

Our expanding CIT Leadership Development Curriculum has a focus on building the leadership skills of LGBTQAI+ NB, Genderqueer, GNC and Gender Expansive teens who specifically want to work with the expanding diversity of LGBTQAI+ families with LGBTQAI+ children and youth. Creating an opportunity for leadership skill building, where LGBTQAI+ campers can grow up to become CITs, who then can become Camp Counselors, and Program Directors, giving them a place where they know they belong, while strengthening and empowering youth leadership, their families, and our communities.

Providing access through financial assistance to BIPOC and LGBTQAI+ teens for this important life affirming opportunity to be a CIU! CIT is crucial! Economic access for BIPOC teens to be a CIT has been a barrier. All of the BIPOC CITs in 2023 needed a scholarship in order for them to participate. A CIT’s parent/guardian is required to register and attend Camp with their youth. All of the BIPOC CIT parents/guardians also needed scholarships. This year we have been awarded funding from two Foundations, The Pony Barns Foundation, and the Chamberlin Education Foundation, to provide scholarships to BIPOC and LGBTQAI+ CITs and their parents/guardians who need financial assistance in order to participate. The Pony Barns Foundation is also supporting our curriculum expansion.

Details About the CIT Program and How to Apply:

Our CIT Youth Leadership Development Program is open to teens ages 14-17 that are an incoming 9th grader or already in high school. Program participants receive leadership training prior to, via Zoom, and during Camp. The CIT is a camper and a participant in the CIT Program. They are supervised, during their training program hours, by the Youth and CIT Programs Director. They work with and are mentored by a Camp Counselor in the children/teen group program, or in one of the specialty areas: music, art/crafts, performing arts, or hospitality/admin. They also help to organize and present evening programs and special events.

It is a Program requirement that the CIT be accompanied by and housed with their parent/guardian who is also registered for Camp. CITs' parent/guardian is responsible for supervising their teen when they are not in their training time at Camp. CITs and their parent/guardian arrive on Tuesday, July 2nd at 1pm, when onsite CIT training and Camp set up begins. CITs’ training concludes at 2pm on Sunday, July 7th. Note: Check in with your school counselor because some schools give CITs internship or community service credit towards graduation.

There are 10 CIT positions available for Camp this year. To apply to the CIT program, please click HERE. The full CIT position description as well as the application is there. BIPOC and LGBTQAI+ teens are encouraged to apply.