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Counselor in Training
(Volunteer) Ages 12-17
Summer 2026

Accepting Applications!

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Summer Camp Counselor in Training 

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Join us this summer as a Counselor in Training (CIT) for our 100% outdoor summer camp at St. Edward State Park and Big Finn Hill Park.

Build your leadership, teaching, and group management skills supporting campers ages 3-11 while they hike, play, learn, craft and make friends!

This is a volunteer program and counts toward community service hours.

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Information and Requirements

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CIT Age

12 - 17 (12 by Aug 31st is ok)

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2026 Weeks:​

(Choose 1 or more)

Week 1, Jun 22 - 26

Week 2, Jun 29 - Jul 3

Week 3, Jul 6 - 10

Week 4, Jul 13 - 17

Week 5, Jul 20 - 24

Week 6, Jul 27 - 31

Week 7, Aug 3 - 7

​Week 8, Aug 10 - 13 (Mo-Th)​

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Camps:

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Camp Wildwood (ages 6-11)

8:30 am - 3:45 pm

Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore

Weeks 1 - 8

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Camp Bigleaf (ages 4-6)

8:30 am - 12:45 pm

Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore

Weeks 1 - 7

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Camp Heronswood (ages 5-9)

9:15 am - 2:30 pm

Big Finn Hill Park in Kirkland

Week 4 and 5

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CIT Training:

Sunday, June 7, 2026

1:30 - 3:45 pm

Saint Edward State Park 

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CITS must meet the following requirements:​​

  • Enjoy working and interacting with young children

  • Eager to be helpful and step up to this volunteer role

  • Respectful of leadership

  • Be sociable

  • Be committed to volunteering for the FULL week of camp(s) you are assigned

  • Read and follow Heartwood's Participant Rules and Guidelines

  • Actively engage with campers in a positive manner and help where needed

  • If you are looking to hang out by yourself, or just with friends, this is not the volunteer job for you

  • Take the role of CIT seriously

  • Exhibit sound judgment and act in a responsible and safe manner

  • Enjoy being a part of a team

  • Follow camp rules and directions from staff

  • Participate fully in camp activities 

  • Demonstrate a desire to develop leadership skills and embrace acting as a role model for young children

  • Demonstrate an interest in learning about the natural environment

  • Communicate in a timely manner if you need to be absent/late or need to leave early due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances

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Typical responsibilities:

  • Work alongside camp counselors

  • Assist with group management

  • Engage with campers and help ensure campers are having a good time and making friends

  • Lead songs, games, and activities

  • Organize materials and supplies

  • Help clean-up after activities and at the end of the day

  • Learn new things about nature

  • Help out with the end-of-the-week festivities

  • Morning CIT meetings with the volunteer coordinator

  • Communicate openly with the staff when problems or concerns arise

  • Take daily CIT breaks at assigned times each day

  • Pack and eat nutritious and filling lunch and snack

  • Stay hydrated

  • Check in and out with the camp director when arriving or leaving the camp area for any reason

 

Notes on Cell Phones:

  • No cell phones are allowed except during CIT break times

  • Wear a wristwatch to keep time, rather than your phone

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Training Requirements:

  • Attend ONE mandatory CIT training session, see above for the date

  • Read through training documents prior to training​​​​​

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Program fee:

Free, this is a volunteer position.

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Apply Here!

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Counselors in Training 
 

Application window:

February 1 until filled

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Our team will start reviewing applications on February 4th, 2026. The application window will stay open until we have filled all positions, with the latest possible closing date of June 1st, this may be much sooner if we have numerous early applicants.

We aim to assign camp weeks within 1 - 4 weeks of your application submittal date.

Acceptance of position: If your applicant is accepted as a CIT, an email will be sent to you with the assigned camp week(s). You must respond to the email and accept the assigned camp week(s) within 7 days of this email, otherwise we will offer the camp week(s) to another applicant.

If you have a younger sibling registerd in our camp, we will do our best to assign you to the same camp weeks your sibling is attending if you have made a request in the sibling section of your application. 

If you have a friend that you would like to volunteer with, for the best chance of being grouped together, make sure they have submitted an application within 7 days of your submittal, and for the same camp week(s). Friend requests are not guaranteed. 


Note to Parents/Guardians: Ensure your applicant CIT has read the Requirements and Responsibilities listed in the above section prior to their application submittal. CITS must agree to and meet the requirements, and they must be eager to be helpful and step up to this volunteer with position.


The application needs to be filled out by both a parent/guardian and the CIT applicant. 

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Heartwood provides outdoor enrichment classes to families of preschool, homeschool, and school-aged kids in the greater Seattle area, communities of Kirkland, Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville, Lake Forest Park, Brier, Shoreline, Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, Snohomish, Edmonds, and Montlake Terrace. 

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© 2026 Heartwood Nature Programs. All Rights Reserved. Kenmore, WA

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