Youth Staff
Sugar Hollow Day Camp is staffed entirely by volunteers. Youth Staff are the backbone of our camp program, and we could not run camp without them. Want to join the fun?
All youth staff positions are for the whole session, Monday-Friday, and include the overnight. Youth staff will be assigned to a unit or the admin team to support activities throughout the week. Additionally, they will help run 1-2 skill stations and serve whole-camp meals.
Staffing Timeline
October - December - Staff apply & register for camp
January-July - Staff prepare and train for camp
Four Youth Staff Levels
Junior Assistant (JA)
JAs are girls entering the 8th grade in the fall. JA is a one-year position, and JAs return as a CPA or CIT the following year.
JAs come to camp to assist the staff with all activities and to help campers practice skills.
JAs must attend the SHDC-specific all staff training prior to working at camp but are not required to attend the council-run CPA training.
Cadette Program Aide (CPA)
CPAs are girls entering the 8th-12th grade in the fall. CPA is a one-year position, and CPAs return as a CIT the following year. Girls may attend as a CPA for a second year if they are of CIT age but unable to attend CIT training.
CPAs come to camp to assist the staff with all activities and to help campers practice skills.
CPAs must attend the council-run CPA training session that focuses on building leadership skills in addition to SHDC-specific all staff training prior to working at camp.
Counselor in Training (CIT) I
CIT Is are girls entering the 9th-12th grade in the fall. CIT is a two-year position. CITs earn their youth staff whistle during their first year of service and graduate to CIT II during their second year.
They come to camp to develop leadership skills by working with staff and teaching skills to campers.
CIT Is must attend a council-run weekend-long training session that focuses on outdoor skills in a camp setting in addition to SHDC-specific all staff training prior to working at camp.
Counselor in Training (CIT) II
CIT IIs are girls entering the 11th-12th grade in the fall. CIT II is a two-year position, and CIT IIs return to camp as adult staff once they turn 18 years of age.
They should have several years of camp experience and CIT leadership training.
CIT IIs must attend the SHDC-specific all staff training prior to working at camp. There is no council-run training for this level.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the positions:
Youth Staff Fees
JA: $50
CPA, CIT, & CIT II: no fee
If not already, all youth volunteers must become Girl Scouts and pay the $32 registration fee with GSUSA.
Siblings of youth staff do not qualify for the staff discount.
Youth Staff Training Sessions
CPA-specific training
GSVSC’s Cadette Program Aide Leadership Course
April 12, 2025 at Camp Sugar Hollow
Other Dates/Locations TBD
CIT-specific training
GSVSC’s Counselor-In-Training Training
April 12, 2025 at Camp Sugar Hollow
Other Dates/Locations TBD
All Youth Staff
SHDC’s All-Staff Training:
April 26, 2025