In the summer of 2013, Deerkill's CIT program was floundering. CITs had unstructured activity time in the mornings and were assigned to help different camp groups in the afternoons as glorified go-fers who would be given more menial tasks. Not surprisingly, enrollment topped out around 8 to 10 CITs per year and very few graduated to become staff.
During the next off-season, Deerkill's leadership, in an effort to infuse new energy into the program, conceived of the STARs program (S-Supervision; T-Training; A-Adventure; R-Responsibility). This new innovative program included more advanced training (First Aid, Babysitting, Interviewing), overnight trips, annual community service projects, and real responsibility each afternoon with a constant feedback loop. Deerkill's STARs program now consistently enrolls 25 to 40 campers each year, many of whom return as staff.
Learn from the Director and STAR Leaders how the moribund CIT program evolved into the dynamic STARs program overnight.
