UC Berkeley Youth Recreation offers several experiential leadership opportunities for Junior High and High School aged youth. Our age-appropriate experiential leadership programs bridge junior and high schoolers from camper to leader. Program offerings range from leadership development programs to Counselor In Training (CIT) programs. Students who complete leadership training at the Senior level (ages 14-15) are eligible to return and apply for counselor positions.
Campers in Leadership Training (Ages 12 – 14): The Campers in Leadership Training (CILT) program offers youth an opportunity to develop leadership and job-related skills while working with children at their selected summer camp.
Counselors-in-Training (Age 15): The Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program provides teens with age-appropriate opportunities to build foundational skills for future roles as Junior Counselors. CITs gain hands-on experience working with children, assisting with camp activities, and learning the basics of leadership in a supportive environment.
Junior Counselor Program (Ages 16-17): The Junior Counselor (JC) program is designed to cultivate leadership skills that extend beyond camp, empowering teens with tools they can apply to all areas of life and future careers. As paid junior staff members, Junior Counselors take on greater responsibilities than Counselors-in-Training (CITs), including opportunities to lead activities and teach children under the guidance of our experienced adult staff.
Adventures Junior Leadership Program (Ages 13-14): Junior Leadership is a small group of future outdoor leaders, experiencing all that Adventures has to offer while fostering their own leadership goals.
Adventures Senior Leadership Program (Ages 14-15 - Application only): Senior Leaders are campers who are applying and refining their leadership and instructional skills. Under the supervision of our talented instructors, Senior Leaders will select a skill area from our program offerings where they will develop and achieve leadership goals.
Rock Climbing Leadership (Ages 14 – 16 - Application only): The first four-week leadership offering by Adventures, participants in this aquatic and Rock Climbing will spend two weeks based at the marina and two weeks at our various climbing sites in the Berkeley hills. Rock Climbing Leaders will likely not spend a lot of time climbing, but will be growing as outdoor leaders while supporting instructors and younger campers.
