Junior Counselors
What is AICL’s Junior Counselor program?
Believe it or not, there is life beyond “throwing in the towel.” After our campers graduate, we want to prepare them for whatever comes next. Our Junior Counselor program is available for rising high school seniors who are ready to take on more responsibility and help bring camp to life behind the scenes. Think of it almost like an internship – a stepping stone from participating in AICL as a camper to making that experience possible for others. The skills you learn as a JC can help prepare campers for employment opportunities down the line, whether that's at AICL or other summer camps.
What is it like being a Junior Counselor?
Don’t expect your Junior Counselor (JC) year to be exactly like your experience as a camper… but don’t expect it to be exactly like being a staff member either. The JC year is a year of transition, where you can learn, laugh, and create alongside your fellow JCs – and where you’ll help others do the same. We want our JCs to gain experience as both counselors and teachers. Our JCs help run the day camper program, working alongside our day camper counselors to coordinate drop-off, pickup, and afternoon activities. During the day, JCs work with teachers to assist in classes. During the evening, JCs help with activities and clubs. In general, JCs are available to help set up, take down, apply zombie makeup, or do whatever is needed to help run a successful camp.
What’s the difference between Counselor-In-Training and the Junior Counselor program?
Counselor-In-Training (CIT) is a class we offer to campers who are rising high school juniors and seniors. You would sign up for that class just like you would Jugger or History of Hip Hop. We require anyone who is thinking about coming back as a Junior Counselor to take the CIT class first. The Junior Counselor program is available the following year, for graduating high school seniors. Rather than a class you take at camp, the Junior Counselor program is more like an internship, a post-graduation program where you’ll find real-life uses for the skills you learned in CIT.
Who is eligible?
Campers who graduated from camp the previous summer are eligible to apply for our Junior Counselor program. We also require that our Junior Counselors have taken the Counselor-In-Training class with us, either at camp the previous year or virtually. If you were unable to take CIT but would still like to apply, reach out to us at OperationsManager@appalachianinstitute.org.
How do I apply?
Send us a letter of interest to OperationsManager@appalachianinstitute.org. Applicants will receive a decision by May 15.
"I really enjoyed being back at camp as a JC! It's like finally getting to get a glimpse behind the scenes of how camp functions and learning about how you can contribute to it. I loved being able to plan activities and come up with ideas for the week, and engaging with all of the campers is always a rewarding experience. It's exciting to finally be able to see all of the love and effort that goes into making AICL the best it can be for everybody."
~ Piper, previous Junior Counselor
