Applying for a Counselor in Training (CIT) position at a summer camp is often a young person’s first step into leadership, mentorship, and responsibility. While many applicants are high school and college students that won’t have formal job experience, a well-written letter of recommendation can highlight the personal qualities and potential that make someone a great fit for a Counselor in Training program.
Whether you’re a teacher, coach, mentor, or family friend, your support can help a future counselor start their journey with confidence. Below is a sample letter of recommendation for a Summer Camp Counselor in Training (CIT) who is just getting started that focuses on the candidate’s potential, attitude, and foundational skills like responsibility, reliability, teamwork, enthusiasm, and a genuine interest in working with kids.
Sample Letter of Recommendation for a Summer Camp Counselor in Training (CIT) Who Has No Related Experience
[Date]
Dear Camp Leadership Team [or To whom it may concern],
I am excited to recommend [Candidate Name] for your Counselor in Training (CIT) program at [Camp Name]. As [Candidate’s teacher/mentor/family friend/etc.], I’ve had the opportunity to get to know [him/her/them] over the past [number] years and can confidently say that [he/she/they] possess the character, attitude, and enthusiasm that are perfect for a future camp counselor.
Although [Candidate Name] has not yet worked in a camp environment, [he/she/they] has consistently shown strong leadership potential and a natural ability to connect with peers and younger children. Whether volunteering to help set up school events or offering support to classmates during group projects, [Candidate Name] brings kindness, patience, and a “can-do” attitude to every situation.
What stands out most about [Candidate Name] is [his/her/their] maturity and willingness to learn. [He/She/They] take direction well, ask thoughtful questions, and step up when others need help. These are exactly the qualities that CIT programs are designed to nurture—and [Candidate Name] is more than ready to grow in this role.
In addition to being dependable and hard-working, [Candidate Name] brings great energy and creativity. [He/She/They] enjoy working on group activities, love the outdoors, and genuinely care about making others feel included—traits that every great camp counselor starts with.
I wholeheartedly recommend [Candidate Name] for your CIT program. I believe [he/she/they] will be a wonderful addition to your camp community and will make the most of this learning opportunity.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title or Relationship to Candidate]
[Your Organization or School Name, if applicable]
[Email Address – optional]
[Phone Number – optional]
How to Personalize This Sample Letter of Recommendation for a Summer Camp Counselor in Training (CIT)
This sample is here to give you a strong starting point — but the most effective recommendation letters are the ones that feel real, specific, and personal. Here’s how to make it your own:
1. Replace the placeholders.
Anywhere you see brackets, like [Candidate Name], [School Name], or [Position Title], simply swap in the real details. Taking a few extra minutes to personalize these areas helps ensure your letter reads as thoughtful and sincere.
2. Add real-life examples.
Think of a time when the person you’re recommending made a genuine impact, maybe they guided a student through a tough moment, led a successful school project, or stepped up when it really counted. Specific, meaningful examples are what make a recommendation stand out.
3. Match the tone to your relationship.
Whether you were their supervisor, a colleague, or a mentor, feel free to adjust the wording to reflect how you worked together. A letter that reflects your authentic relationship carries more weight and credibility.
4. Save time by using AI to personalize the letter.
If you’re short on time, you can copy this letter into an AI writing tool to help you quickly replace the placeholders or enter specific details that would be helpful for your draft. Just make sure to review and ensure that it echoes your own voice; your real experiences and insight are what truly bring the letter to life, and that’s something AI can’t replace.
In Closing
A Counselor in Training (CIT) program is about potential and not necessarily perfection. Even if the candidate is a high school or college student who hasn’t held a job before, you can still write a meaningful recommendation by focusing on qualities like kindness, dependability, teamwork, and enthusiasm.
Think about the moments that made you say, “This young person is someone others can count on.” Those observations are exactly what camp directors and leadership teams want to hear.
Looking for more summer camp sample letters of recommendations for first-time applicants? We’ve got resources to support every step of the journey.
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