We are so excited to introduce our first two CITs of 2019, Sophia and Flora!
Flora is a second year CIT, who has been coming to camp since 2016, and Sophia is a first year CIT, who first surfed with Dustin when she was seven years old! We’ll profile the other two CITs in an upcoming blog post.
“Each of our 2019 CITs is chosen for having demonstrated leadership qualities at camp, received positive feedback by staff, and wrote an exceptional application,” shared Dustin, Maui Surfer Girls’ founder and director. “We’re looking forward to an excellent summer with these ladies serving as positive role models for our campers, and a great support to our staff.”
Meet Sophia
Hello! I’m Sophia and I just finished my first year at Duke University. I’m from the Bay Area in California, but Maui is like a second home to me. Just last year, I attended Maui Surfer Girls teen summer camp and had the opportunity to surf with the incredible, empowering women at MSG. During this experience, I met amazing girls, cliff jumped for the first time, and obviously improved my surfing skills! One special experience I’ve had with MSG is tandem surfing with Dustin. When I was about seven years old, I went surfing for the first time with Dustin and we first tandem’d then. Then last year, we reunited and were able to remake the experience! This summer, I’m excited to bond with new campers and contribute to the welcoming, supportive environment that MSG cultivates.
Meet Flora
I’m currently a senior in high school in Seattle, Washington, and I’m hoping to spend next year starting a college study of fashion. I can’t wait to get back to camp for my second year as a CIT! Coming to camp for the first time in 2016 was one of the scariest things I have ever done, but I am SO thankful that I chose to do it anyway! Maui Surfer Girls has given me a second home and family, each year since I have looked forward to reunions with camp friends from years past, and meeting new girls and women. MSG is absolutely my happy place, and I know that I will always be able to count on my ohana here for love and support. I’m particularly excited to help new campers adjust this year, and hopefully help them find a new or stronger love for the girls here and themselves.
More about our CIT Program
The CIT program is a three week long leadership course, including a one week training program and two weeks of helping run our surf camps. Their responsibilities as a CIT include two important camp roles. They are a “cabin mama” for the 5 campers in their cabin. Additionally, they are a “beach captain” that helps assist their assigned surf instructor with loading boards on our vans and providing encouragement and coaching to the girls in their surf pods. It’s a big job, as the CITs are on both during the day and night with the campers.
The CIT program, which launched back in 2004, is also a great work experience to put on a resume or college application. Camp director Dustin has written several college application reference letters for past CITs. She’s proud to say that two past CITs (Molly Ashkenas and Kit Ramgopal) have both gone on to attend Stanford University! We are proud of every one of our campers and CITs, and each summer we are thrilled to welcome more incredible girls into our MSG family!