One of the main goals at Maui Surfer Girls teen surf camp has always been to create opportunities for leadership and personal development. Being selected as a CIT (Counselor in Training) has become more and more competitive through the years, and it is quite an honor to be selected.
“The 2024 CITs were chosen based on their demonstrated leadership skills, positive feedback from staff, and having written exceptional applications,” shared Dustin, the camp’s founder and director. “We’re looking forward to an excellent summer with these strong individuals serving as both as positive role models for our campers, and a great support to our staff.”
Below, each of the 4 CITs introduce themselves to our incoming campers, and share a little bit about how attending the Teen Camp has helped to shape their journeys.
Meet Betsy
“Hello! My name is Betsy. I attended MSG in 2015, 2016, and 2017. I am from from Northern California and have been surfing since I was 10. I am currently a student at Eckerd College in Florida studying Sociology, Women’s studies, and Religious studies, although I have taken some breaks along the way. During my breaks from college I become a certified preschool teacher and lived and worked as a surf instructor in rural Ireland. I love and honor connection with human beings and am honored to join the MSG family this summer!”
WHAT MSG PROGRAMS HAVE YOU ATTENDED AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF AT THESE PROGRAMS?
“I attended MSG’s teen surf camp for three consecutive summers, from 2015 to 2017. I came to MSG as a shy 13 year old girl with a mouth full of braces, and was terrified to spend three weeks somewhere I knew nobody. However, that fear quickly dispelled as I was warmly welcomed into a supportive community where I immediately felt safe and celebrated for who I was. MSG pushed me out of my comfort zone physically and emotionally. I think surfing is a wonderful teacher, and surfing every day with encouraging leaders allowed me to foster patience, humility, and perseverance.
I grew to have a deep love for surfing and understand that being “good” is not the most important thing; what it’s really about is connecting with the ocean, finding peace within yourself, having respect for others, practicing mindfulness, and spreading the “stoke” with others. I learned through my time MSG how to be more social, and was able to foster deep friendships in such a short amount of time.”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LEVEL OF SCHOOLING:
“I am first and foremost a student of the earth. However, I graduated high school in 2019 and am currently enrolled at Eckerd College with a Sociology and Spanish double major and a Women & Gender Studies minor, with expectation to graduate in January of 2025. I took a gap year and attended two semester-long gap year educational programs with focuses on leadership, community building, cultural education, ecotourism, and environmental stewardship in Ireland (Irish Gap Year) and Chile (ARCC Gap Semester Patagonia). I also received my Early Childhood Education certification from Diablo Valley College.”
IF YOU COULD SURF WITH ONE PERSON (EVEN A HISTORICAL PERSON WHO DOESNT SURF) WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“Oh man, this is a tough one. Jack Johnson is the first person to come to mind. I would like to chat with him about music and sing with him in the water. His music always pops into my head when I’m surfing, so seeing him in the lineup would be an awesome full-circle moment.”
Meet Atlas
“My name is Atlas Flynn, I’m 18 years old, and I use they/them pronouns. I just graduated from King Kekaulike High School here on Maui. I will be going to Portland State University for graphic design in September. Besides surfing I love to play bass, ukulele, and drums, as well as draw, listen to music, adventure with friends and go to punk shows. My favorite movie is fight club (please talk to me about fight club omg). Anyway, I’m so excited to meet you all.”
WHAT MSG PROGRAMS HAVE YOU ATTENDED AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF AT THESE PROGRAMS?
“I have attended 3 teen camps, in 2019, 2021, and 2023. At these camps I learned that I was a lot more capable than I thought, and I really could do anything I wanted if I just worked hard enough. I also learned that I was a lot tougher than I thought.”
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO BECOME A CIT?
“Last year one of the CITs, Ryan, had befriended me and they really inspired me to be a CIT because they were such a nice and supportive leader and they told me that I would make a great CIT.”
IF YOU COULD SURF WITH ONE PERSON (EVEN A HISTORICAL PERSON WHO DOESNT SURF) WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“My mom. She is scared of the water but I think if she wasn’t and was able to go out and surf with me she would have an amazing time with me and I love doing things with her.”
Meet Megan
“Hello! My name is Megan, and I am a student at Lake Washington High School. I live in Kirkland, Washington which is about twenty minutes outside of Seattle. I have grown up loving sports and currently compete on my school’s swim and track teams! I had a blast at camp last year and I am super excited to return again for another amazing year! My favorite memory from last year was when we brought all of our mattresses into the dining hall and had a movie night! I’m looking forward to meeting you all!”
WHAT MSG PROGRAMS HAVE YOU ATTENDED AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF AT THESE PROGRAMS?
“I attended the 2023 Teen’s Surf Camp, and I learned a lot about myself! I already knew that I liked to meet new people/make new friends, but I learned that I really like talking to people with different cultures/backgrounds. Additionally, I loved learning about the Hawaiian culture and way of life. Listening to Hoku talk about stories dating back thousands of years and finding out that people first started surfing on canoes were some of my favorite memories from camp!”
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO BECOME A CIT?
“Going to camp last year was one of the highlights of my summer and an experience that I am incredibly grateful for! This year I would like to take on more responsibility and improve my leaderships skills before I start preparing for college.”
IF YOU COULD SURF WITH ONE PERSON (EVEN A HISTORICAL PERSON WHO DOESNT SURF) WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“I would surf with Taylor Swift because I love her music, her accomplishments and resilience have turned her into an inspiration to young women across the world, and despite her success she seems down to earth.”
Meet Lillian
WHAT MSG PROGRAMS HAVE YOU ATTENDED AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF AT THESE PROGRAMS?
“I attended the 2023 teen camp, and it is impossible to forget the positivity and love that I was immediately met with. As I got to know my fellow campers and the staff, I quickly realized that the MSG community is exactly the kind of people that I want to surround myself with. When I got home, my time at MSG affected the way I acted toward others, felt about myself, and thought about the world. I learned that I can carry the love given to me to every part of my life, even when I am in an entirely different place.”
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO BECOME A CIT?
“Meeting all of the incredible women at MSG helped me realize who I hope to become. Looking back at the first interactions I had on Maui last summer, the warmth and kindness that Naks greeted me with had an immense impact on me. The genuine interest that I was shown by everyone at MSG showed me the kind of impact that I hope to have on others. Because of this, becoming a CIT would be an incredibly exciting opportunity for me.”
IF YOU COULD SURF WITH ONE PERSON (EVEN A HISTORICAL PERSON WHO DOESNT SURF) WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“If I could surf with one person, it would be my grandmother, Ann. She currently lives in Clearlake, California, but lived in Maui for many years. She never learned to surf but has always had a deep connection with nature and the ocean. Her respect for water and the environment has inspired my passion for protecting the earth, and outdoor activities. Throughout my life, she has been an incredible role model for me, leading with compassion and strength.”