Overnight Camp Counselor Jobs
Do something that matters with your summer.
Live at camp. Work with kids. Spend your days outside, teach activities, get in the lake, and have a summer that looks nothing like a normal job.
You’ll be responsible for real kids, which means this is real work. You’ll also get Color Wars, ridiculous costumes, Chaos, and a whole group of people doing it alongside you.
18+ | Housing + meals included | At least 6 weeks
Okay, But What Am I Actually Doing?
Your job changes throughout the day.
In the morning, you’re with your cabin getting everyone up, ready, and to breakfast. Later, you might be lifeguarding at the lake, teaching archery, leading a Club, or running something during Camper Choice. At Recharge, you’re back with your cabin. At night, you could be refereeing Capture the Flag, hiding in the swamp dressed as a dragon, or playing Chaos and ending up disgusting enough that everyone jumps in the lake afterward.
Then you’re back in the cabin for showers, meds, Vespers, and bedtime.
You’re part counselor, part activity leader, and occasionally whatever character the evening activity requires.
No two days look exactly the same.
Wait. Am I With Kids All the Time?
Pretty much while you’re working, yes.
You live with them. You eat with them. You’re there for the really fun stuff and the very unglamorous stuff. Sometimes a camper is homesick. Sometimes they’ve lost a shoe. Sometimes two kids are mad at each other. Sometimes someone desperately needs you to WATCH THIS.
You also get two hours off every day. You can leave camp during that time, and most staff do. Grab food in town, hang out for a while, take a nap.
Once your cabin is cleaned and you’re finished for the week on Saturday, you’re off until 11:30 AM Sunday. You can go home, go somewhere with friends, or stay at camp and sleep in a cabin. There are also opportunities to work a Stayover on some weekends if you want to.
What If I’ve Never Done Anything Like This?
That’s okay. You’re not doing it alone.
You’ll have one or two co-counselors living in the cabin with you. The other cabins in your age group are only a few steps away, and some are literally attached to yours.
Your Unit Leader is responsible for just four to six cabins and lives in one of them, too. They’ll visit cabins, help with behavior or homesickness, cover breaks, and be there when you hit something you don’t know how to handle. There’s a full leadership team beyond them.
We train you before campers arrive, but we don’t train you for a week and then say, “Heyyy, you got this.”
If it’s 10:15 at night and you and your co-counselor are looking at each other thinking, I have absolutely no idea what to do right now, call your Unit Leader. That’s what they’re there for.
This job can be tough. It’s a lot of responsibility. Bring the fun, follow the policies we give you, and ask for help when you need it.
We can teach you the rest.
How Much Do I Make?
Overnight Camp Counselors start at $325/week, plus housing and meals.
Staff Training runs May 26–June 2, 2027, and you’ll receive a $200 training salary for the week.
You can also make more by getting trained in additional program areas. We provide the training.
| Training | Additional Pay |
|---|---|
| Lifeguard | +$50/week |
| Adventure Course | +$50/week |
| Shooting Sports | +$40/week |
| Equestrian | +$40/week |
| Arts & Crafts Track | +$25/week |
| Sports Track | +$25/week |
They stack.
The extra training also gives you more variety. If lifeguarding is your only certification, awesome. You’ll probably spend a lot of your activity time at the lake or pool. Add adventure, shooting sports, arts and crafts, or sports, and there are more places we can put you throughout the week.
For lifeguarding, we use the YMCA of the USA Lifeguard certification. If you already have a Red Cross lifeguard certification, you’ll still need to complete the certification we use at camp.
Do I Have to Give You My Whole Summer?
No.
Our 2027 summer sessions run June 2–August 7, and we ask Overnight Camp Counselors to work at least six week-long sessions. They don’t have to be consecutive.
If you already have a family vacation, college orientation, or something else on your calendar, tell us what your summer looks like. We can work around a lot when we know about it.
Staff Training is different. We really need you here May 26–June 2. If you already know you have a conflict, let us know as soon as possible. Depending on the dates, times, and your experience, we may be able to work with you, and we may not.
The Stuff You’re Probably Wondering About
Where do I sleep?
In the cabin with your campers and co-counselors. Cabins generally have 11–20 campers and two or three counselors.
Between sessions, you can stay at camp and sleep in a cabin or head somewhere else.
Can I have my phone?
Yes. We just ask you to use it sparingly.
We know you have a life outside camp. We also know that sometimes the information you need is on your phone. But our campers don’t have theirs, and we need to respect that when we’re with them.
Is there Wi-Fi?
Yes, but it’s limited.
Staff can use Wi-Fi in the Dining Hall after campers are in bed and in the office when needed. Camp doesn’t have a ton of private space, but if you need somewhere private to handle something, we can find it.
Can I do laundry?
Definitely. Laundry is free, the machines are available to staff, and we keep basic detergent around. You’re welcome to bring your own.
Think You Might Want In?
You don’t have to be completely sure.
If working at camp sounds like it might be your kind of summer, tell us you’re interested. Someone from our camp team will text you within a couple of days. Ask questions, figure out whether the dates work, or just find out more about what you’d be signing up for.