Work at Camp
You're about to have an unforgettable summer.
"You feel a sense of achievement when you realize what you have done for each child at the end of camp."
-Camp ABC Counselor
Notice: The Fresh Air Fund will be hosting a summer camp job fair on Saturday, February 27th from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM for interested applicants. For more information, click here.
Click here to watch Fresh Air counselors explain firsthand what it was like to work at one of our five camps!
You love working with children, and that's probably what we like most about you. Running across the ball field, washing off the glitter glue, or swimming in the lake - with your cabin group laughing around you - you'll be in your element.
Are you going to be the counselor the children learn to paint with? The one they play soccer with? The one they want to hang out with? Or perhaps the one they read a bed-time story with? Whatever your role becomes, you'll thrive on the challenge and commit yourself to the cause.
You've got to be 18 or over by June 20th to apply, and you'll usually have completed at least one year of college by the summer. Any previous work with children should always be included on your application.
The experience you're about to apply for will be like no other, and it's going to take patience, flexibility, creativity, and a whole lot of self-motivation. But the rewards will be great... overcoming challenges, meeting new friends, playing games in the sun, jumping into the cool lake, painting face masks, hitting a home run, telling stories around a camp fire...
...and then seeing that smile brighten a child's face.
We're looking for counselors and program staff for all five of our summer camps - but places fill fast, so get your application in today.
How do I apply? Click here to start an application.
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Camp Life
General Counselors live in cabins with a group of children or in cabins next door. Other camp staff live either in camper cabins or staff housing. Facilities at Camps ABC, Hayden-Marks and Tommy are rustic. Many cabins do not have electricity and bathrooms are located a short walk away. Camps Mariah and Hidden Valley have more modern conveniences. Campers and staff eat meals together at their camp dining halls. A vegetarian menu option is offered at every meal. Staff members are permitted to have cars at camp.
Each camp has a staff lodge available for use during time off. The staff lodge provides an opportunity for socializing, movies, snacks, games and relaxation. Free laundry facilities are available in a central location on the reservation, and regular van transportation is provided for trips into town.
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Diverse Camp Staff
Fresh Air Fund camp counselors are young adults from all over the United States, representing diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In addition, many international students spend their summers as Fresh Air Fund counselors. The most admirable quality in a Fresh Air Fund camp staff member - wherever they're from - is a commitment to work with inner-city children.
The Fresh Air Fund welcomes international staff who wish to apply for our program directly through our Web site. We are dedicated to assisting international staff with obtaining visas for summer work in the United States.
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Staff Training
The Fresh Air Fund provides comprehensive training and orientation before the first encampment. Issues covered during orientation include how to deal with homesick campers, safety matters and leadership techniques. Training is ongoing throughout the summer.
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Camp Dates
The Staff Arrival Dates for 2010 are:
Waterfront Staff, Ropes Course Staff: Monday, June 14th
Administration, Village Leaders and Head Counselors (ABC, Mariah and HM ONLY): Tuesday, June 15th
Program Staff, Instructors, Farmers: Wednesday, June 16th
General Counselors: Sunday, June 20th
Transportation will be provided to camp on June 14, June 15, June 16 and June 20 at 3:00 PM.
The Encampment Dates for 2010 are:
Camps Hayden-Marks, Tommy, ABC and Hidden Valley
Session 1 Tuesday, June 29 – Friday, July 9
Session 2 Monday, July 12 – Friday, July 23
Session 3 Monday, July 26 – Friday, August 6
Session 4 Monday, August 9 – Friday, August 20
Camp Mariah
Session 1: Tuesday, June 29 – Thursday, July 22
Session 2: Wednesday, July 28 – Friday, August 20
Employment is for the whole summer only, ending on August 20, 2010.
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Salaries
The Fresh Air Fund offers competitive salaries. Staff who have prior experience working at residential camps or certifications in areas such as CPR, Lifeguard Training and Standard First Aid are eligible for additional compensation. Small travel allowances are available for staff members traveling over 300 miles to New York City.
General Counselors: $2,200 – 2,400
Village Leaders: $2,600 – 3,000
Program Staff: $2,200 – 2,400
Waterfront Assistants: $2,300 – 2,600
The Model Farm and Ropes Course
Farmers, Nutritionists & Ropes Course Facilitators: $2,200 – 2,400
Please note that these salaries cover the full summer at camp.
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Time Off
Counselors at Camps ABC, Hayden-Marks, Hidden Valley and Tommy have a two and one-half day break between the 12-day encampments, plus one full day and one evening off during each encampment. Depending on position, Camp Mariah staff have a two to four and one-half day break between the 24-day sessions, plus one day and one night off each week.
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College Credit
The Fund will assist students who wish to earn college credits for their work at camp.
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General Counselors
General Counselors are guides and role models to a group of 12 campers as they explore the great outdoors. Two counselors escort a group to daily activities, plan programs and supervise the campers in their cabins, the dining hall and during evening activities. This job requires a high energy level. Counselors are required to provide 24-hour-a-day direct supervision of campers, as well as participate in vigorous outdoor activities such as hiking, boating and athletics.
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Senior/Special Staff Positions
In addition to general camp counselors, The Fund hires summer staff in supervisory positions and for jobs requiring special skills. The remaining positions are examples of our current senior/special staff positions.
Village Leaders:
Village Leaders (Head Counselors) have overall responsibilities for a village of 36 campers. Village Leaders maintain active communication with the administration, counselors and campers. They also guide and evaluate counselors assigned to the village, as well as plan and supervise village activities. Village Leaders must have previous experience working at a residential camp.
Waterfront Staff:
Waterfront Staff supervise instructional and free swim periods, the boating and fishing programs and waterfront carnivals. The waterfront staff is responsible for maintaining waterfront and boating facilities to comply with all safety codes. Whether obtained through our on-site course or elsewhere, a current American Red Cross Lifeguard Training certificate and a current CPR certificate are required. If guarding on one of our lakes, an ARC Waterfront Lifeguard Module certificate is also required. Previous experience in an aquatic program is preferred.
Note: You do not need to be certified in order to apply. We provide training and a certification course before camp begins. However, you must be a strong swimmer.
Waterfront Directors organize and direct all swimming activities for the campers and supervise and train the waterfront staff in water safety and swimming instruction activities. The Waterfront Directors must be at least 21 years of age, have Lifeguard Training, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and a minimum of three seasons of waterfront experience. A Water Safety Instructor Certificate is preferred.
Program Specialists:
Program Specialists plan activities such as arts and crafts, nature, photography/video, music, ceramics, athletics, drama, dance, fashion design, pioneering, boating, outdoor living skills, woodshop, sign language and creative writing. Specialists are responsible for developing and teaching four to five one-hour activity periods each day, ordering and maintaining equipment and supplies, and keeping the program area clean. When Program Specialists are not teaching, they are expected to assist General Counselors with daily activities. Instructors at Camp Mariah are responsible for actively engaging youngsters in educational, participatory workshops. Instructors teach six classes daily in subjects including environmental science, health and fitness, science and technology, journalism and career skills. They participate in all camp activities. Instructors must have a minimum of one year teaching experience and a demonstrated ability to design classroom activities that are based on experiential/active learning theory, in order to engage middle school youth.
Camp Nurses:
Camp Nurses are responsible for health education teaching and maintenance; emergency care; referrals to camp doctors; nursing care of campers and staff requiring short-term bed rest; communication of pertinent medical information to The Fresh Air Fund office, parents and city agencies; keeping records and filling out accident reports. Although the prime medical person in camp, the camp nurse relates reports directly to the camp director and the doctors at the Mid-Hudson Medical Group in Fishkill. These doctors are approximately 10 minutes away by car and are on 24-hour call.
Ropes Course Staff:
Ropes Course Staff teach three two-hour classes each day on the Teams and High Ropes Courses. The Ropes Course Director is responsible for the overall supervision of the Ropes Course program. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have experience as an instructor/facilitator on both the Teams and High Ropes Courses. Ropes Course Facilitators assist the Director in planning, organizing and facilitating classes, as well as maintaining the Ropes Course to comply with all safety codes. Facilitators must be at least 19 years of age and have previous experience as participants or instructors on the Teams and/or High Ropes Course programs. Ropes Course staff also participate in the camp program as requested by the Camp Director.
Farm Staff:
Farm staff must enjoy teaching children and feel comfortable working with farm animals. The primary responsibility of staff is teaching the farm program. Other duties include, morning and evening chores (feeding, cleaning, milking), garden upkeep (weeding, planting, harvesting), daily compost pick-ups from dining halls, morning breakfast program and general cleaning of the farm facilities.
Farmers must be outgoing, creative, flexible, self-motivated and willing to work long hours. Teaching experience with children is strongly recommended. A farming background is not necessary, but some previous experience working with farm animals and/or gardening is beneficial. Farmers must be at least 18 years of age and have completed one year of college with coursework in biology or related environmental topics.
Nutritionists:
Nutritionists create and conduct one-hour classes in which they emphasize the importance of diet and good health and teach campers the nutritional value of foods, while campers make healthy snacks. The center uses the farm's produce as often as possible in their classes. Nutritionists participate in caring for the animals and maintaining the garden. The positions require cooking experience and coursework involving nutrition.
CIT Directors:
CIT Directors oversee six to 12 Counselors-In-Training, ages 16 to 17, who live at camp for the entire summer. CIT Directors are responsible for supervising CITs in their daily activities as well as working with camp staff to develop workshops and other learning experiences for the CITs. CIT Directors should have previous experience working with teenagers.
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