Staff Positions at Camp

Our camping program is progressive in the skills we teach and the trips on which we embark. Our very youngest campers learn basic camping skills and go on an Almost Overnight on our campus. Beginning at age 8, campers increase their skill level, go out for longer periods of time and undertake more challenging outdoor adventures. On-Site overnights, one-night and two-night backpacking trips, flat-water canoeing, and Delaware River camping/canoeing adventures are some of the trips that campers experience as they get older. Our camping staff is experienced, competent, gentle and encouraging, following our ‘roughing it easy’ philosophy. We do not approach the outdoors with the idea that we are going out to ‘conquer’ something, but rather that we are going out to open up to something even greater than ourselves.

Responsibilities:

• Lead out-of-camp trips, accompanied by group counselors
• Ensure campers’ health and safety, administering First Aid and camper medication when necessary
• Teach Outdoor Living Skills and Minimal Trace Camping techniques to campers
• Participate in trip planning and scout all trip locations prior to trip date
• Maintain records related to trips i.e. Incident reports, group journals
• Monitor both campers and counselors in proper use of equipment

Qualifications:

• At least 21 years of age
• Documented training and experience in outdoor living skills and camping activities
• Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and professional CPR certifications by program start date
• Desire and ability to work with children outdoors
• Experience on trips of similar size, duration, locale, mode of travel and program focus
• Ability to teach skills to staff and campers of all ages
• Ability to supervise staff and campers
• Good character, integrity and adaptability, enthusiasm, sense of humor and self-control

Big Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Weekends off
• Make friends to last a lifetime
• Explore Harriam State Park as well as our beautiful 200-acre site on the grounds of a Waldorf community

Our full-day hiking trips take us to places (mostly in Harriman State Park) like mountaintops, Native American rock shelters, old iron mines and “hidden” ponds. Each hike offers a bit of adventure, exercise, some challenges, plenty of rest stops, a new awareness of our environment and a chance to go places and see things many people do not usually experience. All hikes are geared to the age and ability of the campers in terms of interest, mileage and terrain. When at camp, our Naturalists guide campers in hands-on nature exploration on our 200-acre site. Fields, swamps, streams, and forests are all at our fingertips.

Responsibilities:

• Lead off-site day hikes, accompanied by group counselors
• Participate in trip planning and scout all hike locations prior to hike date
• Maintain records related to trips i.e. Incident reports,

Qualifications:

• At least 21 years of age
• Documented training and experience in leading hikes
• Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and professional CPR certifications by program start date
• Desire and ability to work with children outdoors
• Ability to teach skills to staff and campers of all ages
• Ability to supervise staff and campers
• Good character, integrity and adaptability, enthusiasm, sense of humor and self-control

Big Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Make friends to last a lifetime
• Explore Harriam State Park as well as our beautiful 200-acre site on the grounds of a Waldorf community

Every day in camp, when not away on a day hike or overnight, campers will go down to “The Pond”–our filtered and chlorinated pool that looks like a pond–for a 50 minute period of swim instruction and free swim. Over half of every swim period is devoted to instruction. Our waterfront staff of certified lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors follows the American Red Cross Progression of Swimming Skills. We pride ourselves on helping each individual camper acquire new and improved skills.

Responsibilities:

• Know and teach ARC Progression of Swim Skills program in coordination with NPDC’s aquatics program
• Be on guard duty when not needed for instruction
• Direct staff to assist in lessons
• Conduct daily check of area and equipment for safety, cleanliness and good repair
• Keep records on all participants, help them progress from beginner to advanced levels
• Evaluate aquatic abilities of staff and campers

Qualifications:

• At least 17 years of age
• Current certifications in American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and/or Life Guard Training, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Standard First Aid or the equivalent accepted by the NYS Health Department
• Ability to relate to one’s peer group
• Ability to accept guidance and supervision
• Good character, integrity and adaptability, enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control
• Desire and ability to work with children and adults in camp setting
• Ability to creatively and flexibly work with programs, facilities and staff

Big Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Make friends to last a lifetime
• Located on a beautiful 200-acre site on the grounds of a Waldorf community

Our camp program includes nature exploration, gardening, cooking, art, archery, farming, music, drama, games, swimming, camping, storytelling, climbing and more! Our Activity Leaders lead these various programs, and our counselors are tasked with supporting them, as well as participating, and supervising their group of campers. Counselors also have opportunities to lead their own activities with their group. Groups are co-ed and are made up of around 15 to 18 kids, grouped by age. Being a counselor means being a role model. Campers adore their counselors and will want to be just like you! Being a counselor also means helping maintain a positive environment within the group, working effectively with your co-counselors, resolving minor conflicts among campers, and most of all having FUN and being SAFE! Live in Manhattan, Westchester, or Brooklyn? See next page for Bus Counselor info!

Responsibilities:

• Supervise all aspects of the campers’ day and participate fully, assist in teaching activities
• Supervise camper health and enforce camp safety regulations
• Model position behaviors, action, and appropriate dress
• Integrate the camp philosophy in all aspects of the campers’ day
• Recognize and respond to opportunities for problem solving within the group
• Provide opportunities so that each individual experiences success during camp
• Daily clean up and care of your group’s indoor and outdoor spaces

Qualifications:

• At least 17 years of age
• Desire and ability to work with children, indoors and out
• Experience working with children
• Ability to relate to one’s peer group
• Ability to accept supervision and guidance
• Ability to teach or assist in teaching an activity
• Good character, integrity and adaptability, enthusiasm, sense of humor and self-control
• Strong communication skills

Big Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Make friends to last a lifetime
• Beautiful 200-acre site on the grounds of a Waldorf community

Some of our camp counselors also serve as bus counselors. We bus from all over Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as from Westchester and Bergen Counties. Campers get picked up and dropped off at centralized stops in the morning and afternoon. If you live in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Westchester, we would likely hire you as a bus counselor. As a bus counselor, you get picked up at or near your home, before the campers, and dropped off again at the end of the day.

The bus counselor role includes:

• Supervision of campers on the bus, attendance, clear and safe dismissal procedures
• Fun! Counselors lead games, songs, puzzles, nature scavenger hunts up the Palisades Parkway, and more
• Communication with parents whenever there’s anything that should be relayed regarding the bus and logistics

Our activity leaders/specialists provide the programming that makes camp, well, camp! They create and execute fun and engaging activities with groups of campers (assisted by group counselors). As an activity leader, you get to work with all ages—an exciting and rewarding challenge. Do you have specialized skills in areas such as Rock Climbing, Outdoor Living and/or Primitive Skills, Archery, Art, Nature Studies, Gardening, or Team Building and Non-Competitive Game Facilitation? If so, be sure to indicate this on your application, and we may consider you for one of these positions!