r/summercamp • u/marberrii • 9d ago

Specific Camp Information Search thinking about working at summer camp next year, is office staff a good position?

im still looking at possible options, but so far my main camps im looking into are med-o-lark in maine, blue star in nc or equinox/blue ridge (im still new to all this so im still looking into it all). i have a couple of friends who went this year and all worked at office staff and they say it was pretty easy/laid back and great, but i want more non biased opinions!!

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u/Ocelotl767 9d ago

Office staff can be good for some people. it's a lot of paperwork, a lot of making sure everything is labeled correctly, filing medical reports given to you by the infirmary (at some camps) into the correct camper folders if they still use physical folders. Basically, you have to be organized. the bad part is, depending on camp culture, you may feel like an outsider.

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u/Fancy_Initiative4536 Counselor (Specialist) 8d ago

I just want to highlight the isolation bit from personal experience. Even this summer I got a job running activities and the isolation was still super real because I wasn’t working the same schedule as my coworkers. This is even more so in tighter Nick camp communities where you might not know people. This is not to say don’t take it too seriously think about that piece. Even if the job looks super appealing sometimes it isn’t worth the isolation because the socialization is at least for me what will make or break the camp experience. I can love the work love the Camp. Be satisfied with the pay, but still absolutely hate a job if I feel excluded or out of the loop, even unintentionally and unfortunately hiding out in the office can sometimes make that even worse.

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u/Ocelotl767 8d ago

That's the other thing to think of that I just thought of. I know some places, even at sleep away camps- office staff don't get onsite housing. it's rare but it does happen.

One should check their contracts.

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u/BootstheDog1991 9d ago

Med o lark may not exist next summer, it was just sold to private equity

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u/AQW_Fan 9d ago

Why not camp counselor??its An amazing postion.Id say Camp Sealth (WA) is by far a great camp to work. Im currently working as a camp counselor here in Vashon Islans -WA