Summer Employment Pay Details
Working at a summer camp is quite a bit different than working at a regular hourly job. We thought it would be good to let you know up-front what some of the differences are so you can decide if camp is the right place for you.
Pay
Our summer salaries are based on a weekly scale. The hourly equivalents of our weekly wage are below the state minimum wages for a couple of important reasons; the most significant of which is that we are providing room and board during the time you are working with us. The good news is, if you can give up or sub-lease your apartment for the summer months, you can save a lot of $$ on rent (not to mention food, utilities and other expenses) during your time at camp.
Hours
The days can be long in a summer camp environment. We make sure that everyone gets at least a couple (minimum of two) hours off each day. Overnight, counselors will sleep in camper cabins and be on stand-by. Almost every job at camp, from program to counselor, and from kitchen to maintenance, will be working a minimum of eight hours a day. Program positions (such as Lifeguard), as part of the program team, will be expected to assist with meals, campfires, chapels and other daily events in addition to their primary responsibility of watching kids at the waterfront. Some of our junior positions (Staff In Training positions), while only on duty at their jobs for six-eight hours a day, will be required to be in attendance at other events throughout the day and be required to be in their assigned housing by a certain time each night.
Nearly all positions at our summer camp require that you live on the camp during the time that the program is in operation (preparing for campers, having campers in attendance, and cleaning up after the campers). The hours are potentially long and the work can be difficult at times. It takes a commitment that needs to come from the heart. If you want to give of yourself to serve hundreds of children this summer this might just be the place for you.
And so…
If you’re looking for an hourly job, where you work set hours and then get released for the day – camp is not the place you want to be.
If you’re looking for a place to serve and minister to kids; make lifelong friends; work with other Christian young people from around the world and make a little money in the process (honestly not as much as you’d make at a fast food restaurant with a lot less hours) than this is the place for you.
I hope you’re still interested! But we want to make sure you understand the commitment required. God bless!