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SUMMER TEAM 2024
Make A Difference
Let's change the world together
SUMMER STAFF
Dear Prospective Team Member,
You have just taken the first step in exploring what could possibly be the best summer of your life. Each year, over 60 summer staff members join our team. This team impacts thousands of young lives as we seek to help summer campers grow individually, in community, and in faith.
Together we will play, pray, explore, create, and share life together as a community. We strive to offer the best experience in Christian camping for each of our summer campers. In order to meet this goal, we actively recruit, train, and nurture the most qualified staff. Working on staff here is a commitment to living in community. From the moment you first arrive at camp until the farewell dinner, you are part of a family. Living into this experience requires commitment, courage, and honesty. It is a life-changing summer to work and live in Christian community. By living and working in the great outdoors and investing in relationships with God, your fellow team members, and the campers, you will build friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Please take the time to carefully read all the information about the job If you have questions, please contact us. You can e-mail info@campchestnutridge.org
Your Role
As a staff member, you are responsible for helping supervise campers and facilitating activities. Some campers stay overnight and some go home every evening. A typical cabin has 2 staff members and 10 campers. During the day, you will either lead or assist in program areas with a small group of campers. Staff are given the opportunity to experience a variety of camp activities throughout the summer. Activities include things like lake toys, zipline, hayride to the farm, gagaball, archery and so much more!
Goal
Our staff work together to achieve our goal of helping campers grow individually, grow their community, and grow their faith.
Staff Benefits
Competitive Salary
- Starting at $300 a week plus housing and food
*You can earn over $3000 this summer and spend nearly nothing*
Staff Under 18 start at $245
Increase in pay: for certifications obtained during staff training
Lifeguard Certification - Belay Certification - Horseback Riding Instructor
You can increase your weekly pay by $15/week, plus receive additional pay to attend the trainings (approx $200 per training).
SALARY & BENEFITS: Salaries are based upon position, experience, and skills. All staff are provided food and housing throughout the summer.
Housing and Meals
Working with us means you will have a summer job with housing provided throughout the summer. Meals are provided throughout the week and on some weekends when we have retreat groups on site. The 5 cabins and 2 lodges at Chestnut Ridge are air-conditioned and have bathrooms in the cabins. Some weeks you will be assigned to a “camper cabin”, which typically has 2 counselors and 10 campers. Other weeks you will be assigned to a "staff cabin". These have a detached bathroom, electricity and air conditioning.
Dates
Start and end dates are flexible depending on what trainings you are attending and your school schedule. Most staff will work from late May until early August
Time Off
Most staff take a week or two off each summer for vacation, mission trips, etc. Most staff work 8 weeks of the summer. Additionally, each week staff have off one night (from 6:00 pm until 11:00 pm) and are off from approximately 8:00 p.m. Friday evening until 1:30 pm Sunday afternoon. Staff under 18 are only expected to work 4-6 weeks.
Eligibility
Most staff are 18+. Staff must be 16 and have finished their junior year of high school. Priority is given to applicants who are available to work at least 8 weeks of summer camp in addition to staff training.
Chestnut Ridge serves both day and residential campers. Each week, many staff will be assigned as residential staff, meaning they stay in the cabin with the campers. Remaining staff will be housed in the staff cabins or in extra cabins (if available). Staff must be willing to work with any age level.
Evenings offer resident campers the opportunity to:
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Enjoy yummy dinner together
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Play Camp-wide games like Capture the Flag and The Amazing Race
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Participate Evening Worship
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Camp out and cooks dinner over the campfire
Evening activities are usually the highlight of residential campers experience. This is a great time for campers and staff to bond with their cabins.
A bit more about camp...
Pollywogs are the youngest campers. These preschoolers only come for a half-day camp a few times during the summer
Mudpuppies: Campers in Kindergarten-2nd grade. They remain in a small group with the same counselors all week long to ensure continuity and safety.
Waterdogs and Duskies: Campers stay in small groups of about 16 campers for most of the day. There are a few major options that campers will choose (listed below) but most campers will participate in the Best of Camp major. In their small group campers will participate in most of the best of camp activities that Chestnut Ridge has to offer - such as: high ropes, lake toys, pool, canoeing, farm, art, sports, and more! Camers will have a few opportunities throughout the week to break from the group and participate in the "Electives" of thier choice.
Major options:
Best of Camp - this is what most campers will do
Horseback Riding
Farm
Herpetology
High School: These campers stay in a small group with other campers their age and participate in very specific camps designed with the high schooler in mind. These camps often involve an extended period of time offsite participating in high adventure activities.
Trainings and Schedule
We know that working at summer camp is a new and unique experience for many people. Therefore, we put a large emphasis on training and equipping all staff to be ready for the summer, even if you are coming into this summer job without experience at camp before.
Trip Leader Training: For anyone 18+ interested in leading an off-site adventure trip
High Ropes Training: For anyone 18+ interested in facilitating the High Challenge Course and Tree Climbing.
Horseback Instructor Training: For staff hired specifically as Equestrian Staff
Lifeguard Training: For anyone interested in being a certified Lifeguard
Full Staff Training: Late May-June 7
MANDATORY Staff training for most staff*
Alternative Staff Training: May 11-2 and June 1-2 - For staff who are still in school for the full staff training
Camp Sessions: run weekly, Sunday to Friday, June 9 - August 23 (understanding that many staff are not available the last few weeks of camp because of school commitments)
Faith at Camp
We are first and foremost about glorifying God with our words, actions and deeds. Staff are expected to help lead campers in worship and Bible study as well as model Christ-like attitudes throughout the day.
We live and work in an atmosphere of Christian hospitality. We welcome each and every camper as a unique and special person, created by God, and worthy of our best effort. You must be willing to work with all types of people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc. During camp, your attention and energy must allow you to focus beyond yourself and your friends and reach for relationship with each child.
We live and teach responsible care for the earth. We believe that Christian stewardship extends to the created world and calls us to live in harmony with both the living and non-living creation. All of creation is God’s and worthy of our care. To this end, we seek to live lightly on the land, to give as much as we take and to encourage lifestyles that will provide a sustainable future for all God’s children.
Finally, this is a place of Christian fellowship. That means camp should be fun and memorable! Laughter and joy covers every activity. We are about the business of celebrating life and relationship, creation and growth, people and God. Each staff person brings with them gifts that can enhance and develop our summer camp program. We look forward to learning about the gifts God has given you.
The Leadership Team at Chestnut Ridge is committed to helping each staff person grow through their experiences at Chestnut Ridge. Your personal growth is important to us and we hope to build a strong relationship with each person here.
Networking
Being a staff member at camp allows you to connect to our alumni network of former staff and parents who are business owners and employers who recognize your commitment. Sharing camp with alumni and parents is a common language that demonstrates your dedication, commitment and strong work ethic.
Professional Development
Camp is invested in your development and your success. Our objective is to fully equip you with the leadership skills that will enable you to be an effective leader at camp, at school, and in today’s workforce. We focus on building excellent skills in the areas of collaborative teamwork, effective communication, creative thinking and problem-solving. While at camp, we are helping you identify and develop your strengths in these areas. Many colleges and universities give internship/class credit for summer positions at Camp. Check out this article for more information about why working at camp is beneficial for your future!
Curious how being on Summer Staff can look on your resume? Click Here!
Summer Job vs Internship
Are you trying to decide between a summer job or internship? While most staff work as regular summer camp counselors, many colleges and universities give internship/class credit for summer positions at Camp. With the highly varied nature of roles and responsibilities at camp, we can help cater responsibilities of highly qualified candidates to fit internship requirements for many majors, including Psychology, Education, Arts, Marketing, Environmental Science, Recreation Management, Communications, Nursing, and more. Contact us to learn more.