Questions:
- When do I have to arrive at Camp?
- What kind of training will I receive?
- What certifications should I consider getting in order to improve my chances of being selected by Adirondack?
- Do you provide staff transportation?
- Is there a uniform requirement?
- Do I get time-off?
- Where do I sleep?
- What are my responsibilities?
- When will I get paid?
When do I have to arrive at Camp?
A list of seasonal staff dates is available here. Pre-pre season is voluntary and starts a few days before Staff leadership Training. It is by invitation only and is an action packed three days of intense physical labor in helping our year around facilities team complete preparations for the summer. A nine-day special Adirondack Leadership Course begins around mid-June and is required attendance for everyone. Staff will have time to bond, enjoy each other’s company and become familiar with Camp’s facility, philosophy and program.
What kind of training will I receive?
Our Leadership Training program is an intense and comprehensive course in child-centered teaching, group management and team building. Through interactive games, workshops and lessons, the training builds upon itself getting to the heart of proven mentoring strategies. Staff learn about the psychology of how small accomplishments lead to larger accomplishments, problem solving and its key role in day to day camp life, how to design, plan and deliver activity lesson plans, as well as how to reinforce the core Adirondack traditions, philosophy and values. Equal time is also given to special topics, from which they can benefit for life, such as – Finding Fun in every Nook & Cranny, Building Individual Camper Experience Plans and Choreographing Chaos.
What certifications should I consider getting in order to improve my chances of being selected by Adirondack?
- In General: First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer
- Waterfront Staff: First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer AND American Red Cross Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module
- Wilderness Adventure Staff: First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer, American Red Cross Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module AND Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder or Responding To Emergencies medical certification.
Do you provide staff transportation?
As our staff of nearly 100 people comes from all around the world, Adirondack Camp is only able to provide limited assistance for staff to get to and from Camp. Camp can pick-up and drop-off at the nearest bus stop (Schroon Lake, NY), train station (Ticonderoga, NY), or airport (Albany, NY or Burlington, VT). Staff may also arrive by car and are welcome to keep their vehicle at Camp. Unfortunately, at this time, there are no camp vehicles available for staff use during the summer.
Is there a uniform requirement?
Adirondack Camp counselors are expected to wear comfortable outdoor attire and footwear that is appropriate for all audiences and for each activity or occasion at Camp. Campers and staff “dress for dinner” each evening and are expected to be in uniform from our formal flag-lowering ceremony before dinner (Retreat) through to the end of the evening. Camp staff uniform is the white staff shirt we provide and navy or khaki shorts or pants provided by staff.
Do I get time off?
Adirondack Camp counselors get approximately 36 hours off each week; one full day and an additional night off. Other evenings at camp are spent in the cabins with the kids, with rotating time out for in-service training, to use the staff phone, Internet, and/or staff lounge.
Where do I sleep?
Counseling staff are responsible for both activity and cabin coverage. Counselors live in our purposefully rustic open-air cabins with campers. Adirondack campers are boys and girls ages 7-16. The age group that best suits every counselor will be determined during the Leadership Training.
What are my responsibilities?
In order to provide the most consistent family atmosphere, Adirondack Camp staff live, work and play with the campers twenty-four hours a day. Counselors are responsible for the well-being and safety of all campers in the cabins, teaching activities, leading evening programs and generally during non-teaching activity times in Camp.
When will I get paid?
Staff are compensated in accordance with their contracts of employment in three installments during the course of the season. The final paycheck is a full half of the negotiated salary and is distributed upon successful completion of contract terms and cabin/equipment checkout.
