Cabin Counselor at prestigious outdoor camp in midcoast Maine

Camp Chewonki is one of Maine's most prestigious nature-based overnight camp and expedition-based youth leadership program for boys, girls, and non-binary children based on a 400-acre peninsula in mid-coast Maine. Since 1915, Chewonki has been changing the lives of children and staff- including yours! Overnight campers are aged 8-15 and spend 10 days or 3 weeks at camp. The overnight camp program focuses on building cabin community, building social emotional skills and knowledge in a core curriculum (including natural history, farm sciences, watercraft, the arts, and more!) and learning about backcountry travel on multi-day remote cabin trips. Cabin Counselors get to go with their campers on these multi-day trips and gain experience in canoeing, kayaking or backpacking!

Job Overview

Camp Chewonki Cabin Counselors are kind, empathetic, thoughtful, and fun adults who are responsible for caring for the health and well-being of a cabinful of campers for the summer. Cabin Counselors live in cabins with 8 campers and 1 other counselor. They help campers adjust to camp life, develop community with their cabinmates, navigate the daily schedule, and develop the skills to be successful anywhere. In addition to supporting campers daily routines, Cabin Counselors work as teaching assistants in activities and collaborate with trip leaders to facilitate multi-day remote trips for their cabin. Ideal candidates will have a passion for working with children, spending time in the outdoors, and a dedication to lifelong learning.

• Hold responsibility for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of participants; this includes:
  • Develop healthy and appropriate relationships with participants
  • Conduct daily check-ins with participants
  • Provide direct supervision of participants as assigned
• Live in cabins with campers and other cabin counselors; support campers in daily living routines and facilitate meal times. 
• Assist with the facilitation at activity areas and of cabin’s remote trips.
• Plan and execute free time activities, evening activities and special events.
• Instill joy and enthusiasm into the daily life of camp.

• Lifeguard, if applicable and as needed.
• Community Responsibilities
  • Work to honor and uphold the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and a lens of anti-racism in the best interest of participants, constituents, and staff across the organization.
  • A willingness to work as a team member among the Camp Program and the greater Chewonki community.
  • Work on the Chewonki campus and share meals with the community. 
  • Contribute to and collaborate with the Chewonki community through committees and foundation wide events.
  • Share the collective responsibility within risk management (physical, behavioral, institutional, etc.) by:

• Using sound judgment
• Operating within your skill set and Chewonki protocols
• Responding to and/ or alerting the appropriate person(s) when you see something that may compromise safety

• Fulfill other duties as assigned.

Special Benefits

Starting salary: $3,100, plus opportunities for bonuses with experience and certifications. Bring a friend and receive a bonus for that, too!

You can earn academic internship credit for this position! Our camp fosters an excellent work experience and fulfills most school's internship requirements. We will build out a set of individualized learning objectives and specific goals for you to achieve throughout the summer. Our Directors will be happy to tailor these objectives individually to your course or Major of study!

Minimum Requirements

• Must complete fingerprinting requirements/pass criminal background check.
• Experience working in educational spaces, preferred.
• Attend required onboarding and training sessions.

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lb at a time.
• Must be able to work in an active, outdoor environment in a variety of weather conditions.
• Able to participate in games, sports, and physical activities including water-based games and activities.
• Able to maintain attention and a high level of energy or excitement for extended periods of time.