It’s the middle of spring term, and summer is slowly creeping up. The break from school is a great time to relax, travel and see family, but it is also an opportune time to find a job. And while there are plenty of summer jobs available, working as a camp counselor allows one to spend time outdoors with kids while still earning a buck.
There are many different summer camps in Oregon. At Camp Namanu, an overnight camp located in Sandy, kids spend a week in cabins and participate in activities that include arts and crafts, river walks, camping in the woods, field games and stargazing. An all-camp game of capture the flag is a favorite among many campers.
“There’s such an opportunity to change the kids’ lives because your role is much different than a parent’s,” freshman Laura Gayton said. “You influence their lives for a small amount of time, but if you do it right, they’ll take away much more than they would have ever expected.”
Gayton, who has worked at the camp for two summers, said it’s perfect for anyone who yearns for a “classic” camp experience. There are seven one-week sessions that run from early July to late August, and the average pay for a counselor is $185 per week. For more information about Camp Namanu, go to www.portlandcampfire.org.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry also runs a number of overnight camps in Oregon. Freshman Jenny Bedell-Stiles has worked as a paid counselor at OMSI’s Hancock Field Station near Fossil for the past two summers.
“It’s probably been one of the best experiences of my life,” she said. “A lot of the highlights of my life have occurred when I’ve been at camp.” However, she added, it was a lot of hard work, both physically and mentally.
Counselors work eight to 11 weeks out of the summer for one-week blocks, and campers range in age from 8 to 18 years old. A typical day includes morning field study (usually hiking), swimming in the lake, afternoon field study (archaeology or paleontology), an evening program and campfire.
Bedell-Stiles said the best part of the day was the campfire because she liked singing songs and bonding around the fire. Counselors earn $30 per day, plus an extra $5 for having a life guard certificate and $5 more for every year of previous camp experience. Information on OMSI camps is available at www.omsi.org.
The Boy Scouts of America Camp Pioneer, located near Mt. Jefferson, is another camp in Oregon. Although it is a camp for boys, there are staff positions for men and women. The camp’s high elevation provides a good climate and beautiful views. Groups of boys age 12 to 18 come each week for nine weeks.
For freshman Michael Thompson, this will be his second year working at the camp. Thompson said he has learned not to take things for granted and to recognize “how beautiful nature is and, yet, how fragile it is.” He said bonding and unity are highly valued, demonstrated by three campfires per week and everyone dining together.
Thompson added that he liked the community aspect of camp and felt the people on staff were like a family. Starting pay for this camp is $65 per week. For more information about Camp Pioneer, go to www.cpcbsa.org.
Students can also work at camps in California, such as the popular Roughing It Day Camp located in Lafayette, a small town in the Bay Area. Each day starts with songs and skits, followed by outdoor activities that include horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, arts and crafts, and sports.
Senior Gabe Hatt is going to Roughing It for his second summer and said he loves being with the campers.
“I think the most valuable thing you can do for children is spend time with them and make them feel special and loved,” he said. Hatt’s responsibilities included driving a bus in the morning to pick up campers, scheduling group activities and leading that group for the entire day, and driving campers to and from swimming.
Hatt said he earned $1,600 per month — more than most camps in the nation. More information about Roughing It Day Camp can be found at www.roughingit.com.
Most camps run from mid-June to late August. It is a good idea to apply for a position as soon as possible. The Internet has many sites listing camps, such as www.gocamps.com and www.summercamp.org.
Jonah Schrogin is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.