Cabin Counselor
Position Type: Volunteer
Position Description
Cabin counselors are staff members assigned to a specific cabin of 7-10 campers, usually with a second staff member. The primary focus of cabin counselors is on campers and their needs. This includes facilitating the cabin group, creating and maintaining a cabin contract (outlining expected conduct), modeling and enforcing cabin etiquette and mutual respect, and communicating needs of campers or self externally (to the Health Center, Mental Health Support, Support Team or Directors.)
This is a volunteer position.
A non-exhaustive list of responsibilities includes:
Live with and be a core part of a cabin community
Ensure campers are awake at the start of days and in bed at the end of days
Attend meals with campers and note eating habits for possible health center or mental health referrals.
Be on hand in the cabin for cabin bonding time and free time.
Monitor your cabin’s shower block and note hygiene habits and help make sure everyone takes shower and brushes teeth on a regular basis.
Conduct ongoing check-ins with every camper in the cabin to ensure a positive experience, daily and as necessary.
Give and get support through regular check ins with other cabin counselors.
Communicate and advocate for the needs of the campers, and escalate issues when necessary.
For example, your day might look something like this:
Time Campers Cabin Staff
7:30 Wake Up Waking up campers
7:30 – 8:30 Getting Ready Monitoring shower block
8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast Eating with campers
9:45 – 11:15 Activity 1 BREAK
11:30 – 1:00 Activity 2 Assisting with activity
1:00 – 2:00 Lunch Eating with campers
2:00 – 3:30 Activity 3 BREAK
3:30 – 5:00 Free time Passively monitoring campers
5:00 – 6:00 Cabin time In cabin with campers
6:00 – 7:00 Dinner Eating with campers
7:00 – 7:30 Chores Monitoring chores
7:30 – 9:30 All camp activity BREAK
9:30 – 10:30 Cabin time In cabin with campers
11:00 Lights out Getting campers to bed
Cabin staff may sign up to lead activities, but note that activity blocks are your opportunities for breaks. All staff must keep at least 1 activity block free as a break.
Things you’re likely to encounter as a Cabin Counselor in a typical camp week
Insects, arachnids, animals, and other wildlife
Muddy or uneven ground
Inclement weather including high temperatures, humidity, and thunderstorms
Unexpected situations like power outages
Well water
Homesick or emotional campers
Campers with sensory needs
Overstimulated and overwhelmed campers
As staff you will provide a good example for interacting with the environment of camp. The listed items, while maybe stressful, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar, are not inherently unsafe. Being in new situations can be an opportunity for growth and learning for both you and our campers and you are expected to provide a role model for campers in experiencing new situations with a positive attitude.
Physical Requirements
Traversing up to half a mile at a time (with or without reasonable accommodation), likely multiple times a day
Navigating uneven terrain such as muddy trails (with or without reasonable accommodation) with tree roots, gravel paths, inclines, stairs
Accurately exchanging information with other staff members and with campers in a timely way
Remaining present for all assigned shifts
Exceptions to these requirements can be made with permission from the director, and as long as all camper and staff needs are met.
Note: Staff that are not specifically “cabin counselors,” including activities staff and support staff, will be staying in cabins with campers, and are expected to be a part of that cabin community and assist as needed. Cabin counselors will be responsible for the primary needs of that cabin community.