Summer Camp Counselor
Apply NowGet a summer job at Sanborn Western Camps, at either High Trails (our female centered space) or Big Spring (our male centered space). We are located on a 6,000+ acre ranch in Florissant, Colorado. Work, teach, and live with children in a respectful community.
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Qualifications / Benefits / Responsibilities / Training / Internships / A Typical Day / FAQs / Apply
Summer Camp Counselor Job Qualifications
This job is open to men and women 2 years out of high school — traditionally college sophomores and older. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year due to the seasonality of this position.
- Previous experience working with children is preferred.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Enthusiasm, creativity, and a passion for working with children.
- First Aid and CPR certification (options available to take the course on-site).
Job Benefits
Competitive salary ranging between $3700-3900/season plus stipends for travel and pertinent certifications, lodging, meals, paid sick leave, laundry, and the opportunity to influence the lives of children in the out-of-doors.
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Job Responsibilities
- Living and working with campers.
- Working with a team of counselors to provide leadership and care for a group of campers.
- Assisting and/or leading on or off-camp trips, activities, programs and special events.
- Being responsible for table supervision at meals.
- Providing tent or cabin coverage for other counselors and staff as needed, occasionally requiring you to spend the night in another living unit.
- Being flexible, in response to current and emergency situations, and to shifts in responsibilities when camp is underway.
- Writing weekly letters to parents on campers’ wellbeing and maintaining up-to-date documentation on camper growth.
- Actively participating in Counselor-in-Dishroom (CID) assignments (preparing the kitchen/lodge for meals and cleaning up afterwards on a rotational basis).
Summer Camp Counselor Job & Your Career
On top of a passion for working with and influencing today’s youth, there are many skills that will help an individual be successful at camp and in other future careers. To work with youth, you must be a positive role model, resilient, empathetic, hardworking, creative, selfless, and so much more. In addition to these skills, there are some essential traits that will help you be successful at Sanborn in particular.
Flexibility / Adaptability
Being able to respond to current and emerging situations is crucial for success as a camp counselor. Often, we ask that our staff are flexible and adaptable when being assigned to program. This might mean that you were assigned to and had planned for a rock scrambling activity, but if no campers sign up for that activity, you will be reassigned to a different program. This program could be something that you don’t know much about and hadn’t planned for, but you will work with the originally assigned counselor to support their plan and deliver a successful program.
Initiative
At Sanborn we have a saying: “See Do, Saw Did.” We ask that our staff see what needs to be done and do it themselves rather than waiting for someone else to take charge. We encourage staff to take initiative in every aspect of camp; whether it means creating and implementing a new and exciting program or replacing the empty toilet paper roll, no task is too big or too small for any staff member. You will often see our directors plunging toilets, sweeping, and taking out the trash as “see do, saw did” permeates every level of the organization.
Our Alumni Network
Our alumni community is extremely important to us and, as a staff member, you will be connected to an incredibly diverse and successful network of professionals. Our alums are active contributors to the Sanborn community long after they have been campers or on staff. They participate in work days, attend reunions and donate during fund-raising events–plus many of them continue to connect far beyond their time at camp. Many people make some of the best friends of their lives during a summer at camp!
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This Is The Best Summer Job
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Will I Get Trained?
Yes. Staff week happens for 10 days before the campers arrive and it provides valuable time for all of us to build our staff community, to become familiar with camp, and to plan and organize for the rest of the summer.
There are trainings offered before staff training, so you may be asked to arrive early. Staff Week officially begins at lunch so it is best to arrive early on the first day of staff training to get unpacked and moved in before meetings and activities begin.
Is Working at Summer Camp Fun?
YES!!! It is a super fun summer job. AND it is a REAL job. Some benefits beyond the paycheck include:
- Being part of a purpose and mission driven 501(c)(3) Not-for-profit Organization
- Support and professional development through coaching and mentoring
- The hard and soft skills used and practiced at camp are foundational skills many employers look for in internship or field experiences
- Resume assistance, career coaching & letters of recommendation
- Ongoing personal and professional growth & development (including certifications to do your job)
- Opportunities for leadership positions and organizational growth
- Focused attention on developing a community of wellness, including mental health supports and Employee Assistance Programs.
Working with kids in the outdoors is both incredibly tough and incredibly rewarding. Sanborn Western Camps staff members have the most fulfilling, most awe-inspiring and most fun job in the country!
Working at Colorado Outdoor Education Center
Learn more about required job qualifications, summer internships, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Non-Traditional Summer Jobs
Learn more about training and just how fun it is to work in the great outdoors all summer.
The Place
Learn more about our amazing location, typical days, and incredible trips.
Internships
We are happy to work directly with you and your university/college to help fulfill your internship requirements. Many universities want students to have internship opportunities that help develop critical thinking and problem solving skills; leadership, collaborative and interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; and the chance to cultivate creativity and flexibility in the workplace. These are all workplace skills and professional tools one can gain through a summer at Sanborn.
Please email our or call us at +1 719-748-3341 to discuss your internship requirements.
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Imagine Working at Summer Camp
Apply NowCamp Trips
All-Day Trips
All-Day trips leave after breakfast, pack a lunch, and do not return until cabin time around 5:00pm. These trips can be on-the-ranch– from rock-scrambling to photography, or can be off the ranch– from exploring Mueller State Park and the Florissant Fossil Beds to tubing on the Upper South Platte River to an endless number of possibilities in between!
Overnight & 2-day Trips
Overnight and 2-day trips leave after breakfast and return before lunch (overnights) or dinner (2-days) the next day. Many of these trips occur on our 6,000 acre property or on the adjoining Pike National Forest. From Capture the Flag at Upper High Tor, to campouts at Tipi Village or Quicks Homestead, and many activities in between, overnights and 2 days are great ways to improve camping and outdoor skills. There are many off property overnights that include ascents of 14,000ft mountains such as Mount Elbert, Huron Peak, rock climbing, canoeing and much more, too. We also offer overnight and 2-day horseback riding pack trips. Trips are often some of the best parts of camp!
Multi-Day Trips
Multi-Day Trips happen during the third week of the session at High Tails, and the fouth week of the session at Big Spring and are generally called long trips. These trips follow a progression, from car camping and climbing “easier, shorter” routes to five day backpacking trips and off trail ascents of 14,000ft mountains. We also offer multi-day horseback riding trips with either 4 or 5 day horse packing trips around 39-Mile mountain and through Puma Hills. Every staff member (excluding Junior Camp Counselors) will go on at least 1 long trip. We are very intentional about the staff teams that lead these trips, taking into consideration outdoor experience, years at camp, trip leaders, and comfort level in the outdoors.
What’s a Typical Day Like?
There is no such thing as a typical day at Sanborn. Our month-long and two-week long camp sessions are growth-focused and progressive, with much of the individual and community growth occurring on the All-Day, Overnight or Multi-day trips we offer. All staff members are trip leaders and are part of shared leadership teams. This allows our staff members to try out a wide variety of outdoor activities and share their strengths in different areas of the program throughout your time at camp.
Typical Weekdays
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 - 9:30 Cabin Clean-Up (everyone participates, staff included)
9:30 Assigned trips depart
9:30 - 12:00 Morning Program (2.5 hours)
12:00 - 12:30 Cabin Time
12:30 Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 Rest Hour
2:30 - 5:00 Afternoon Program
5:00 Assigned trips return
5:00 - 6:00 Cabin Time
6:00 Dinner
7:15/7:30 Evening Program (whole camp, cabin sides)
8:30 Cabin Time
Weekends
Friday Evenings
Themed Dinners, All High Trails or All Big Spring Camp Activity, Coed Activities for Older Campers
Saturday
Saturday Specials (some are coed), All Camp Activities (Hike the Pike, Gymkhana), and Dance
Sundays
Staff Meetings, Letter Writing (weekly letters are sent home to each camper’s family), Afternoon Activities, and Vespers
FAQs
Florissant is located 10 minutes from our facilities. The closest town of size is Woodland Park, which is a 30-minute drive east on Highway 24. Several grocery stores, restaurants, health food stores, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and a movie theater are located there.
Staff members may either drive to camp directly or can fly into a nearby airport. If you fly into Colorado Springs, our camp staff can pick you up at the airport. If you fly into Denver, you will need to book a shuttle to Colorado Springs (we recommend Groome Transportation) and camp staff will then pick you up at the downtown shuttle stop.
Please do not book any transportation until you have communicated with a director regarding your arrival date. Many staff members may be involved in trainings that occur before the formal first day of staff training.
You can absolutely drive yourself to camp. If you do not have a car, never fear. We take into consideration the number of staff with and without cars when assigning time off. If you don’t have a car, someone else does. We are proponents of creating as low a carbon footprint as possible, so we HIGHLY encourage staff to carpool when they have time off. You will never have time-off by yourself, so you will ALWAYS have some one who can give you a ride.
As a program leader, ridge leader, counselor, kitchen staff et. al. each position is offered a variety of housing accommodations based on your unique role in the organization and depending on the programmatic season of hire. Accommodations include and are not limited to: camper cabins, bunkhouses, Big Green Tents, Yurts, staff cabins, and outdoor rated camping tents for off property adventures.
Eating well is very important for everyone at camp! Meals are served three times a day, and snacks are always available in the lodge. Staff members also have additional access to the kitchen for storing some personal food and for late night snacking. As part of their trip leading responsibilities, staff members will help cook and prepare meals on all-day, overnight & multi-day trips.
Yes you do! Time off occurs on a weekly rotational basis, in 24 hour blocks and during coordinated breaks throughout the day.
- Rotational Time Off* One week you will have Friday night off starting at 5:30 p.m., and the next week you will be off Saturday afternoon and night starting at 1:30 p.m. These time off periods last until 8:30 a.m. the following morning. You will have four Friday times and three Saturday times throughout the summer.
- 24 hour Time Off: Each staff member receives an additional four 24 hour time off periods during the summer. These 24 hour periods occur between Monday-Friday in one, two or three day blocks. Each staff member also receives a day and a half of time off between sessions.
- Break Times: Staff members in different roles have different schedules, so opportunities to go for a hike, to go for a run, to take a nap or to respond to emails are coordinated within your team based on timing, program and camper needs.
We will send out a packing list prior to camp so you will know what equipment and gear you will need to bring. While some staff opt to bring all of their own gear we do have some gear that you can rent for the summer.
Things we rent include:
- Bedding (sheets and blankets)
- Sleeping bag
- Cowboy boots
- Backpacking packs
Items you can purchase:
- Headlamp
- Crazy Creeks (camp chair)
- Water Bottles
- Warm layers
- Sanborn logo items
Sanborn is located 35 miles from Colorado Springs, 20 miles from Woodland Park, an hour and half from Breckenridge, and an hour and fifteen minutes from Buena Vista- the town at the foot of many of Colorado’s 14,000 foot mountains. There is a wide range of activities just a close drive from camp. Staff love to get outdoors on their time off, whether its rock climbing, fly-fishing, hiking, or just hanging out at the river. With Woodland Park and Colorado Springs so close, there are also plenty of options for a nice night in town. Whether it be dinner and a movie, live music, thrift shopping, bowling or many other activities, it’s nice to get out into the “real world” every now and then. No matter what your interests, there is always something to do and somebody to do it with!
Telephone: Yes, there is a staff phone that may be used at specific times, for short periods of time.
Cell phone: Yes, there is cell phone service at camp, but you may not use your phone in the cabin, tent or any public areas of camp. We encourage you to use your cell phones on time off, as the time for making calls or checking texts at camp is very limited.
Computer: Yes, there is a staff computer located in each camp or you may bring your own laptop. We have wireless internet at both camps, but we ask that you use your computer at specifically designated times and locations only, and never in the cabin or tent.
iPods/MP3 players: Sure, so your living unit can enjoy music together at appropriate times, but never on trips or on activities-it plugs you in and closes you off from the campers.
We expect full commitments to the summer arrival dates of mid-May for Mandatory Staff training through the mid-August for Camp Cleanup (and additional opportunities for extended and seasonal work).
Seasonal staff are not allowed to bring their pets on property.