Summer Camp Staff needed

[ScoutingCamp]

Large Scout camp in North Georgia is in need of an very experienced Nature/Ecology Director - area handles 20 merit badges, Nature staff of 8 to 10. Camp size is about 800 scouts per week / 8 week program ( plus staff and takedown week ). Email for details on camp and where to get an application

 

Also looking for a certified aquatics director to work as part of aquatic directors team. motorboat, skiing, sailing, small boats. Aquatics staff size of 25 or so.

[John-in-KC]

Welcome to the forums.

 

Since you are placing what is essentially a National "Help Wanted" ad, may I wonder if you are underwriting travel costs? What is salary? You're asking for experienced over-21 Scouters here, not new 16 year olds.

 

My council set its camps area heads weeks ago. New hires are getting their contracts as we speak. This is the time for incentives, not a generic ad.

 

YIS

[ScoutingCamp]

Yes, most directors are set in the fall, however situations do change. Any salary, travel, etc can be discussed in email, should there be anyone reading the forum that is interested.

[TheScout]

Is it just me or does it seem like summer camp administrators really don't like to talk about the salaries they offer.

 

P.S. It might help to post your email address.

[ScoutingCamp]

For email, just use the "send private message" function.

 

Salaries at summer camp, like many other areas, largely depend on age and experience. For example, a first year 16 year old in aquatics will be paid less than an 17 year old that has lifeguarding experience, even though both teach the same swimming merit badge.

 

In addition, some summer camps charge staff members for a "staff kit" of t-shirts, staff hat, etc. Some charge for room and board. Some give discouts at the trading post for staff items. Some camps, due to state regulations, pay by the hour. Some give discouts at their council scout shop for uniforms. So one camp says "We'll pay you $ 100 a week" and another says "We'll pay you $ 120 a week" Which is the better deal? You say $ 120, but then you find that the staff kit costs $ 50, and you don't get paid for staff week, and there's no food available on weekends. The $100 a week job gives you two nights off, 3 t-shirts and a hat, no extra fees, food for Saturday night and Sunday morning, and for takedown week, you only work 3 days and get paid for the full week.

 

One other reason is that at a summer camp, like a regular workplace, salaries are confidential. If a staffer found out that another staffer, working the same job, was being paid an extra $ 25 a week, it could cause moral problems.

 

Finally, most don't like to talk about salaries because they are so low.

 

 

[scoutldr]

"It could cause moral problems."

 

How true.

[Lisabob]

As someone who has worked at, and run, many summer camps over the years, may I suggest that if you are looking to hire staff for YOUR camp, it would probably help to post additional details (and/or maybe a link to your camp's website) about your camp. I, for one, would not likely respond to a help wanted post where the poster seemed reluctant to offer up any details in public.

 

While I understand the general sentiment behind your desire not to post salary details, etc., I think you aren't going to get much of a response without at least some specifics, and perhaps a range within which salaries typically fall. That way people can make more informed decisions about whether it is worth their time (and yours) to pursue. This will likely cut down on the number of inquiries you need to field from people who wouldn't fit within the parameters you have in mind.

 

Also - most of the folks on this forum are adults so if you are looking to hire youth, you may be better served spending your energies elsewhere.

 

Good luck to you, I know staffing was always one of my larger headaches at this time of year.

 

Lisa'bob

[Eamonn]

Animal Science

Astronomy ?

Bird Study

Conservation

Environmental Science

Fish & Wildlife Management

Fishing ??

Forestry ?

Insect Life

Mammal Study

Oceanography

Plant Science

Reptile and Amphibian Study

Soil & Water Conservation.

What am I missing?

All this in a week, with a staff of 8 -10? And 800 Campers!!

The staff don't need T-shirts they need Superman uniforms.

Eamonn

[ScoutingCamp]

In addition to the ones you listed, the nature area offers archaeology, energy, engineering, geology, space exploration, weather, indian lore and nuclear science. As you can imagine, we don't get too many first year campers in the nature lodges. All are not taught all periods, so the class load isn't too bad for staff. We had over 40 snakes last year, plus other reptiles, so had a young staff member dedicated to feeding, charting, and cage cleaning.

 

This forum is but one of many avenues we are using, and thank you to the youth and young adult members that have inquired already.

[John-in-KC]

In reading through Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, #33088B, revised 1999, I find these words:

 

" ... and recognized as having the skills and education in the subjects for which they are to serve as merit badge counselors, ... "

 

It seems to me that a staff of 10 experienced ADULTS would be challenged to support the twenty-two merit badges in this camps list, LET ALONE a mixed staff of youth, young adults, and mature citizens.

 

I went and looked at my Councils guide. We are a 300 series Council ... each camp of our primary reservation will support 500 Scouts/Scouters per session for six 9 day sessions.

 

Our NATURE LODGE supports: Geology, Oceanography, Mammals, Nature, Reptile & Amphibian Study, Bird Study, Astronomy

 

Our CONSERVATION LODGE supports: Environmental Science, Fish & Wildlife Management, Forestry, Soil & Water Conservation, Weather

 

Each staff is about the size of what Mr ScoutingCamp proposes for his ONE lodge.

 

So, with six times the staff, and almost twice as many campers, and 1/3 again as much time, we think we deliver the promise TO STANDARD on 2/3 as many merit badges.

 

I know some of the professional educators who help our Council advancement committee and camping committee make curriculum decisions for camp. IMO they are making a good call.

 

What am I missing here?

[le Voyageur]

hmmmmm....large camp, North Georgia. Guessing - nears Blairsville perchance? If so, nice camp. Be headed there to re cert as a Climbing Director..