2024 Positions**
**Hiring for 2024 has ended for the season**
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Description:
Unirondack is looking to add a new member to our leadership team who can help us work toward our goals of creating and sustaining a more racially just and equitable environment at camp. Our Racial Justice Director will be responsible for leading anti-racism staff training, facilitating regular BIPOC affinity groups for campers and staff, and running programs to provide racial justice and anti-oppression education to campers about once a week. It will also be the RJD’s responsibility to observe daily activities at camp (including programs, culture, norms and trends) in order to provide honest feedback about injustice in our community. Lastly, this position involves being an important part of our leadership team and contributing to ongoing big-picture conversations and decisions about camp.
Requirements:
Strong foundational knowledge on topics related to racial injustice, systemic power and oppression, implicit bias, and race-based violence in the United States today.
Well-informed on the relationships between racial injustice and other systemic forms of injustice such as colonialism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, sizeism, classism, sexism and others.
Skills in mediation, recognizing and addressing microaggressions, and participating in accountability processes for others.
Experience providing education and training in front of large groups.
Experience facilitating small and large group discussions.
Experience working directly with children and youth in a mentorship capacity.
Lived experience that enables you to speak about racial inequity from the first-person perspective.
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract Dates: June 17 – Aug. 26, 5 days per week
Salary: $4,500
Room & Board Provided
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Unirondack is seeking a new team of summer counselors. Counselors at Unirondack are responsible for providing programming and supervision to our campers. A counselors day begins before breakfast and ends late in the evening. With various breaks sprinkled throughout the day, a counselors’s day is long and the work varies greatly from day to day depending on the programs. A great candidate should have experience and enthusiasm working with kids between the ages of 5 and 17 and be able to maintain a positive attitude when sleep and self care are at a minimum.
Requirements:
18+ years old
Experience working with kids
Experience leading games and activities
Comfortable with public speaking
Ability to work long hours
Able to self-monitor physical limitations
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 19 – Aug. 26
Starting salary $2,800
Room & Board
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Prep Cooks report to work each morning at 7 am and are usually done by 8 pm. Breaks are 9:30am – 11am and 2pm – 4pm depending on meals. Prep cooks are responsible for working to support the Kitchen Manager in preparing meals, coming up with recipe ideas, cleaning kitchen equipment and surfaces, maintaining a safe and sanitary food service setting, and cleaning and maintaining food storage. Prep cooks should have previous food preparation experience, knowledge of kitchen expectations, and a dedication to being a part of a tight-knit family of kitchen staff in a summer camp setting. Opportunities are available for kitchen staff to provide and participate in summer programming with campers and are encouraged to be active community members!
Requirements:
18+ years old
1 year previous experience in food preparation
Knife skills
Knowledge of kitchen safety
Able to self-monitor physical limitations
Willingness to work inside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 19 – Aug. 26
Starting salary $2,800
Room & Board Provided
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Dishwashers report to work each day at 8am and are usually done by 8 pm. Breaks are 10:0am – 11:30am and 2pm – 5pm depending on meals.
Dishwashers are responsible for washing meal dishes and general kitchen cleanliness including moping floors, choosing the best tunes for the kitchen vibe, and making funny faes at children through the dish window. No prior kitchen experience is necessary.
Requirements:
17+ years old
Able to self-monitor physical limitations
Willingness to work inside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 19 – Aug. 26
Starting salary $2,800
Room & Board Provided
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The driver on camp is responsible for a weekly town run, trips to pick up campers on weekends with public transit connections, driving our camp van for trips and excursions, bringing campers into town for medical needs, and other miscellaneous trips for supplies. The driver position has more flexibility than a standard position at camp and is often an “on-call” position. Our driver is expected to be available for supervision duties as well as to be a pleasant welcoming face to campers and parents.
Requirements:
18+ years old
Valid driver’s license
Able to self-monitor physical limitations
Willingness to work outside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 20 – Aug. 26
Starting salary $2,800
Room & Board
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We are looking for a qualified candidate to be our summer cook. Unirondack is a relatively small summer camp, with one-week sessions of around 65 campers. We have between 35 and 40 staff which means our kitchen is responsible for cooking for about 100-110 people per day. The position is 6-days of work per week. It is also possible for this position to be extended beyond the summer season to include cooking for weekends between May and October. A preferred candidate has a positive attitude, is comfortable working in a diverse, social justice-driven environment, experience leading others, and demonstrates an ability to work well with a variety of skill sets.
Valid Driver’s License
Previous leadership in competitive cooking environments
Experience with banquet-style food service
Experience in food ordering, menu planning, and product storage
21+ years old
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 19 – Aug. 26, 6 days per week (additional weeks negotiable)
Starting: $4,000 – $4,500 depending on experience
Room & Board Provided
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Unirondack is seeking a Maintenance Crew Chief for the summer season. Exceptional candidates should have experience in wood framing, carpentry, work crew leadership, electrical, plumbing, and road/trail maintenance. Auto mechanical knowledge is a plus. The crew chief oversees a crew of 3 – 4 people for jobs ranging from landscaping to light carpentry. Occasional work with our Facilities Manager on larger jobs is possible. Hours are from 8:30 am until 6:30pm with breaks for meals and a one hour post-lunch leadership meeting. A mix of work ethic, skill, and team leadership capability is paramount.
Requirements:
Experience level of carpenter’s apprentice or higher
Experience leading a team of 3 or more
Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical experience a plus
Computer programming experience a plus
21+ years old
Details, Dates, Compensation
Contract Dates: June 19 – Aug. 26, 6 days per week
Starting: $2,200 – $3,000 depending on experience
Room & Board Provided
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The Health Director at camp is responsible for the health and wellness of our camp community. The Health Director is on call 24 hours a day during the summer weeks, 6 days per week with much of their time open to enjoying camp or supervising resting campers. A preferred candidate has a positive attitude, is comfortable working in a diverse, social justice-driven environment, experience leading others, and demonstrates an ability to work well with a variety of skill sets.
EMT, LPN, RN, PA, NP, or MD certification
Experience working with children
21+ years old
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract: June 19 – Aug. 19, 6 days per week
Starting: $3,500 – $4,500 depending on experience}
Room & Board Provided
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Crew members work from 9 am until 6 pm with breaks for lunch and dinner and rotating responsibilities each evening. Crew members are responsible for cabin inspections, safety checks of buildings and fire systems, upholding camper safety, and meeting maintenance requests for the camp. Maintenance Crew members will, on occasion, help in larger building projects. Maintenance crew members are encouraged to participate and enjoy the camp community and interact with campers as well! Applicants with previous experience in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing preferred.
Requirements:
18+ years old
Experience in hand tool use
Experience in power tool use
Familiarity with job site safety procedures/protocol
Ability to lift 45 pounds}
Able to self-monitor physical limitations
Willingness to work outside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 19 – Aug. 26
Starting salary $2,800
Room & Board
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Unirondack is seeking a tech-savvy, organized individual with experience in online databases, Quickbooks, and Gmail applications. The office manager is often the first person our parents and business contacts interact with when they call the camp. We’re looking for someone who is personable, friendly, and enjoys working in an office setting. Hours are 8:30am to 7pm with breaks for lunch and dinner and participation in an hour long post-lunch leadership meeting.
Requirements:
Confident speaking skills
Comfortable writing professional emails
Familiarity with Quickbooks
Familiarity with Gmail applications
WordPress experience a plus
Mailchimp experience a plus
IT experience a plus
Details, Dates, Compensation
Contract Dates: June 15 – Aug. 21, 6 days per week
Starting: $1,800 – $2,500 depending on experience
Room & Board Provided
Working at Unirondack
Unirondack’s staff is a strong, committed team focusing on providing a program of fun, learning and growth for our campers. Our focus on acceptance lays the groundwork for how we treat campers in all respects. We’ve found that by creating a universally accepting place for campers to express themselves, we build a strong community that allows all people the space to feel safe and welcome. It is a the perfect catalyst for learning, fun, and deep reflection.
Unlike some camps, every single staff member is encouraged to interact with campers and enhance their camp experience. From dishwashers, to prep cooks, to counselors and crew members, we all contribute to the camper experience equally. Staff at Unirondack are empowered to raise questions about how our community functions, camp policy and procedures, as well as philosophy. We reject hierarchical practices whenever possible and seek to create a space where leadership listen and value staff voice.
Our counseling staff runs a wide variety of age-appropriate activities and workshops all summer and makes sure that there is always something for everyone. Our counselors come to Unirondack with a wide range of leadership skills and talents in music, theater, arts and crafts, photography, discussion leading, athletics, swimming, boating and wilderness skills. But what makes Unirondack stand out from other camps is the imagination and creativity that our counselors bring to all of our camp activities. The wider the range of skills our staff brings to the summer, the more ingenious our programs get.
Our kitchen staff provide more than just food. The kitchen is a place of giving and warmth. With a focus on local food and an organic menu whenever possible, we believe that food is a gift of love. There is something to be said about a kitchen that sees each and every meal as a chance to make the experience at camp a better one. That is the type of staff member we are looking for in our kitchen.
Our Maintenance Crew Chief and crew members make sure that Unirondack’s infrastructure is running smoothly and that the camp is a safe place to be. Doing more than just fix toilets, our crew often jumps in to programing directly. What would a Renaissance Faire be without a drawbridge? The crew adds a special touch to camp. Whether it be in the back-breaking labor of buildings and grounds maintenance or aiding in an evening program as a zany fictional character.
We believe that it is important to carry on Unirondack traditions but also to bring new ideas and influences into our community. Some of our staff members have spent many years as youth campers while others have never been to Unirondack before and have come to Unirondack from thousands of miles away to bring irreplaceable experiences to our camp.
Potential staff members are interviewed by our Directors and Program Director, references are checked and background checks are completed.
Once the hiring process is over, our staff communicates by email to share ideas and thoughts about the summer. One week before the start of the summer our staff attends an intense week-long pre-camp orientation, which emphasizes counseling skills, community building, safety procedures, and program planning. Many of our staff members are trained in CPR and first aid.
It is our staff that makes camp a memorable experience for our campers. One comment we hear often from parents is: “The Unirondack staff helped make my child’s stay at Unirondack an incredible one.” They do, and it is one of the principal reasons why Unirondack is so special. The entire staff works together to make this a reality.We especially encourage people of color, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary folks to apply. A diverse staff is necessary for meeting the diverse needs of our campers.
What We’re Looking For...
So, you’re interested in working at Unirondack? It is impossible to effectively communicate the experience of working a summer at Unirondack in only one paragraph. It is, of course, so very contingent on the individual perspective one lends to the job. Nevertheless, there are some things you should know about working at Unirondack. A successful Unirondack staff member should put campers first and be ready to engage in thoughtful and compassionate communication with campers, themselves, and other staff. Our programming centers around fun, accessibility, education, and counter-culture. We’re a hearty group of weirdos who try every day to give campers what they need at all times. Of course, we don’t always succeed in this goal. However, we make mistakes, learn, grow, and improve with each passing day and through the experience, work to build intentional communities together.
Unirondack staff must be willing to work with and accept all things that make our youth who they are. Respecting the inherent worth and dignity of every person is, of course, the first principle of Unitarian Universalism. It is also one of the most important prerequisites of a successful Unirondack employee.
If you are selfless in your interests, humble in your achievements, and are willing to laugh (at yourself) until it hurts, please apply!
(Our application below has options for multiple learning styles. If you have an alternative means by which you would prefer to apply, feel free to email and let us know!)
Unirondack is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, creed, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, age, disability, family structure, or genetic information.
Compensation, Dates, and Details
Salary:
Counselors, Prep Cooks, Dishwashers, and Maintenance Crew Members all receive a salary of $2,800 for the summer. (This works out to $311 per week.)
Leadership staff salaries range from $3,000 to $4,500 per summer depending on certifications, experience, and position.
Other Compensation:
Room and board
Partial Travel Stipend (Train, Plane, and Bus tickets for those traveling more than 250 miles.)
Reimbursement for certifications
Staff Week/Dates of Employment:
Staff orientation week is mandatory. The dates for staff week are following:
2024 Arrival Dates for Staff:
Leadership Staff: Sunday, June 16 by 2pm
First Time Staff: Tuesday, June 18 by 5pm
Returning Staff: Wednesday, June 19 by 5pm
Topics covered during staff week:
Staff development (group games, role-playing, discussions, etc.)
Staff training (child development, camp procedures, camp safety & health department rules, etc.)
First aid and CPR training
Activities such as staff campfires, games, swimming, etc, etc.
For counselors (program planning — ie: workshop, one-shot, evening program ideas and planning)
For kitchen staff (meal planning, kitchen preparation, prep-cook and dishwasher training, cooking for staff during the week)
For maintenance crew staff (project planning, preparation of camp facilities and grounds, training, use of tools, safety procedures)
Trainings on anti-racism, sex education, social justice initiatives, and more
How to Apply
Unirondack Summer Staff Application
Before you apply…
All Unirondack staff members are required to attend our Staff Orientation Week.
With few exceptions it is strongly preferred that potential staff members are available to work the entire summer. If you need to make a special arrangement for leaving early at the end of the Summer (for college orientation or classes), please let us know as soon as possible. Please check your college calendar so that you know the dates you are required to be at school for the fall semester.
If you are applying for a counselor position you must be 18 or older. While we strongly prefer to hire kitchen staff and maintenance crew members who are 18 or older, but we do occasionally hire well-qualified 17-year-olds for our dishwashing and crew positions.
Our summers are drug and alcohol free. This is a requirement, not a suggestion. We require sobriety for the length of our employee’s contract. It is of the utmost importance that we are of sound mind and body at all times when caring for youth and we have found that enforcing a drug-free policy even during days off to be the best way to achieve this.
All potential staff members must submit at least 2 references, one of your references MUST BE A PRIOR EMPLOYER. All staff go through a background check (as required by the NYS Department of Health).
We look forward to receiving your application, to getting to know you and to learning what you can contribute as a Unirondack staff member.
APPLY BELOW!
The earlier we receive your application, the better as most of our positions fill up early. Once we receive your application we will contact you to set up an initial phone or Zoom interview. Interviews for staff will begin February 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs about being on staff at Unirondack: by Director, Kristen Fiore
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At every turn, we look to dismantle traditional capitalist-driven productivity norms and hierarchical structures of staff dynamics. We empower staff to question the way things work whenever it feels right and to open staff-wide discussions to meet the needs of our campers and staff alike. Unirondack’s leadership challenges ourselves to listen, learn, and meet the needs of our staff and when we find ourselves unable to, we question the efficacy of our camp policies before questioning the motivation of our community. We serve you, so you serve our campers.
We also recognize that the current model and industry of summer camps is one that relies on exploitation of summer staff who are able to work long hours for unsuitable pay. We are in the early stages of creating a long-term plan to reassess our role in this model. -
A. Actually, no. While strong staff members who are returning are offered an early interview and come with a level of familiarity, I do not explicitly reserve positions for staff members. All previous staff members are required to reapply for the following year. At the end of the summer, staff are offered exit interviews during which time the next summer’s employment is discussed. I will hire a more qualified new candidate over a less qualified returning staff member every time.
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A. Of course, age isn’t everything! That being said, it is my experience that staff members who are 18 are more likely to come with a certain level of maturity. There are exceptions to every rule and this one is no different but I have more often seen staff who are 18 years old more easily handle the workload of camp. Additionally, NYS law requires staff be 18 years old to supervise children without additional support, which adds benefit to a staff member being 18.
If you are 17 years old, your best bet is to apply for a position on the crew or in the kitchen as 17 year old staff members are not able to supervise campers alone.
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A. Of course not. While I believe that a gap year has advantages, it is by no means a requirement. A gap year allows for a certain level of professional distance between the camper population and the staff member. Additionally, it encourages potential applicants to obtain other worldly experiences that may benefit their future employment at camp.
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A. Unirondack does not hire CITs. The way I see it is, if I want you on staff, I want you on staff 100%! Hierarchies have never been my favorite thing and I believe that it is more beneficial to hire a complete staff of mature, capable individuals who can equally share the responsibility for all work.
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A. Typically, we receive 50-60 applications for about 35 positions. Realistically, we retain about half our staff each year which allows for 16-18 available positions. This, of course, varies year to year.
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A. The reality is, every single year I must make the difficult decision to turn down intelligent, mature, and capable applicants because I just don’t have enough positions for every great possible applicant. Some years there aren’t even positions available for some areas of camp! There has never been a year in which I’ve had to say no to someone I dearly wished we had room for.
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A. This obviously varies between positions but there is one thing that is very difficult about every position which is the constant demand to be at your best. It is not easy to have such high expectations for such extended periods of time. At Unirondack we value the experience of the camper above all else. It is a lot of work to be so selfless and mindful of others for an entire summer and honestly, we’re all learning how to do it better. That said, when the rhythm is there, it is also the most rewarding part of the job. To work so hard and see it pay off is irreplaceable.