Work
At
Camp
Staff Applications for 2026 are now closed.
If you’re still interested in applying, you may reach out directly to [email protected] to introduce yourself, but we cannot guarantee there will be a spot for you. Thank you very much for your interest!
If you’re interested in applying to be a volunteer at camp, please visit our Volunteers page to learn more and submit an application.
2026 staff Positions
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Unirondack is seeking a new team of summer counselors. Counselors at Unirondack are responsible for developing and providing unique programming, as well as supervising and caring for our campers. A counselor’s 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 programs and the unpredictable needs of campers. 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 activities in at least two areas of specialty (ex. art, athletics, music, discussion groups, outdoor education, theatre, social justice, cooking, RPGs and board games etc.)
Comfortable with public speaking
Ability to work long hours
Able to self-monitor physical and emotional limitations
A love of silliness
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 17 – Aug. 23
Starting salary $3,000
Room & included (this is a full-ime, on-site position)
1.5 days off per week
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The Waterfront Director maintains and oversees the waterfront swim area and lifeguards. This means having keen knowledge of all safety standards and requirements, and checking regularly to ensure that all protocols are being followed correctly. Responsibilities include assisting with lifeguard training, keeping the waterfront and its equipment clean and organized, supervising camper swim tests, directing and supervising lifeguards, ensuring all swim-based programs are following safety protocols, maintaining waterfront logs, and attending daily 1-hour leadership meetings.
The Waterfront Director is also responsible for camper supervision duties, and is encouraged to fully participate in the camp community, run programs, and spend time connecting with campers.
Requirements:21+ years old
Experience working with children
Leadership experienceA minimum of:
One season of previous experience as a camp aquatics director at a NYS children’s camp; OR
Two seasons of previous experience consisting of at least 12 weeks as a children’s camp lifeguard; OR
18 weeks of previous experience as a lifeguard at a swimming pool or beach
An accepted Lifeguard Management certification from this list
An accepted Progressive Swimming certification from this listA valid CPR certification is a plus
Details, Dates, Compensation
Contract Dates: June 13 – Aug. 23
Starting: $3,500 – $4,000 depending on experience
Room & Board Provided
1.5 days off per week
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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 and emotional limitations
Willingness and ability to work inside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 15 – Aug. 23
Starting salary $3,000
Room & Board Provided
1.5 days off per week
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Dishwashers report to work each day at 7:30am and are usually done by 8 pm. Breaks are usually 10:00am – 11:30am and 2pm – 5pm depending on meals.
Dishwashers are responsible for washing meal dishes and general kitchen cleanliness including mopping floors, choosing the best tunes for the kitchen vibe, and making funny faces at children through the dish window. No prior kitchen experience is necessary.
Requirements:
17+ years old
Able to self-monitor physical and emotional limitations
Willingness and ability to work inside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 15 – Aug. 23
Starting salary $3,000
Room & Board Provided
1.5 days off per week
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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 responding to maintenance requests for the camp. Maintenance Crew members will usually work together on one or two larger building projects each summer. 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 are 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 and emotional limitations
Willingness and ability to work outside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 17 – Aug. 23
Starting salary $3,000
Room & Board
1.5 days off per week
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The driver on camp is responsible for a weekly shopping trip in town, 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 caregivers.
Requirements:
18+ years old
Valid driver’s license
Able to self-monitor physical limitations
Willingness and ability to work outside in a hot environment
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 17 – Aug. 23
Starting salary $3,000
Room & Board
1.5 days off per week
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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. 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.
Requirements:
Valid Driver’s License
Previous leadership in fast-paced 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 13 – Aug. 23, additional weeks negotiable
Starting: $4,000 – $4,500 depending on experience
Room & Board Provided
1.5 days off per week
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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. Work may also include larger building projects. Hours are from 8:30 am until 6:30pm with breaks for meals and a one hour post-lunch leadership meeting. A mix of good work ethic, practical 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 strongly preferred
Computer programming and/or tech savviness a plus
21+ years old
Details, Dates, Compensation
Contract Dates: June 13 – Aug. 23
Starting: $3,500 – $4,000 depending on experience
Room & Board Provided
1.5 days off per week
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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.
Requirements:
EMT, LPN, RN, PA, NP, or MD certification
Experience working with children
21+ years old
Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract: June 13 – Aug. 23
Starting: $3,500 – $4,500 (depending on experience}
Room & Board Provided
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Unirondack is seeking a tech-savvy, organized individual with great communication skills and experience in online databases, Quickbooks, and Gmail applications. The office manager is often the first person our caregivers 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.
Requirements:
Confident speaking skills
Comfortable writing professional emails
Familiarity with Quickbooks
Familiarity with Gmail applications
IT experience a plus
Details, Dates, Compensation
Contract Dates: June 15 – Aug. 16
Starting: $3,000 – $3,600 depending on experience
Room & Board Provided
1.5 days off per week
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Trip leaders are responsible for keeping our wilderness trip program alive and well at Unirondack. This includes responsibilities such as co-leading week-long backpacking and/or canoe trips, co-leading shorter 2-night or single night off-sight camping trips, helping to plan trip routes, pack gear, and prepare trip food, helping to keep our trip camp garage and gear clean and organized, running outdoor education programs and day trips, assisting with other programs and camper supervision, and being an active participant in the camp community
Requirements:
18+ years old
Experience working with and leading kids and/or teens, familiarity with child/youth development, and keen conflict resolution skills
Experience or keen interest in backcountry camping and outdoor education
Willingness and ability to work very long hours outdoors in all weather and in rugged wiiderness environments
A keen enthusiasm for learning new wilderness skills and embracing physical, mental and spiritual challenges
Previous knowledge and skills in outdoor education backcountry camping is strongly preferred but not required (training will be provided)
CPR and WFA or WFR certifications are a plus but not required (training will be provided)Details, Dates, Compensation:
Contract June 17 – Aug. 23
Starting salary $3,000
Room & included (this is a full-ime, on-site position)
1.5 days off per week
See info sheet here
Compensation, Dates, and Details
Salary:
Counselors, Prep Cooks, Dishwashers, and Maintenance Crew Members all receive a salary of $3,000 for the summer. (This works out to $333 per week.)
Leadership staff salaries range from $3,200 to $4,500 per summer depending on certifications, experience, and position.
Other Compensation:
Room and board provided (all positions are on-site, live-in positions)
Partial Travel Stipend (Train, Plane, and Bus ticket reimbursement for those traveling more than 250 miles.)
Reimbursement for certifications
Staff Training Week/Dates of Employment:
Staff orientation is mandatory. Arrival dates are as follows:
Leadership Staff: Saturday, June 13 by 5pm
Kitchen Staff and New Lifeguards: Monday June 15 by 5pm
All Others: Wednesday, June 17 by 5pm
Contracts end on August 23, 2025. Earlier contract end dates may be negotiated but are not guaranteed.
Topics covered during staff week:
Staff development and communication building (group games, team-building challenges, discussions etc.)
Site-specific training (child development, camp procedures, camp safety & health department rules, etc.)
First aid and CPR training
Staff bonding activities such as staff campfires, games and challenges, talent shows, trips, swimming, etc, etc.
For counselors: program planning, camper care and support, community building, supportive intervention, mental health support, crisis management etc.
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, LGBTQ+ cultural competency, sex education, social justice initiatives, and more
Working at Unirondack
Unirondack’s staff is a strong, committed team focused on providing a program of fun, learning, and growth for our campers. Our commitment to inclusion, social justice, and silliness lay the groundwork for how we treat campers in all respects. The Unirondack experience is one where we work hard to take care of each other, challenge each other, and celebrate joy as we all learn how to maintain a healthy, functional community where no one gets left behind.
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. 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-adjusted 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 skills and talents in music, theater, arts and crafts, photography, discussion leading, athletics, swimming, boating, wilderness skills, and so much more. 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 sky is the limit. Got a weird idea? Watch it come to life here.
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 fixing toilets, our crew often jump into programming directly. What would a Renaissance Faire be without a drawbridge? What would a giant haunted dollhouse be without a creepy puppet theatre? The crew adds a special touch to camp. Whether it be in the hard 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 from thousands of miles away. We all bring irreplaceable experiences to camp.
Potential staff members are interviewed by our Directors and/or 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, and complete all required paperwork. 1-2 weeks before the start of the summer our staff attends an intense 10-day pre-camp orientation, which emphasizes counseling skills, child development, community building, social justice education, safety procedures, program planning, and job-specific skills. Lifeguard training, CPR and WFA training are also available to staff who wish to become certified.
It is our staff that makes camp a memorable experience for our campers. One comment we hear often from caregivers 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, LGBTQ+ folks and gender non-conforming folks to apply. A diverse staff is necessary for meeting the diverse needs of our campers.
What We’re Looking For...
Unirondack staff must be willing to support and celebrate all things that make our youth who they are. Respecting pronouns, chosen names and identity labels is non-negotiable. We want staff who are excited to affirm non-conformity, learn about difference, and provide a safe, non-judgmental container for youth to engage in self-discovery.
Great staff are selfless, humble, and willing to laugh at themselves! We work hard, and we put youth first. But beyond that, we role model humility, community-mindedness, and the joy of not taking life too seriously. There can be a place for levity and silliness in all things.
Speaking of community-mindedness, health communities rely on open and honest communication habits. That’s why we are looking for staff who are great communicators. We need folks who can be clear and direct in communicating their needs, respectful in delivering feedback, and kind and considerate when interacting with others.
Lastly, we are looking for staff who are excited to challenge themselves, try new things, and have the time of their life this summer!
People of color, trans, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary folks are especially encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
You can submit your application online using the link at the bottom of this page. 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 video interview. Interviews for staff will begin February 18.
The application includes the option to submit longer responses via video or audio recording. See the application itself for further instructions.
Before you apply…
All Unirondack staff members are required to attend our in-person Staff Orientation.
With few exceptions, it is strongly preferred that potential staff members are available to work the entire summer, from June 17 until August 23. If you need to make a special arrangement for leaving early at the end of the summer (for college orientation or classes, for instance), 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. For counselors, this is not possible due to state laws.
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 to be the best way to achieve this. Exceptions can be made to meet specific supportive needs. If you anticipate this policy being a problem for you, we will be happy to make a plan with you to help meet your needs safely.
All potential staff members must submit at least 2 references. 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A. 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 and to open staff-wide discussions to better meet the needs of our campers and staff alike. Unirondack’s leadership challenges ourselves to listen, learn, and respond to the changing needs of our staff. When we find ourselves unable to do so, we question the efficacy of our camp policies before questioning the motivation of our community. We serve you, so you can 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 often come with a level of familiarity, we do not explicitly reserve positions for any 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. We will hire a more qualified or better suited new candidate over a less qualified or underperforming returning staff member. We make our decisions based on who is the best fit for the job, not who has been here the longest.
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A. NYS law requires staff be 18 years old to supervise children without additional support, which adds benefit to any 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 we 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 we see it is, if we want you on staff, we want you on staff 100%! Hierarchies have never been our favorite thing and we 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 a quarter to a half our staff each year which allows for 16-18 available new positions. This, of course, varies tremendously year to year.
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A. The reality is, every single year we must make the difficult decision to turn down intelligent, mature, and capable applicants because we just don’t have enough positions for every great applicant. There has never been a year in which we’ve had to say no to someone we dearly wished we had room for.
That said, we sometimes make the decision not to hire someone either because we don’t think they’re a great fit, or because it’s not the right time. Maybe we have too many staff with the same skillset that year, and we need more diversity. Maybe that candidate has some, but not all of the skills they need and would benefit from more time out in the world before working at camp. Maybe a returning candidate struggled the previous summer and could use a summer off.
Every case is different. If you are confused by a decision and would like deeper explanation or feedback, you are welcome to request this. We will always do our best to offer you an honest and thorough response.
In many cases when someone is not hired, they may be encouraged to consider volunteering for a week. This can be a lower-stakes alternative that can help you gain experience, and perhaps re-apply the following summer with more readiness and a much better chance of getting hired. -
A. This obviously varies between positions but there is one thing that is very difficult about every position: 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.
