Join Our Team

Camp Jewell YMCA is a year-round operation. Employment is divided into two categories: summer camp, and outdoor center (fall, winter, spring). To apply, please complete our staff application.

Summer Employment

Camp Jewell YMCA hires over 180 college age adults for an incredible summer of making new friends, working with youth, and having fun! Our carefully selected staff members come from all over the United States as well as up to 15 different countries.

Spending a summer at Camp Jewell is truly an opportunity of a lifetime. Staff live and work in a very close, accepting, and inclusive camp community. Lifelong skills are developed through practical experience working with children.

At Camp Jewell, staff develops skills that help them in their future career and family lives:

• Responsibility – Staff are responsible for the safety and well being of children
• Leadership – Staff supervise children in many activities while creating an environment that encourages participation, cooperation, and growth
• Communication – Staff learn how to communicate with supervisors, peers, and children
• Problem Solving – Staff learn to make timely and effective decisions and set priorities.
• Teamwork – Staff learn to work collaboratively with everyone in their area of responsibility
• Flexibility – Staff perfect the ability to handle change and accept that not everything always goes as planned.
• Patience – Staff work with kids!!!
• Globalization – Staff network with individuals from all over the country and the world!
• Entrepreneur – The camp environment compels staff to take initiative and become self-starters.

Why choose Camp Jewell?

• Get experience at a high quality, nationally known and respected summer camp
• We have a strong focus on character development.
• Competitive salaries, including room and board
• Year-round work opportunities
• High staff to camper ratio
• High quality staff training
• Internship and college credit options
• Generous time off policy, including one 24-hour period off per week, an additional night off per week, and at least an hour off each day
• Free internet access
• Modern staff lounge with TV, DVD, internet, store, library, couches, foosball, table-tennis, and snacks
• Access to transportation out of camp on days and nights off (when available)
• Nightly staff snacks
• On site laundry service (that washes your clothes for you!)
• Quality vegetarian options
• Discounts in the camp store
• Free use of Camp Jewell supplies, such as canoes, kayaks, tents, etc.
• Access to an indoor climbing facility

Types of Positions

Cabin Counselors

Cabin counselors live with a fellow staff member and 8-9 campers of similar age. Counselors act as role models, teachers, best friends, parents, nature guides, entertainers, and inspirations to their campers. The position requires maturity, creativity, and a strong commitment to the YMCA mission. Counselors have the freedom to initiate activities for their specific groups each afternoon. All counselors must have graduated from the Camp Jewell CIT program or have completed their first year of college.

Program Counselors

Program counselors live in camper cabins and perform several of the same tasks as cabin counselors, but their primary responsibility is to lead and organize a program clinic area.

Solid skills and teaching expertise is required to be a program counselor. Certifications in some clinics are required such as: lifeguards, boating, archery, etc.

Adventure Trip Staff

Leaders in the adventure trips program are responsible for overseeing 1-week long backpacking hikes, bike tours, rock climbing programs, sea kayaking, whitewater trips and sailing experiences throughout the United States and Canada. The leaders must have excellent organizational skills, strong leadership abilities, and technical expertise. Trips are coed groups of 10-12 campers, ages 13-16, each staffed by male and female co-leaders. Leaders must be a minimum of 21 years old and will be required to pass life guarding, wilderness first aid and professional CPR courses included in camp’s staff training.

Interested staff should contact Ray Zetye, Camp Director, at (888)-412-2267 or ray.zetye@ghymca.org.

Ranch Staff

Leaders in the ranch program are responsible for 8-9 campers in their cabin, ages 10-15. The staff’s most essential responsibilities include maintaining the physical and emotional safety of campers, developing positive lasting relationships with youth, and providing quality safe educational opportunities for kids to bond and relate with their animals. Ranch Counselors teach and/or assist group lessons on a daily basis with 7-8 riders of like ability. A riding instructor can log as many as 180 instructional hours of teaching in a summer; with additional time spent feeding, grooming, tacking, and providing equine first aid. The Ranch Staff’s responsibilities include non-horse related activities as well. Waterfront, high ropes, sports, campfires, and nature exploration are just some examples of the activities staff facilitate for campers.

Village Coordinators

Camp Jewell is organized into villages by age group. Each village consists of cabins totaling 30 to 60 campers and 8 to 12 staff. Village coordinators supervise staff, organize many of the activities for the village, and provide much of the daily leadership in camp. Coordinators are also sought for major program areas such as waterfront, riding, arts and crafts, sports, nature, and ropes courses. These members of the camp's administration team are usually college graduates and are housed in comfortable college dormitory style quarters. Previous resident camp experience is required.

Support Staff

There are several opportunities for staff members to work in either the trading post, office, maintenance department or the kitchen. Generally, interested staff need to have a minimum amount of experience in their area of interest. Please contact Ray Zetye, Camp Director, at ray.zetye@ghymca.org for more details.

Health Center Staff

Each summer camp employs at least three Registered Nurses to operate our 14 bed heath center. Primary responsibilities include medication distribution, emergency services and preserving the overall health of Camp Jewell. Nurses enjoy a private living area attached to the health center that includes a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and washer and dryer. For more information please contact Eric Tucker, Executive Director, at eric.tucker@ghymca.org.

Other Important Information

Salary is based upon position, experience, years at camp, certifications, and other factors.
Cabin Counselors $200 to $250 a week
Program Counselors $225 to $275 a week
Trip Leaders $250 to $300 a week
Ranch Staff $250 to $300 a week
Coordinators $300 to $350 a week

All staff are required to attend a comprehensive staff training before summer starts. Staff receive training in behavior management, supervision, program organization, child abuse prevention, first aid and CPR.

Training Start Dates for 2008:

• June 1-22 Ranch Staff Training
• June 1-5 Lifeguard Certification Training
• June 6 Lifeguard Challenge
• June 6-7 Archery Training
  
• June 6 Boating Certification Training
• June 14-15 Wilderness First Aid Training
• June 8-14 Coordinator Training
• June 13-14 Archery Training
  
• June 11-15 Trips, LIT, CIT, Senior Staff Training
• June 14 Community CPR
• June 15 Community First Aid
  
• June 15-21 General Staff Training
  
• June 22 Camp Begins!
• August 17 Last day of summer contract (1pm dismissal)
  

United States Staff Applicants

To apply, please complete the on-line registration form or download an application and mail to: Camp Jewell, 6 Prock Hill Road, Colebrook, CT 06021. For additional information, please contact Ray Zetye, Camp Director, at 1-888-412-2267 or ray.zetye@ghymca.org.

International Staff Applicants

International staff must first submit an application and obtain a working visa through a qualifying sponsorship organization such as the YMCA’s International Camp Counselor Program (ICCP), Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA), Camp America, or BUNAC. Only returning staff may apply directly through Camp Jewell.

Websites for sponsorship organizations:
ICCP: www.ymcainternational.org
CCUSA: www.ccusa.org
Camp America: www.campamerica.co.uk
BUNAC: www.bunac.org

For additional information or assistance from Camp Jewell YMCA, please contact Jodi Gove, International Staff Coordinator, at jodi.gove@ghymca.org

Year-Round Employment

Camp Jewell hosts over 20,000 visitors each year who enjoy our beautiful 540 acres, friendly staff, and innovative programming through our Outdoor Center programs. The three primary program areas are; teambuilding, outdoor education, and conference/retreat. Outdoor center staff are trained to work interchangeably within all three programs. Cleaning cabins and facilities is expected in all program areas.

Teambuilding Program

Staff who work in teambuilding typically host a group of 8-12 participants on the high and low ropes course. Group type and ages vary widely, although most groups are from schools and universities. Teambuilding is especially busy during both mid-week and weekends in September, October, March, April, and May.

Outdoor Education

Staff in our outdoor education are trained to work with elementary and middle school students in a variety of science based activities. Although a few outdoor education groups come in the fall, the majority visit in the spring.

Conference and Retreat

The conference and retreat program is the largest and most diverse of the outdoor center programs and has the longest season. Staff can expect to host and lead activities in various summer and winter type sports, arts & crafts, and indoor activities. The conference and retreat program is busiest on weekends in the winter and early spring.

There is no typical day or week at Camp Jewell. Staff working hours revolve around the needs of each individual group. Staff average between 30 and 40 hours per week.

Staff receive training and are expected to instruct the following:

• Rock climbing (climbing wall, etc.)
• Teambuilding games and initiatives
• Low ropes
• High ropes
• Water ecology programs
• Animal education programs
• Wilderness skills
• Underground Railroad Program Activities
• Meal hosting
• Cabin and facility cleaning
• Sports/BB guns
• Arts/Crafts
• Leathercraft
• Cross country skiing
• Ice-skating
• Ice-fishing
• Snow Tubing
• Horseback riding
• Horse and animal care
• Kayaking/canoeing/sailing/swimming
• Campfire & storytelling
• Song leading
• Archery
• Hiking
• Candle making
• Woodworking
• Outdoor Cooking
• Large group games

Outdoor Center staff enjoy many benefits, including free room, board, and utilities, as well as meals and access to camp activities and supplies. Staff are housed in comfortable dorm-like quarters with cable in each room, and share a room with a fellow staff member. All staff share a common living room, equipped with cable television, telephone, and wireless internet access. Staff also have access to a community kitchen and on-site washers and dryers. The most important benefit, however, is the close friendships amongst staff that develop throughout the season.

Camp Jewell enjoys close proximity to several areas for fun and recreation. Camp is located in the foothills of the Berkshires with access to mountain biking, white water rafting, skiing, and hiking. Boston, New York City, and Providence are all within easy driving distance of camp:

• Great Barrington, MA 30 minute drive
  
• New York City, NY 1.5 hour drive
  
• Boston, MA 2.5 hour drive
  

To apply complete our staff application. For additional information, please contact Becky Barton, Outdoor Center Director, at (888) 412-2267 or becky.barton@ghymca.org.

 

Program Clinics

• Archery
• Arts/Crafts
• Astronomy
• Archery
• Canoeing
• Climbing
• Dance
• Drama
• Drawing
• Farming
• Fishing
• Frisbee
• Guitar
• Horseback Riding
• Improv
• Kayaking
• Leathercraft
• Mountain Biking
• Nature
• Newspaper
• Outdoor Cooking
• Painting
• Photography
• Pottery
• Props/Make-Up
• Puppetry
• Radio
• Rocketry
• Sailing
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Sword Fighting
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Water Sports
• Wilderness Skills