Employment

It’s a Real Job!

Working at a summer camp is a hard and rewarding job. Sometimes it may be your first job and others the one you do in the summers until you start to work in the field you want to grow a career in. All the same you gain a mass amount of transferable skills to use in the future. In addition to the skills below you can read through our onboarding packet to get to know more about what it's like to work and live at camp.

Working in the Camp Environment Cultivates. . .

ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

You will be required to communicate effectively with people at every level of the organization — campers, fellow staff, camp directors, and parents

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

You will be challenged to think on your feet — from resolving child health and safety issues to facilitating a group of campers in creating and putting on a skit

INTERPERSONAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

You will model professionalism and compassion by managing a group of campers, while contributing to the growth and development of each individual participant

COLLABORATIVE SKILLS

You will receive on-the-ground, practical, real life training in how to work with a team and help build the culture of your camp community

CREATIVITY

You will develop innovative and fun ways to engage an audience of two to 200

Overnight and Day Camp Counselors: $370/week

Day Camp Support/Activity Support (Stay in cabin but specialize in activity areas during the day) $390/week

Leadership $410/week

Spring Outdoor Educators: $400-$450/week

Outdoor Education/Conference Specialist: $460/week

• Pay range is determined based on degrees, previous seasons, and certifications. 

ADDITIONAL PERKS:

• YMCA Membership
• Meals on-site
• Lodging
• Professional development with paid trainings (LG, Ropes, Shooting sports)
• CPR/First Aid certification
• Mini on-site workout facility

Summer 2025

STAFF MAY CHOOSE TO WORK A HALF OR A FULL SUMMER DEPENDING ON AVAILABLITY

Leadership Training: May 18-23

Specialty Training: May 25-30 (High Ropes/Life Guard/Shooting)

Staff Training: June 1-6  ONLY ONE TRAINING- If you are a returner there is only one option this year.

Overnight Camp Sessions

Session 1: June 8-13

Session 2: June 15-20

Session 3: June 29-July 4

Session 4: July 6-11

Session 5: July 13-18

Session 6: July 20-25

Session 7: July 27- August 1

Overnight Staff - Holdover Weekends

(Optional to work a half shift on a weekend and earn and extra days pay)

Session 1: Between Overnight Sessions 3 & 4 July 4-6    (LIT/CIT's only)

Session 2: Between Overnight Sessions 4 & 5 July 11-13

Session 3: Between Overnight Sessions 5 & 6 July 19-20

Session 4: Between Overnight Sessions 6 & 7 July 25-27

Day Camp Sessions

Session 1: June 9-13

Session 2: June 16-20

Session 3: June 30-July 4

Session 4: July 7-11

Session 5: July 14-18

Session 6: July 21-25

Session 7: July 28- August 1

Session 8: August 4-8

The safety of our staff and program participants is of utmost importance. To that end, we take the following steps in our intensive screening of employees and volunteers:

• Detailed application forms
• Comprehensive interview process
• Reference checks
• Criminal records checks
• Drug testing (employees only)

Learn more about our commitment to providing a safe environment for all children. Please note that the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina also participates in E-Verify.

If you have any questions about this information, the upcoming summer, or ideas to share please give us a call at 336 983 3131. You may also email Reagan Lane, Program Director of Overnight Camp & Adventure Camp, at r.lane@ymcanwnc.org.

We continue to grow in numbers in camp and continually need awesome staff to help provide our great programming. We gain many staff through campers who then become staff and have staff who will return for multiple summers which is beautiful to see. They know camp and share a passion to continue providing the positive experiences camp provides.

We still NEED more staff though! With our awesome growing camper numbers we need more staff to help facilitate these great moments so we would love your help.

Recruitment Bonus $150

So if you help us recruit someone new to camp, that has not been a camper here or previous staff member there is a bonus. If they are hired for Overnight camp they are required to work a minimum of 5 overnight sessions. If they are hired for Day camp they are required to work 7 day camp sessions. At the end of the summer when they and you have completed your contract, you will be provided with $150 bonus per recruit you brought onto staff for the summer!

We host a spring and fall Outdoor Education season at camp. The spring season usually runs from mid-March through till the end of May running into the start of summer camp. The fall season begins at the end of summer mid August through till mid-November.

Pay for spring outdoor educators is $410-$430/week depending on certifications and experience.

If you are interested in applying for our Outdoor Education season as an Outdoor Education instructor, please feel free to reach out to Riley Crisp, Associate Director of Outdoor Education, Conference, and Day Camp, at r.crisp@ymcanwnc.org or visit our application here!

Wanted: Fun, active, caring, licensed health care professionals to have a positive impact on children’s lives this summer! YMCA Camp Hanes is currently seeking professionals to assist in our summer camp infirmary.
 
This position requires a minimum commitment of one week and living on-site in the camp infirmary. As a trade, your children attend camp free of charge.
 
For more information, contact Lisa Wiley at 336 983 3131 or email l.wiley@ymcanwnc.org.