Counseling Staff

Blue Lake Counseling Staff members serve as role models for campers and provide a warm, caring environment that nurtures self-respect, supports healthy interpersonal relationships, and fosters growth in the arts. Counseling staff members live with campers and remain in residence at Blue Lake for the entire season, including at least 9 days of orientation and training. Blue Lake’s counseling staff is typically made up of undergraduate and graduate students involved in education or arts-related fields.

Camp Counselors (162 full-summer positions available, room & board included)

• Central Camp Counselors serve as role models for campers by demonstrating respect and discipline, and by living by the established camp policies. Duties include living with 10 - 11 campers, eating with your assigned cabin, supervising clean-up details, planning recreational and social activities, laundering the campers' uniform clothes every other day, working 15 - 20 hours a week at a specific work assignment (including performing and artistic assignments), and consistently evaluating and acting on all campers' special needs, problems, and concerns. Camp Counselors are role models, leaders, supervisors, problem solvers, motivators, friends, and guardians for Blue Lake campers.

• Central Camp Counselors/Lifeguards have the same responsibilities as central camp counselors, except that their work assignment is that of a Lifeguard. These counselors also have opportunities to perform with various camp music ensembles or complete other job assignments. Blue Lake will certify candidates with Red Cross certifications prior to staff orientation. Candidates for Lifeguard positions must be physically fit, competent and confident swimmers, able to meet the American Red Cross prerequisites for lifeguarding, and able to arrive at camp by June 10 for American Red Cross Lifeguard training.

• Junior Camp (Camp Bernstein) Counselors have the same responsibilities as Central Camp staff. Work assignments may include teaching sectional and/or technique classes for the Camp Bernstein students. For those interested in these limited sectional/technique teaching positions, a recorded audition is required and teaching experience is preferred. Some counselors may also teach elective classes of art, choir, theater, jazz studies, history of music, or nature studies.

• Unit Counselors have the same responsibilities as central camp cabin counselors, except that they are not assigned a specific group of campers. Instead, unit counselors work with a team of other staff members to provide support and supervision to the larger camper group and living area, as well as fill in for cabin counselors who are ill or are called away from camp on emergencies.

Unit Directors (18 full-summer positions available, room & board included)

Each unit of six cabins is supervised by one Unit Director. Duties include: supervising the counselors of your designated unit, organizing all required paperwork, planning unit activities, delivering important announcements and information to campers and counselors, assisting campers that need special attention, communicating with camper parents, and any other duties designated by the Director of Student Services. Previous camp leadership experience and good communication skills are a must.

See our website for additional staff leadership positions, including Associate Staff Director, Bernstein Leadership, Health Lodge Leadership, and Recreation Director. Previous Blue Lake experience required. Dates and pay vary by position.