 About Being
Staff:
Room, board, and laundry are all included in summer
salaries. Senior staff must be at least 18 years of age with
preferably one year of college. Though there are occasions that
18 and 19 year olds hired, because of demands of the job,
the maturity level required, and skills required of all
department heads, most counselors range in age from 20 and
up.
All staff salaries are based on age, training, and
certifications. Written references are required of all staff
members.
Counselors live in cabins with 5-10 campers (larger cabins have
two staff) and are responsible for teaching programs during the
day related to their skills for at least 5 program hours a day.
At least once each week they are responsible for leading an
evening program. During the rest of the week, they assist other
staff leading their evening programs. Evening programs are
decided on Sunday evening during the weekly staff meeting.
The real low down:
For a new
staff member, the decision to take a camp staff job is one that
should not be taken lightly. Over the years I have found that
staff come for the experience of camp counseling for many
different reasons. Certainly, number one is usually not the
money:) but the first question I ask a staff member (and the
question that you should now be asking yourself) is why do you
want a job at a summer camp? The answer to this simple
question could make all the difference in the world to whether
you are happy for your 2 1/2 months at Cedar Lodge or not. There
are no right answers to that question but rather, there are some
answers that are righter than others. For instance, if you are
considering a camp job because you want to travel, meet new
people your own age, work outside, take a summer off, you thought
it would be "cool" , you've alway wanted to do it, you're
friend did it and had a great time, or a million other similar
responses, you may work at a camp and have a great summer, but I
think you should also consider this: What if your reason for
coming doesn't happen? What if you want to make new friends and
you form no strong bonds? How will you fair on that 95
degree day in the middle of July, well into week 6 when you get
that beginner group of swimmers that refused to learn to float?
Is working outside all it's cracked up to be with mosquitoes,
shared showers and the darn walk up the hill for the 5th time
today because you forgot your bathing suit? Those are the
realities of camp life, and time and time again, I sadly see
counselors apply for camp jobs for not wrong reasons, but reasons
that if they don't come true are bound to lead to their
disappointment. 
The reasons that won't get you in trouble, and the only one(s)
that I can guarantee, are the kids. Period. Our kids at Cedar
Lodge are great (and our parents are pretty great, too). They are
the one thing that I can guarantee every year at camp. So if you
want a job at camp because you love kids, because you want to
live with kids, because you want more experience
teaching kids, THAT I can supply and that you won't be
disappointed in.
If you are thinking of applying for the other reasons, you may
have a good summer, or even a great one, but I can't guarantee
it. For those reasons, I suggest you may want to think long and
hard about applying.
 My words are tough and I am sorry if I have backed you
off. But please consider this. Camping is our way of life. Every
year, we put together a new family unit which we will be living
with for over 2 months. By the end of 1 -2 weeks of training we
guarantee to our parents that these young adults are worthy care
givers, safe, mature, responsible keepers of the welfare of their
children. We guarantee that they are here for the right reasons
and will help their children make their stay at Cedar Lodge
memorable for the right reasons. Those are definitely large and
selfless goals, but those are the facts. A unhappy staff member
can make unhappy campers and unhappy other staff members. We are
just too small a camp, and every one person is too important part
of our over all team to have anyone unhappy. My job is to make
this one, big, happy, cohesive family unit, and I take that job
very seriously.
What do you think?
To Apply: Fill out Staff Application. Be sure to
include 3 references (include full address and phone numbers or
e-mail) and complete work history and;
Send To:
Amy Edwards
PO Box 218
Lawrence, MI 49064
Camp phone:(269)674-8071
Amy's Cell: (269)539-0140
info@cedarlodge.com
|