Camp Counselor/Youth

Camp Counselor/Youth: Works with a team of camp counselors, reports to Youth Program Director. Key traits for success: high energy level, teamwork, creativity, responsibility, sense of fun, independence/initiative. Responsible for providing a fun, safe, and educational program for guest children/youth in the Children’s Program (usually 10-12 year olds), in coordination with the Children’s Program and other counselors. This role requires communicating closely with other counselors, guest parents and children, and other Ranch staff members (e.g., wranglers, kitchen staff, fishing guides, ranch managers). Activities vary according to the interests of the children and include hiking, riding, archery, .22 riflery, fishing, campfire gatherings, etc. The youth coordinator also fills the role of Children’s Camp Counselor. These duties include: presenting a fun and educational program for guest children aged 3-12, plus providing babysitting services to children younger than three.

The Children/Youth/Teen Programs are designed as “adventure camps” and it is the responsibility of counselors to schedule and implement an active, outdoor-oriented program. Counselors serve as lifeguards for the swimming pool, conduct routine pool cleaning and maintenance, keep their facilities (the “Gopher Hole” and  “Tree House”) clean and organized, communicate with parents, and are generally responsible for the care and supervision of children while they are participating in our Children/Youth Program. The Ranch provides lifeguard training and certification and pool maintenance training. During times when numbers of children in the program are low and all counselors are not needed, they are expected to help in other departments, including housekeeping, maintenance, trail crew, etc.

All Kids' Program staff work a 6-day work-week with an average of 7 hours/day. They must be able to lift/carry at least 40 pounds.

Photography: An important role of the kids' program team is to photograph, organize, and distribute a weekly photo collection of guests engaged in ranch activities. On Saturday nights, the photo collection is presented to all guests as a slideshow. At the end of the season, a photo book is created including images from throughout the summer and published as a hardback book.