Counselor and Outdoor Educator

Position Description: Counselor & Outdoor Educators are responsible for working closely with the year-long Outdoor Education Fellows in creating and maintaining a safe, fun, and educational environment for program participants. Staff members in this role balance their time between supervising campers, collaborating with other camp staff, co-leading adventure programming, and managing activity supplies.

Staff will participate in three weeks of staff training, four to five weeks of overnight summer camp, one week of day camp, and one to two weeks with other onsite Eagle Bluff guests, for a total of ten weeks. Overnight camps typically run Sunday through Thursday; day camps run Monday through Friday. Camp staff at Eagle Bluff typically work about 40 hours per week. Through the summer, staff will spend 2-3 weeks on the Instructional Staff team, and 2-3 weeks on the Counselor Staff team. The difference between those roles is explained in the next section.

What does a typical week look like?

Instructional Staff

When in the Instructional role, most days follow an 8:15am–5:00pm rhythm, with a midday break from 12–1pm. The exception is the first day of each camp week, which runs from approximately 12:30–9:30pm to support camper arrival and evening programming (with a 5–6pm break).

Instructional staff spend their days preparing activity spaces and leading or co-leading small groups of 12-24 campers through their adventures. The day wraps up by resetting spaces for the next round of activities.

Counselor Staff

When in the Counselor role, the workday follows a more varied rhythm to support campers throughout their full camp experience. Counselor schedules rotate between two shifts: either 7:30-9:00am & 4:30-10:00pm or 12:15-5:00pm & 5:45-10:00pm, and includes being on-call overnight approximately twice per week.

Counselor staff supervise campers during meals, downtime, and overnight hours, helping create a sense of community and continuity throughout the week. They also co-facilitate small and large group activities (typically 24–80 campers) in the afternoons and evenings.

Essential Functions:

85% – Summer Camp Counselor for Overnight and Day Camps

• Create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe camp environment by actively supervising campers, setting and reinforcing clear behavior and safety expectations, and addressing concerns as they arise.
  
• Build positive, respectful relationships with campers by engaging with them throughout the day, supporting social and emotional needs, and modeling appropriate behavior and camp values.
• Lead and co-lead outdoor adventure activities, which include high ropes courses, rock climbing, river canoeing, archery, and team building.
• Lead and co-lead other camp activities, which may include crafts, water games, river swimming, fire starting, and more.
• Assist in implementing and planning daily activities that fit camper needs and interests
• Counselor Staff role: Supervise campers overnight approximately 2 nights per week from a nearby staff room, including bedtime routines, morning wake-ups, and being on call for camper needs.
• Help campers and guests with issues that may arise
• Set-up and take-down of activities

15% – Education Department Team Member

• Demonstrate professionalism and show sincerity/sensitivity, especially in areas of participant experience
• Show a commitment to individual and organizational growth and improvement
• Be flexible and maintain a positive attitude and composure when working alone/in teams, receiving constructive criticism, and during times of stress
• Show dependability in attendance
• Assume an equal share of housekeeping, community, and maintenance duties

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications and Skills: 

• Able to commit to June 1st – August 7th, 2026, with vacation time July 1st-3rd
• Be 18 years of age by June 1st, 2026
• Interest in working outdoors with elementary, middle, and high school-aged children
• High level of self-motivation and enthusiasm; an eagerness and willingness to learn
• Can effectively collaborate and communicate with peers
• Comfortable in moving water and able to hike long distances. Willing to operate and participate in adventure activities such as high ropes courses, canoeing, rock wall, etc.
• Able to live on-site in a dormitory communal setting with other Eagle Bluff Staff
• Willingness to ask questions or for help when needed
• Current First Aid and CPR/AED certification (or willingness to obtain prior to start date) from a nationally recognized provider (AHA, ARC, ASHI, NSC). Must include instructor-led skill session.
• Computer, radio, and audio-visual equipment literacy.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

• Prior experience working with elementary, middle, and high school-aged children
• Experience in outdoor, adventure-based activities such as climbing, canoeing, and camping

Work Environment, Physical Requirements, and Employment Conditions