Position Summary: Camp Mishawaka seeks to hire summer staff members for a variety of positions for the 2025 season from June 8th-August 8th who share a commitment to making a positive difference in the life of a child. Overseeing and developing lessons for a specialized activity, living and fostering an atmosphere of safety and comfort for a cabin group of 4-6 campers for up to eight weeks, leading a variety of activities throughout the day, and/or possibly planning and guiding extended wilderness trips for up to five days, staff at Mishawaka are provided with true leadership opportunities. All the skills counselors learn (and hone), including critical thinking, collaboration, organization, communication, and creativity, have real world applications, and whether you are considering a career in childhood development, nature education, or another field, working effectively in a beautiful natural setting with people from different backgrounds and areas, as Mishawaka staff members do, provides an experience that you will be able to draw on for years to come.

For those looking for an internship, we are willing to explore adjusting job details to fit specfic internship program requirements.

General Qualifications:

• Availability between June 8 to August 8
• Be 18 years of age or older by time of employment
• Previous experience working with children preferred 
• CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor, and/or other relevant activity certifications preferred 

Competencies

• Enjoy working with children!
• An appreciation for working in a natural setting 
• Cultural competence and enthusiasm for working with a diverse and dynamic community
• Ability to communicate with peers, campers, and parents, including written correspondence and record keeping.
• Ability to observe and assess, by sight and sound, dangerous situations and behavior that endangers the camp community.
• Physical ability to move independently from place to place throughout a multi-acre, outdoor camp, maintain your cabin area, including routine cleaning chores and assisting campers in need.
• Capable of appropriate responses in a variety of situations that arise when working with children including regulation of emotions.

Working Conditions:

• You live on the lake for 9 weeks! That means swimming, tubing, skiing, and sailing
• You get to play games and be outside in nature everyday
• Room, board, laundry, and utilities are all covered
• On days off, counselors are free to explore the town of Grand Rapids, rest on campus, or check-out Mishawaka equipment like paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes. Staff have access to a camp vehicle on days off to help make visits off campus more accessible.