
Employment Opportunities
🎨🌲Calling All Creatives, Educators & College Trailblazers! Camp Atwater Wants YOU!
Looking for a meaningful, exciting way to spend your summer? Whether you’re into the arts, music, sports leadership, or simply love the beauty of nature, Camp Atwater is your place to make a difference for future generations and engage with youth in a supportive setting.
Since 1921, we’ve been empowering youth through unforgettable summer experiences, and now we’re looking for passionate, talented staff to join our team. Camp Atwater will provide you with a summer deeply rooted in its over 100-year-long legacy of Black excellence, irreplaceable friendships, and lifelong memories; it is truly “an experience of a lifetime”, steeped in history and tradition, all in a beautiful natural setting. Are you an educator, coach, or mentor with a heart for guiding youth beyond the classroom? Step into a powerful tradition of impact at Camp Atwater - a historic residential summer camp that has positively shaped the lives of Black youth for over 100 years.
We’re looking for compassionate, skilled individuals to help lead, teach, and inspire youth in a dynamic, nature-rich environment this summer.
🛶 Bring your teaching and mentoring skills to life outdoors!
🎨 Share your unique skills with young minds!
🌟 Build your resume and personal network!
🎒 Be part of a century-old legacy!
We are located in central Massachusetts: approximately 60 miles from Boston, MA, 35 miles from Springfield, MA, and 50 miles from Hartford, CT. Nestled in the heart of “New England”, we attract campers, counselors, and staff from all over the USA and abroad. We offer one period “off” every day, plus one day off per week, not including the first week of your contract. Our staff is the most important aspect of running camp, so please read through our history and current job descriptions. This isn’t just a job, it’s a journey. Ready to inspire and be inspired?
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Plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate activities. Complete all required supervisory paperwork, including staff feedback and evaluations and staff skill observation reports.
Acquaint campers with rules, activities, daily schedules, and traditions of camp.
Must be 21 years or older by June 20, 2025.
Have participated in structured group camping or have at least four weeks of experience in a supervisory role with children. Must have or gain First-Aid and CPR and Mental Health First Aid Certification.
Key Responsibilities:
• Create and maintain daily and weekly schedules for campers and staff.
• Train and supervise activity staff, including counselors and specialty instructors.
• Provide constructive feedback and mentoring to activity staff throughout the camp session.
• Foster an inclusive and supportive environment where all campers feel safe, engaged, and valued.
• Act as a role model, demonstrating positive behavior and enthusiasm for camp activities.
• Resolve conflicts among campers and staff, ensuring a harmonious camp environment.
• Enforce safety protocols and procedures for all camp activities and respond promptly and appropriately to emergencies or safety concerns.
• Maintain accurate records of incidents, injuries, and program participation.
• Encourage innovation and creativity in designing and running activities.
• Lead large group events, ensuring participation and excitement.
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A senior residential camp counselor's essential job duties include: actively supervising campers, leading and planning diverse camp activities, ensuring camper safety, providing emotional support, acting as a role model, facilitating personal growth, managing group dynamics, and coordinating with other staff members, often taking on additional leadership responsibilities compared to regular counselors.
Must be 18 years or older by June 20, 2025.
Must have experience as a summer camp counselor, have participated in structured group camping, or have at least four weeks of experience in a supervisory role with children. Must have or gain First-Aid and CPR and Mental Health First Aid Certification.
Key Responsibilities:
• Direct camper supervision
• Activity planning and execution
• Group management
• Personal development support
• Mentorship and role modeling
• Staff coordination
• Emergency response
• Communication and documentation
• Leadership responsibilities
Important skills for a senior residential camp counselor:
• Strong leadership and organizational abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively with children of different ages and personalities
• Enthusiasm for outdoor activities and recreation
• Patience and ability to handle challenging situations
• Commitment to camper safety and well-being.
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A junior residential camp counselor's essential job duties include: actively supervising campers during all activities, ensuring their safety, leading planned games and recreational activities, assisting with daily living tasks, maintaining a positive and supportive environment, enforcing camp rules, and communicating effectively with both campers and senior staff.
Must be 16 years or older by June 20, 2025.
Must have experience as a summer camp counselor, have participated in structured group camping, or have at least four weeks’ experience in a supervisory role with children. Must have or gain First-Aid and CPR and Mental Health First Aid Certification.
Key Responsibilities:
• Direct camper supervision
• Activity leadership
• Cabin/group management
• Positive role modeling
• Communication and reporting
• Enforcing camp rules
• Camp maintenance
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Waterfront Director is responsible for planning, implementing, and supervising a safe and fun waterfront program, overseeing all water activities, training and managing waterfront staff, ensuring adherence to safety regulations, managing equipment, and responding to emergencies at the waterfront; essentially prioritizing camper safety while providing engaging water-based activities like swimming, boating, and kayaking.
Must be at least 21 years old by June 20, 2025.
He or she MUST have the following:
A current Waterfront Lifeguarding certification with corresponding certifications in CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid
A current Waterfront Lifeguarding Instructor certification
Experience lifeguarding in non-pool locations—particularly lakes and rivers
Leadership/managerial experience—management to the physical operation of the waterfront’s facilities and equipment.
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Lifeguards must actively supervise swimmers in the designated swimming area, identify and prevent potential hazards, enforce water safety rules, perform rescues if necessary, administer first aid and CPR when required, provide water safety education to campers, and maintain vigilance to ensure the safety of all swimmers at the camp waterfront.
Must be 18 years or older by June 20, 2025.
Additionally, he or she MUST have the following:
Valid lifeguard safety certifications/CPR/First Aid certifications
Prior Lifeguard training and/or experience.
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Specialty Instructors will lead, teach, supervise, and ensure the overall safety of the specialty area.
Applicants must demonstrate significant experience teaching/coaching in the specialty area, as well as the ability to train and supervise a group of assistants.
We require our Specialty Instructors to be able to work autonomously, developing their own program within our camp’s philosophy.
We follow a team approach and all work together to ensure the highest quality program and camp experience.
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The camp Nurse resides ON SITE, and is responsible for overseeing the health and safety of campers and staff.
Must be nurse, physician or physician’s assistant licensed to practice in MA.
Must have experience or comfort in treating children and adolescents.
Key Responsibilities:
• Evaluating injuries and illnesses of campers and staff
• Providing first aid for cuts, scrapes, stings, and minor injuries
• Administering medications as prescribed by a camp physician
• Monitoring chronic conditions and managing necessary care
• Educating staff on recognizing potential medical emergencies and basic first aid procedures
• Maintaining a clean and well-stocked health center with necessary medical supplies
• Maintaining accurate medical records for each camper and staff member
• Documenting all medical treatments, medications administered, and significant health concerns
• Communicating with camp directors and staff regarding camper health concerns
• Coordinating with off-site medical providers when necessary to arrange further treatment or consultations.
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As a camp groundskeeper, essential job duties include:
Maintaining camp grounds through landscaping tasks like mowing, weeding, trimming, and planting
Performing basic building maintenance, inspecting facilities for repairs, managing groundskeeping equipment, ensuring safety of outdoor areas, and responding to maintenance requests
Key responsibilities may also involve snow removal in winter months and coordinating with other staff on larger projects.
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In close partnership with the Camp Director and Urban League staff, the Office Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the camp office.
Must have a valid driver’s license, willingness to work on-site, and work irregular hours.
Must be 21 years of age or older by June 20, 2025.
Key Skills required:
Experience in business or office setting
Must have excellent organizational and time management skills
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with parents, staff, and campers
Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Experience using Microsoft Excel and Word.
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The Nutrition Director / Cook directs the overall food-service operation of the camp, including purchasing, preparation, nutrition, service, sanitation, security, personnel management, customer service, and record keeping.
Must hold current certification or licensure for operating a kitchen in the camp’s jurisdiction.
Qualifications include:
Experience in an institutional or large food service setting
Knowledge of and experience in food service, ordering, inventory, budgeting, food preparation, family-style serving, buffet serving, cleaning, and institutional kitchen equipment
• Ability to work within a budget and purchase supplies efficiently
• Experience in supervision.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of current health and safety laws and practices is essential
Knowledge of and experience in the preparation of special dietary foods.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
Manage the daily operations of the camp food and dining service, including coordinating activities between the kitchen and dining hall
Oversee the inventory and ordering of food, equipment, and supplies
Arrange for the routine maintenance, sanitation, and upkeep of the camp kitchen, its equipment, and facilities.
Monitor employee performance and training.
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While maintaining a clean and organized kitchen environment, essential job duties for a residential summer camp kitchen staff include:
Preparing meals according to camp menus
Following food safety guidelines
Cleaning and sanitizing kitchen areas
Serving food to campers and staff
Managing food inventory
Accommodating special dietary needs
Assisting with meal planning and food ordering.
PLEASE NOTE:
All Camp Atwater staff are required to participate in a pre-season orientation. The content of will relate to job responsibilities: skills and practices for effective counseling & mentoring, child abuse recognition & prevention, team building and program development exercises, CPR & First Aid training, risk management awareness, new & traditional games, class instruction curriculum development, health & safety prevention and response, familiarization with the total environment, effectively addressing camper challenges (i.e. homesickness, bedwetting, inappropriate behavior), etc. All staff must submit to a CORI & SORI review.
Specialty Instructors are needed in the following areas:
Performing Arts/ Drama Instructor
Archery
Lacrosse
Golf
Lifeguards
Water Safety Instructor
Pottery
Available Support Service Positions:
Fencing
Tennis
Canoeing/Kayaking/Sailing
Environmental Science
Environmental Education
Art Instruction – Arts and Crafts
Ropes Course Leader
Dance Instructor
Grounds & Maintenance
Office Manager
Driver
Security
Medical/Nurses
Kitchen Staff-Cooks; Chef