Summer Camp Staff: Try before You Apply

Are you thinking of applying for a summer camp staff position but want to know more about what happens at camp? This is your opportunity to live a day in the life of a camp staffer.

What to Expect

Attendees will play games, meet and talk with past staff, eat a snack, be outside, and spend time both in the park area as well as in the forest.

Bring a reusable water bottle (with water) and wear enough layers to stay warm outside for the duration of the event. Be sure to wear shoes/clothes you don’t mind wearing while walking around the wood and sitting on the ground.

Schedule

• Sign-in (name only); see video footage and pictures from camp; have the option of using sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and magnetic shapes.
• Participate in a mingle activity.
• Play a game in which you share your name (optional sharing of pronouns) and learn others’ names.
• Play an active game called Park Ranger that involves choosing an animal with characteristics you know and running across the playing field.
• Get on a trail and walk with a prompt to talk to someone you recently met.
• Participate in a scavenger hunt.
• Eat a trail-friendly snack (something nut-free and easy to eat on the trail) and get a chance to talk with past summer camp teaching staff! Ask them questions you have and learn what it’s really like.
• Play “Top 10 Things Staff Do in a Day” game to learn more about the repeating parts of camp and staff responsibilities.
• Walk the trail back and sing a repeat-after-me-song (led by someone else).
• Sign out (leave contact information if you want to be contacted) or spend additional time talking past staff or asking any questions you may still have.

Shaver’s Creek summer camp functions with Penn State’s non-discrimination policy at its helm. It is important to us that camp is a safe, supportive environment for everyone. Additionally, everyone has their own leadership style. Not everyone working at camp will be (or should be) crazy high-energy. It’s crucial that we develop our own styles and lead from that genuine and authentic place.

If you have any questions about any of this, reach out to camp director Tesha “Skye” Omeis at skye@psu.edu.