Camp Chickagami is a special and joyful place, where lives are changed and where you can make a difference that can be carried out into the world. We are a ministry center in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan, with camps for children, youth and families. We are part of the Episcopal church, and believe all people are loved by God no matter who they are or what their life is like.
The job of working at Camp Chickagami is a demanding and rewarding one. It requires a great deal of stamina, enthusiasm, interpersonal skill and patience. Staff members must be receptive to the campers and take very seriously the responsibility of nurturing these children in a safe and interactive environment. The staff’s number one priority needs to always be the campers in their care. Camp Chickagami & our camper parents/guardians expect our staff members to be positive role models for our campers.
Christian Formation is an important part of our program; we share stories, learn together, say prayers and sing every day. Campers and staff members of all (or no) faith backgrounds are welcome. We also canoe, fish, have campfires, sleep outside, create art, do chalk murals, play sports and wacky games, and explore the natural world around us. Serving on a camp staff is a formation experience in itself; while care and safety for campers is always a staff member’s first priority, personal, faithful and professional growth results from serving and living in community.
We strive to create a staff community with diverse perspectives, life experiences and that is reflective of the campers we serve. Staff from any or no faith backgrounds, all socio economic statuses, people of color and members of the LGBT community are especially encouraged to apply.
Staff members have a deep impact in the lives of campers. At Camp Chickagami, the expectation is that each summer employee serves as a model of sacramental ministry, fulfilling an example of loving and servant leadership to the campers and to one another. Every position on the Summer Staff must be approached as a ministry to the campers (rising 1st-12th graders), one that requires constant energy, enthusiasm, integrity, patience, and perseverance. We welcome young adults who are seeking to live into their own potential in this way.
Apply here!
Serving as a Camp Chickagami Summer Staff member is very fun and very hard. It involves early mornings and late nights, hot days and loud groups, being a leader and being a friend. It is all about teamwork and living as a model of sacramental ministry, where outward and visible actions are a sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
If all the above characteristics of working on Summer Staff were thrown into a pot and stirred for long enough, the result would look a lot like servant leadership–the Summer staff serves campers and families, each other, and the Kingdom of God with grace, patience, and love.
Every staff member is invited and expected to participate fully in the life of the community. This includes program, worship, and afternoon and evening activities. Whatever the job all staff positions are valued and important parts of the team. The norm is fulfilling one’s specific role…and then some. The whole staff works together attending to the many details that make summer camp happen in the context of Christian community.
Camp Leadership: Camp leaders provide care, programming, development for cabin teams and serve as a liaison to the broader camp community. They will help plan and run activities, keep the daily schedule, do periodic staff evaluations and create schedules for counselors and campers. Prior leadership at camp or otherwise preferred. Don't take this job if: you don't constantly consider safety, have great organization skills, and think well on your feet.
Resident Camp Counselor: (18 year olds+) Counselors are assigned to a cabin each week with at least one other counselor and around 6-10 campers that eat, sleep, and play together in a cabin group. Counselors will care for their cabin campers as well as plan and assist in running different program activities throughout the day with other campers. Don't take this job if: you don't love kids & the outdoors.
Junior Staff Member: (16/17 year olds with Counselor in Training experience) Junior Staff members will be exposed to all aspects of camp life. Some examples of job duties for Junior Staff include, but are not limited to, being a junior cabin counselor, kitchen support, facility support and program support. Don't take this job if: you don't love kids, the outdoors and learning about yourself and others.
Trip Camp Staff: (18 year olds+) Trip Camp Staff support the Trip Camp Director to care for up to 10 campers with at least two other staff members on a week-long wilderness trip. Trip Camp Staff care for their campers as well as plan and assist leading the wilderness trip. Don't take this job if: you don't love sleeping on the ground, eating food cooked over a fire, being outdoors all day, and working with kids.
Kitchen Lead: (20 year olds+) The kitchen lead is responsible for planning the menu, ordering the food for the sessions and leading the kitchen assistants. The Kitchen Lead will be responsible for prepping, preparing, and cleaning up after the meals for approximately 100 people each week. Don't take this job if: you don't love to cook, bake, clean, organize, and run a kitchen.
Kitchen Assistant: (16 year olds+) Kitchen staff will be assigned to a shift where they will be responsible for prepping, preparing, and cleaning up after the meals for approximately 100 people each week. Don't take this job if: you don't love cooking, learning new skills, and being part of a hard-working team
Maintenance Staff: (16 year olds+) Maintenance staff will be responsible for the cleaning, maintaining, and general upkeep of the Camp Chickagami property. Don't take this job if: you don't love working hard, getting dirty learning new skills, and being part of a hard-working team
Steps to getting hired at Camp Chickagami:
- Complete your application.
- Have three references (that aren't related to you) complete a reference check form. These forms are included in the application process.
- Submit your information for a background check. This process is apart of the application process.
- Our staff will connect with you once we have application and references to schedule a 30 minute interview via zoom.
Interviews and hiring will be on a rolling basis. All staff must have a background check and complete all paperwork before employment is confirmed.
Salary Structure:
- Junior Staff: $150 per week; plus room, board, food, laundry services and American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
- 1st year staff members: $300 per week; plus room, board, food, laundry services and American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
- 2nd year staff members: $325 per week; plus room, board, food, laundry services and American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
- 3rd year staff members and beyond: $350 per week; plus room, board, food, laundry services and American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
- Program Director/Assistant Director/Kitchen Director/etc: $375 per week ($25 will be added to weekly pay if the individual returns for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th summer in the same position); plus room, board, food, laundry services and American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
Benefits package (including food, room, board, laundry service, transferable training and certifications) valued at about $250 per week/$2000 for the 8 week season.
This year we will be running various program opportunities from mid-June through the beginning of August. Family camps, overnight camps, day camps on site at Camp Chickagami, off-site day camps at churches around the state and traveling trip camps. Summer Camp Counselors will provide support to all programs during the summer.
General Counselors (18+) serve the entire summer from June 11th - August 6th.
Junior Staff (11th - 12th grade who have completed Counselors-In-Training in a prior year) serve the weeks of July 7th - July 22nd and July 30th - August 4th. Junior Staff are invited to register for the Traveling Trip Camp session from July 22nd - July 29th.
Adult Volunteers (18+) serve for specific week(s) or program areas.All persons hired for Camp Chickagami staffs are required to have current certifications in first aid and CPR, submit the Consent to Treat form, and complete a Voluntary Disclosure Statement about criminal history.