At Camp Chickagami, we don't just create memories; we ignite sparks. Founded in 1929, this sanctuary in the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes is a place where lives are irrevocably changed, where the ripple effect of your influence extends far beyond the summer months. Rooted in the Episcopal tradition of radical welcome, we believe every individual is a beloved child of God.
This isn't a summer job; it's a sacred trust. You'll be entrusted with the hearts and minds of young campers, requiring unwavering dedication, boundless energy, and the wisdom to guide them safely through transformative experiences. Your role is a ministry, a living testament to the power of love and service.
Our days are filled with the joy of shared faith, woven into the adventure of canoeing, fishing, creating, and exploring the wilderness. We welcome staff and campers from all backgrounds, fostering a community where differences are celebrated, and unity is found in a shared experience.
This summer, you have the opportunity to become a force for positive change. You'll be a role model, a mentor, and a living example of sacramental ministry. We seek young adults who are ready to embrace the challenge, serve with integrity, and discover the extraordinary potential within themselves. If you're ready to answer the call, Camp Chickagami is waiting.
Apply today for our staff for summer 2025!
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: $125 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.
*Certification available for staff who can report for scheduled training times.
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+)
Junior Staff (11th - 12th grade who have completed Counselors-In-Training in a prior year)
Adult Volunteers (18+)