Link to staff application here.
Camp jobs are exciting, fulfilling, challenging, fun, and inspiring. For our nine week summer season (June 16 – August 18) we look to hire about forty people. One-third to one-half of our staff are returning staff each year. Please feel free to ask questions about working at Friends Camp at any time– you can reach Anna, Friends Camp Director, at (207) 877-4302 or by email at Director@FriendsCamp.org. To apply to camp, you will need to fill out an online application that will take you an hour or two. If you’re not ready to do the full application, but you’d like to learn a little more and connect with no pressure, fill out this Google form and we’ll be in touch!
If you would like to apply to be a counselor-in-training (also called Rising Leaders), please visit this page on our website.
A Little Bit about Friends Camp
Friends Camp is a small Quaker (Friends) youth camp located on China Lake in South China, Maine. The focus, polices, annual budget, and program direction of the camp are under the care of a Friends Camp Committee that is appointed by the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends. Friends Camp staff members and youth campers come from diverse religious, geographic, racial, and economic backgrounds. Because of our diverse camper population, Friends Camp makes a special effort to hire counselors and staff of color. While it is not a requirement for counselor or staff member to be a Quaker, we do ask all staff to be comfortable with Quakerism and with Quaker values. Most essentially, we ask that our staff commit to seeing the goodness (or Light) in every person.
- At Friends Camp, we practice the Quaker values of community, equality, integrity, peace, & simplicity.
- We are a youth camp with a unique atmosphere of tolerance and love where special friendships develop.
- All members of our camp community try to see the Light of God in everyone.
- Our interesting, creative, non-competitive, and fun activities help young people grow into healthy and responsible adults.
- We seek socio-economic diversity by providing affordable tuition and camperships.
It is not our practice at Friends Camp to preach Quakerism, but to live the principles that represent Quakerism.
Qualifications
We need people who can be fully committed to the responsibilities of the job of being a camp counselor or staff member. Honesty, maturity, responsibility, and creativity are high on our list for young adults we are looking to hire. Being a counselor or staff member can be difficult or exhausting at times, but (in our opinion) it is the most rewarding and important summer job you could have. We are seeking staff who have experience with kids, whether that be through a job, babysitting, or taking care of family members.
2023 Positions
Counselors/Activity Leaders (minimum age 19)
Counselors lead programs according to their own interests and talents. Many counselors are also lifeguards. Counselors form the heart and soul of each camper’s experience at Friends Camp, so we look to hire positive role models who enjoy being with children and teenagers. Counselors also need to be highly creative and contribute to all programs, regardless of their specialty. To apply, you must be 19 or older by the summer months, although occasional exceptions can be made. We also prefer staff members who have lived away from home for at least a year or who have otherwise demonstrated their independence. Other ways to demonstrate independence include regular employment and outstanding references.
Superperson/Kitchen Staff
Superpeople are vital to making camp run – hence their name! The responsibilities of a superperson most prominently include preparing all meals under the supervision and direction of the head cook, and supervising campers during morning free time.
Nurse/ EMT
Friends Camp has a wonderful returning nurse who leads our camp health staff. For 2023, we are seeking RNs or NPs to work a few weeks during the summer each in order to allow our nurse some summer time off. Nurses can be paid and/or compensated through tuition if their children with to attend camp. Nurses will administer medication, treat sick campers and staff, respond to health emergencies, and generally keeping camp safe.
How do I apply?
Please fill out this application to get started, and then we will contact you. For candidates whose experience and background fits our needs, next steps will include an interview, references, and a background check. Contact Anna at director@friendscamp.org with questions at any time.
Staff Orientation
Our one-week staff orientation is an important training, learning, and bonding time for the counselors and staff. It is a week for us to start to build our camp staff family, to learn about Friends Camp programming, to learn about the needs of the campers, and to prepare the program areas. We will also share skills, develop the programs, practice safety procedures at camp, and review policies. If you plan to apply to work at Friends Camp as a first-time staff person this summer, please be available for the full nine weeks. Sometimes returning staff members work just a few weeks or a partial season. SUMMER 2023: All OF THE COUNSELORS AND STAFF WILL STARTING WORKING ON JUNE 16, 2023 and WILL END WORK AT CAMP ON AUGUST 18, 2023 at NOON.