Late Season Options & Strategies For Finding Summer Camp Jobs

Summer is approaching and many people already have their plans in place for employment and recreation. If you have found yourself getting a late start, rest assured it is not too late to find a summer camp staff position. Most residential summer camps do not get underway until the second or third week of June, which means there is still a workable window even as Memorial Day passes.

What to expect from directors at this stage of the season

By late May and early June, most camp directors have shifted their attention from recruiting to the operational work of setting up for the season: arranging transportation, coordinating food deliveries, handling facilities maintenance, and managing the hundred details that precede opening day. Directors are busy, often moving between tasks and locations, and phone tag is a real possibility.

Acknowledging this reality when you make contact actually works in your favor. Demonstrating that you understand the director’s situation and can communicate concisely and efficiently signals that you are considerate and capable under pressure, both qualities that matter in a camp environment. If you do reach a director, be prepared to state your qualifications and available dates quickly and clearly rather than requiring them to draw the information out of you.

What positions are typically still available

At this stage of the hiring cycle, two categories of positions are most commonly still open. The first is roles requiring specialized qualifications that are genuinely harder to fill: registered nurses, certified lifeguards, equestrian instructors, sailing instructors, and similar credentialed positions. If you hold relevant certifications, your late start is much less of a disadvantage than it would be for general counselor positions.

The second category is roles that are simply less sought after: kitchen staff, maintenance, office, and housekeeping positions. These are essential to how camp operates and are often overlooked by job seekers focused on counselor roles. Accepting a position in one of these areas is a legitimate entry point into a camp community and often leads to preferred positions in subsequent summers.

Broadening your search

If your preferred position or preferred camp has no openings, widening the search geographically and by camp type significantly increases your options. Candidates who are willing to relocate for the summer have access to the full national market rather than programs within commuting distance. Large camps that maintain high staff-to-camper ratios tend to hire more people and may still have openings later than smaller programs. A wait list inquiry is always worth making; staff turnover before and during the season is common and positions open up unexpectedly.

Being flexible about position type

Entering a camp in any role, whether as a general counselor, kitchen staff, or maintenance crew, places you inside the extended camp family with all of its intangible rewards. Staff who demonstrate a genuine work ethic and enthusiasm for the camp community consistently find it easier to move into preferred positions in future seasons. The late start that felt like a disadvantage often looks quite different by the end of a summer spent doing work that matters.

Browse current openings at the Camp Channel job board to find positions across the country. For a broader overview of camp employment, see our related guides on working at a summer camp, what to expect for compensation, and types of camp director positions.