Who: Rising 12th graders or teens who are the age of a rising 12th grader (17) by September 1st
When: June 9- July 28th (minimum commitment), if desired can stay until end of summer for community service hours (Aug. 1)
Compensation: $750 stipend for the summer
Details: Apply to be a part of our Junior Staff Program! Work directly with our campers while receiving hands-on childcare experience and learning key leadership skills throughout the course of the summer, preparing you to be a top-notch staff member both at Eden Village West and beyond! Be a part of a cohort of others who are learning alongside you and learn from some of the best experiential educators in the Jewish community.
A Day in the Life
Each day, Junior Staff will spend a part of their day with a bunk that they will work with throughout the course of the session, a part of their day supporting the general operations of camp, and a part of their day having the opportunity to learn from one another and experience (and make!) camp magic together. The days will be jam packed & amazing!
- Time With Kids
- Camp Behind the Scenes
- Learn & Grow
Time with Campers
Get up close and personal with the heart and soul of Eden Village West- our campers! Try on what it means to be a role model, caretaker, and magic maker for kids, and have a ton of fun while doing it. Junior Staff will be assigned to a bunk and support all facets of bunk life, including wake up & getting ready for the day, bunk beautification, meal times, chugim, bunk nights & bedtime, and more! Junior Staff will also have the opportunity to help support a program area during chugim and get the chance to support and occasionally facilitate some of camp’s electives.
Support the Inner workings of Camp
Make the magic happen behind the scenes at camp! There is a whole team of operations, kitchen, & administrative staff who do a bunch of amazing work to make camp run, and you get to be a part of the action. You may find yourself making desserts in the kitchen/bake shop, sorting camper mail & picking up packages, taking photos around camp, and more!
Learn & Grow with fellow Junior Staff
In addition to a week of training prior to the arrival of our campers, you will have 3-4 sessions each week either as a cohort to learn from one another or to continue your learning & growing with a member of EVW’s staff. Together, you’ll explore everything from leadership styles, to effective & fun outdoor education, to supporting camper conflicts & behavioral challenges, to writing & running your own programming, and everything in between! Plus, you’ll get to build on the magic of camp by creating & leading a few all camp programs throughout the summer, and helping to lead already existing programming.
More Info & FAQ
Is this role considered staff or campers?
Junior Staff are in the midst of a year of transition from camper to staff member when they participate in this program. They will be given some core responsibilities of an Eden Village West staff member, but also receive hands on guidance, mentorship, and learning along the way, in addition to having free time and opportunities to hang out with other older campers. They are expected to treat this program like they would an internship.
Do you have to pay to be a Junior Staff member?
Nope, you get paid! All Junior Staff will receive a $500 stipend for their time with us during the summer. Additionally, if you choose to stay August 1-4, you will receive community service hours.
Where will junior staff live?
Junior Staff will live in the dorms together as a cohort. During the times of the day when their campers are in their dorms and Junior Counselors are assigned to be with the kids, they will be expected to be around & ready to spend time with campers as necessary.
Will Junior Staff be supervised?
Yes! Junior Staff will have a Junior Staff Director who is there to support the growth and learning of the cohort and each individual Junior Staff member. Additionally, Junior Staff members will report to the Tribe Leader that their bunk belongs to, just like other counselors they are working alongside. They will benefit from feedback and mentorship from both their Junior Counselor Director and their Tribe Leader.
Will Junior Staff have regular time off?
Yes! In addition to cohort time together each day, Junior Staff will have an hour off daily and an average of one day off each week, just like the rest of our staff.
Will Junior Staff Ever be the only counselor 'on' for their bunk?
No. Each of our bunks has 2 staff members assigned to it as a standard– Junior Staff will be the third staff member for their bunk. They will have the ongoing support of other staff members throughout each session for guidance and teamwork.
I have college applications & Summer Homework to do. Can I still participate in this program?
Yes! Your time off is yours to use however you need to, and additionally we’ll save some cohort time hours for tending to matters outside of camp, such as college applications & summer work. We expect you to manage your time wisely and use the allotted hours that camp gives you for this work to take care of external school work etc.
Will there be any time for fun? Will I get to see my friends from past years?
Yes! The Junior Staff experience is meant to show you how much fun being a staff member can be, and allow you to have fun with friends from your cohort & from previous summers. You will have opportunities to connect with the Keter campers who are a bit younger than you both to see friends and to give them some insight into your experiences.
