Summer Camp Employment Opportunities
Each summer we hire dedicated and enthusiastic staff who strive to create magical experiences for campers.
Camp Kawartha has operated as a summer camp since 1921. We have established an excellent reputation as a facility that provides a safe and supportive environment for children and teens aged 4 to 17. To maintain our reputation, we are seeking staff members who are willing to work together as a team to achieve the high level of excellence expected by our campers.
We are a small camp that delivers a variety of programs and lessons. Our counselors return each year because of the fun, satisfaction and warm friendships from the year before. Join our team and feel the rewards of working where children, adventure and nature are the priorities.
We actively seek staff members that hope to work with children professionally.
Summer Camp 2022 Job Openings
We we are seeking staff members who are willing to work together as a team to achieve the high level of excellence expected by our campers and their families.
Canoe Trippers
Camp Kawartha is actively seeking individuals interested in working in outdoor settings with children this summer! We’re looking to hire two canoe trippers this summer, who will work closely with the rest of our tripping team to provide campers with a fantastic experience on canoe trips out in Algonquin Park and the Kawartha Highlands.
If interested in this position, please send a resume and cover letter to our Summer Camp director at emma@campkawartha.ca.
Responsible to: Tripping Director & Summer Camp Director
Responsibilities:
- Ensures the safety of campers on trip and on site (includes safe food handling, water treatment, safe campsites, exercises judgment about safe canoeing conditions)
- Ensures the physical and emotional safety of campers and fellow staff
- Monitors campers’ health and manages camper hygiene
- Conducts camper screening prior to trip to assess skills, ability and history
- Creates a comfortable, respectful and fun tripping experience
- Ensures packing, storing and timely ordering of food and supplies for trips
- Assists tripping program in care, inventory and maintenance of all tripping equipment and materials
Qualifications
- Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification or willingness to get certified before the summer
- National Lifeguard (NL) certification or willingness to get certified before the summer
- Experience leading canoe trips in provincial and national parks
- Skills in planning canoe trips, cooking, setting up camp, portaging, and navigating
- Land-based knowledge and an interest in the natural environment
- Experience working with children
- Experience working in an outdoor setting is an asset
- An interest in collaborating, team work, a passion for education and community
Camp Kawartha is committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. The Camp will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs.
Camp Kawartha is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate the diversity of our camp community including differences in race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We welcome candidates representing such diversity.
Counsellors
Camp Kawartha is actively seeking individuals interested in working in outdoor settings with children this summer! We’re looking to hire some counselling staff who hold their NL Certification, are passionate about the environment, and love helping children to explore their potential!
If interested in this position, please send a resume and cover letter to our Summer Camp director at emma@campkawartha.ca.
Responsible to: Assistant Director, Head Counsellors, and Program Director
Counsellors have four roles throughout the summer:
- Assigned as a Primary Cabin Counsellor
- Assigned as an Assistant Counsellor when not living in a camper cabin
- Assigned to run exposure periods, lessons, and interest choices
- Assigned to run evening program and theme days.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Ensures the physical and emotional safety of campers and fellow staff
- Monitors campers’ health and manages camper hygiene
- Creates a comfortable, respectful and fun cabin community
- Creates and delivers imaginative and appropriate programs
- Advances campers in their lessons
- Provides senior staff with timely and appropriate evaluations of campers
Qualifications:
- Standard First aid & CPR-C or willingness to acquire before summer season
- NL (National Lifeguard) certification is an asset
Camp Kawartha is committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. The Camp will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs.
Camp Kawartha is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate the diversity of our camp community including differences in race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We welcome candidates representing such diversity
Environmental Specialists
Camp Kawartha is actively seeking individuals interested in working in outdoor settings with children this summer! We’re looking to hire two Environmental Specialists this summer, who will work closely with our Environmental Director to lead land-based, interactive environmental programming for our campers.
We strive to make this job posting as accessible as possible so please feel free to apply in the following ways:
Send some short answer responses answering 3 of the 5 questions below.
- What does environmental kinship mean to you?
- Give us an example of an activity you could run for campers that’s about sustainability.
- Why is environmental sustainability important in a camp context?
- Tell us your experience with teaching sustainability
- What do you bring to a team when you’re working?
2. Send us a Resume and Cover Letter to emma@campkawartha.ca
3. Give us a call and talk to us about your qualifications for this position at 647-963-6206
Environmental Specialist Job Description
Responsible to: Environmental Director & Summer Camp Director
Responsibilities
- Promoting a sense of environmental kinship within all members of the camp community
- Inclusion and application of local traditional indigenous knowledge and skills
- Delivering engaging/inspiring environmental programs throughout summer camp that are consistent with Camp Kawartha’s environment framework
- Planning and delivering the eco-skills program for overnight campers and nature-based programming for day campers
- Using experiential and interactive strategies to promote awareness for Camp Kawartha’s habitats and communities
- Coming up with opportunities for further naturalization of Camp Kawartha and connecting campers with concepts of harm-reduction
- Promoting gardening, recycling, and energy conservation at camp
- Acting as a resource for campers and staff interested in nature and environmental programming
Qualifications
- Land-based knowledge and an interest in local species, plant identification, and environmental kinship
- A strong understanding of local traditional indigenous knowledge and understanding is an asset
- Experience working with children is an asset
- Experience working in an outdoor setting is an asset
- An interest in collaborating, team work, a passion for education and community
Camp Kawartha is committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. The Camp will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs.
Camp Kawartha is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate the diversity of our camp community including differences in race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We welcome candidates representing such diversity.
Waterfront Staff
Camp Kawartha is actively seeking individuals interested in working in outdoor settings with children this summer! We’re looking to hire staff for our waterfront who hold a current National Lifeguard (NL) certification, and who love working with children to help enhance our waterfront programming this summer.
If interested in this position, please send a resume and cover letter to our Summer Camp director at emma@campkawartha.ca.
Responsible to: Summer Camp Director, Waterfront Director, Area Head
Qualifications & Experience
- Standard First aid & CPR-C or willingness to acquire before summer season
- NL (National Lifeguard) certification
- Swim Instructors (or willingness to obtain before summer season) is an asset
- Pleasure Craft Operators Licence is an Asset
- Canoeing, Sailing, Windsurfing or Kayaking Certifications are an asset
- Experience in working as a lifeguard is an asset
- Experience in working in a waterfront setting is an asset
- Experience with canoeing, windsurfing, sailing and kayaking is an asset
- Experience working with children is an asset
Roles
- Delivering our waterfront programming during our classes periods
- Working alongside the waterfront director to ensure the maintenance of the waterfront area
- Designs, supervises, and delivers the Day-to-Day programs for the waterfront area
- Coordinates with the Waterfront Director in all safety issues on the waterfront
- Ensures the safety of all campers and staff involved in water activities
- Ensures that all safety protocols for water activities as outlined in this manual are followed and adhered to
- In consultation with the Waterfront Director, monitors and maintains all water activity areas, equipment, and inventory
- Designs and delivers lesson plans for waterfront activities
Camp Kawartha is committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. The Camp will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs.
Camp Kawartha is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate the diversity of our camp community including differences in race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. We welcome candidates representing such diversity.
Camp Leader (Environmental Education Assistant)
Camp Leader (Environmental Education Assistant)
Camp Kawartha is an award-winning organization whose mission is to foster positive stewards of our natural and human communities. We are recognized for our work in promoting environmental education and sustainability. The Camp Leader (Environmental Education Assistant) will be responsible for assisting in the creation and delivery of innovative environmental and stewardship related programming for Camp Kawartha.
The Environment Centre Office Assistant will be responsible for assisting in the administration of Camp Kawartha Environment Centre’s summer camp programs.
Contract: June 20th – August 18th, 2019 (9 weeks).
Location: Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, Peterborough
Wage: $16 per hour for 30 hours per week.
Eco Gardener
Eco Gardener (9-week summer contract)
Camp Kawartha is an award-winning organization whose mission is to foster positive stewards of our natural and human communities. We are continuing to find creative ways of incorporating stewardship into the culture of our summer camp.
We are seeking a motivated youth with an interest in horticulture, organic gardening and education. The Eco Gardener will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the camp’s organic gardens, enhancing the camp’s biodiversity and teaching gardening to campers and visitors.
Contract: June 6th – August 5th, 2022 (9 weeks) with a possible extension to the end of August
Wage: $16 per hour for 30 hours per week.
DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE JOB POSTING & OVERVIEW
Environment Centre Office Assistant
Environment Centre Office Assistant (9-week summer contract)
Camp Kawartha is recognized for its work in promoting environmental education and sustainability. We
are continuing to find creative ways of incorporating stewardship into the culture of our summer camp.
The Environment Centre Office Assistant will be responsible for assisting in the administration of Camp Kawartha Environment Centre’s summer camp programs.
Contract: June 20th – August 19th, 2019 (9 weeks).
Location: Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, Peterborough
Wage: $16 per hour for 30 hours per week.
Maintenance Assistant
Maintenance Assistant (9-week summer contract)
Camp Kawartha is an award-winning organization whose mission is to foster positive stewards of our natural and human communities. We are continuing to find creative ways of incorporating stewardship into the culture of our summer camp.
We are seeking a motivated youth with an interest in maintenance and working in the outdoors. The Maintenance Assistant will be responsible for establishing and maintaining the the camp’s infrastructure including landscaping, painting and basic repairs.
Contract: June 20th – August 18th, 2022 (9 weeks) with a possible opportunity for full time work
Wage: $16 per hour for 30 hours per week.
Wellness Specialist
WELLNESS SPECIALIST – (Assisting our Health Team)
(9-week summer contract)
Camp Kawartha is an award-winning organization whose mission is to foster positive stewards of our natural and human communities. We are continuing to find creative ways of incorporating stewardship into the culture of our summer camp.
We are seeking a motivated youth with an interest in mental health and the health benefits of nature connection. The Wellness Specialist will be providing positive experiences to our campers and staff by focusing on mindfulness, sensory awareness and time spent in our healing gardens and nature trails.
Contract: June 20th – August 18th, 2022 (9 weeks) with a possible extension until the end of August
Wage: $16 per hour for 30 hours per week.
Summer Camp 2022 Staff Applications
Please read the letter before filling out and returning the application.
Intro Letters
- Letter to New Staff
- Letter to 1st Year Staff (LIT/WLIT of 2021)
- Letter to Returning Staff
Information
Questions?
Contact: Emma Robert, Summer Camp Director, emma@campkawartha.ca
Thank you for your interest in working at Camp Kawartha. Due to the high percentage of returning counselors each year, we are not able to respond to all applicants, therefore only those who are being interviewed will be contacted.
Job Postings Page
Check out our general job postings page for more positions available in other departments (e.g. kitchen, maintenance, and positions available at our Environment Centre)
Police Vulnerable Sector Checks
All staff and volunteers must have a current & clear Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector Check.
MyBackCheck – may be used to obtain a criminal record check for staff & volunteers ages 18-32 as directed by our insurance company.
Staff/Volunteers ages 33 & over must visit their local police station to obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check. Be sure to allow at least 3-4 weeks for processing; there will be longer processing times as the summer peak season approaches, or if they require a finger-print check.
- Peterborough Police Service – for current residents of Peterborough, Lakefield or The Township of Cavan Monaghan. Click here to submit your application online
- Toronto Police Service – for those who live in the City of Toronto
- Ontario Provincial Police – if you live in OPP jurisdiction
Upgrading
We recommend that all staff upgrade their skills on a regular basis, and we are happy to assist potential staff in finding the right courses. Here is a partial list of companies that have qualified staff in the past.