FAQs
Where will I live at camp?
Cabin Counselors live in cabins with the campers, having a single bed and space for personal "stuff." Some riding, rock climbing, kayaking, art, and other non-cabin staff live in separate staff housing.
Bathrooms?
Cabins for younger campers have bathrooms in the cabin with a separate shower house. Older girls and their counselors are served by a centrally located shower/bath house.
How do you know if you are right for camp?
Our staff thrive on helping, working with, and truly "being with" children...having fun, being silly and creative!!! Yes, being a camp counselor is hard work. At Illahee we are looking for people that can share new ideas, teach with enthusiasm, and enjoy building relationships with children. What if you are not an expert in riding or rock climbing? That’s OK! If you love being with children, we can teach you how to teach arts and crafts, archery or canoeing.
What about religion?
Each Sunday a Christian worship service is held in the beautiful Woodland Chapel. Campers and counselors together plan and carry out the Sunday services, which contribute to the unity of spirit at Camp Illahee. Once a week there is an optional, informal staff Bible study - a wonderful time to relax, enjoy fellowship, and to share with other counselors.
What about training?
Staff training is your time to learn how to do your job at camp. Because the work you do is so important, our orientation period is approximately 6 days long in addition to special pre-camp workshops and certification courses for riding, lifeguarding, climbing and kayaking. By working and playing together, we will become a team and our new skills will enable our campers to have a terrific summer at camp! By the end of orientation, you’ll feel like an experienced Illahee staff member, and you’ll be ready to handle anything!
What about time off?
You are always busy at camp, so time off is important. Non-cabin staff are off on Sundays. Cabin counselors have two breaks each week: a long day off from 12:45 p.m. to midnight and a short day off from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Cabin counselors also have a free period each day that is built into the activity schedule. You can use the time to catch a nap, exercise, plan for an activity or program, read, or make a quick trip into town. Our curfew is 12:00 midnight...this means counselors and staff are to be settled down for the night at this time. All staff are expected to participate in the camp program when not scheduled for time-off.
Can I make money doing this?
We want to attract the best people to Illahee so we have positioned our salary scale among the highest in the industry. Base salary for senior counselors begins at $225 per week. Add-ons per week to the base salary are determined by your age/education, responsibilities, skills and experience. Plus, your room, board and laundry are included... you can save almost all of your salary!!!
Can I earn credit for school?
Some schools will give you credit for an internship at camp. We will be glad to help you with the necessary paperwork. And, yes, it WlLL look good on your resume. DON’T BE SURPRISED if in future job interviews you talk more about your camp job than any other job on your resume. Most business leaders understand and appreciate the challenge and value gained from being a camp counselor. The leadership, decision making, problem solving, and communication skills you learn and practice at camp will help you succeed in whatever career you choose.
