Ropes Counselor
YMCA Camp Tockwogh
Worton, Maryland
Reach new heights! Become a Challenge Course Instructor!
Seasonal
Job Starts: Jul 04, 2024
Come live, work, and play on the Chesapeake Bay!
YMCA Camp Tockwogh is a Residential Summer Camp in Worton, Maryland. We are looking for staff who are ready to challenge themselves, work hard, and have fun! Join our team today!
Camp Tockwogh is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay. We have over 300 acres of land and over two miles of beachfront.
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About YMCA Camp Tockwogh
YMCA Camp Tockwogh is a co-ed overnight camp located on the Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Each summer since 1938 we've grown to our current capacity of 400 campers and 150 staff members on our 300-acre property. It may be big - but our villages and camp culture make it feel small! For both our campers and staff, we have two simple goals in mind - have fun and gain independence!
Each staff member participates in an comprehensive training process prior to the arrival of our campers and their families. We cover topics and offer courses that range from hands-on Lifeguard, High Ropes, Archery, and Boating trainings to discussions with professional camp alumni about equity, behavior management, emergency response and emotional well-being. Our staff are the highest quality in the industry - and we are proud of that fact!
With 2 miles of our own private beachfront, we have water sports galore! Sailing, water-skiing, paddle sports and more! There is something for everyone - even the "land kids" that spend their days in arts & crafts, mountain biking, or horseback riding. Our cabin and village activities give our campers and staff an opportunity to be silly, have fun, and share their creativity - from campfire skits to "ugliest counselor" fashion shows. At Camp Tockwogh, we embrace individuality and aim to create a community where everyone feels accepted as their true self.
As we like to say - come for the fun, stay for the friendships!
The most important thing you need to know about YMCA Camp Tockwogh is that we operate under the values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, Responsibility, and Inclusion. At any given moment, we expect our staff and campers to reflect these values in their words and actions. If you feel like these five values are important to you, you may just have found your perfect summer job!
The Employee Experience
We have many positions at Camp Tockwogh and each job has its own set of responsibilities. The majority of our staff is made up of cabin counselors, who are each trained to run an activity overseen by a Program Director. The Daily Schedule can vary from position to position, but everyone's schedule revolves around the one below - serving the needs of our cabin counselors and campers.
As a cabin counselor, you can think of yourself as a leader to a group of eight minions...er, campers. Campers range in age from 8 to 15 years old. You and your co-counselor are responsible for their well-being and success while they're with you at camp! You'll live with these kids, eat with them, learn about their dreams and goals and they'll look up to you for years to come.
Daily Schedule
- 7:30 AM - Wake Up. Good Morning, Camp Tockwogh! The birds are chirping and the sun is shining! It's time to get your campers up and moving with your curated camp playlist.
- 7:55 AM - Flag. Everyone circles up around the flagpole. Share a "thought of the day" if you want!
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast. Sit at a table with your cabin, eat some pancakes family-style or choose something from our yogurt and fruit bar!
- 8:30 AM - Cabin Detail. You are the master of clean up time! Make sure each camper is doing their clean-up task and is prepared for the day full of activities that awaits them!
- 9:15 AM - Morning Activity. Go tubing with your cabin or do a village activity like dodgeball or battle it out with your village for the title of Best Lip Sync!
- 10:15 AM - 1st Period. Teach your program to campers who have signed up to learn a cool new skill from you! This will be whatever program you are hired into for the summer.
- 11:15 AM - 2nd Period. Do it again with a new set of kiddos!
- 12:30 PM - Lunch. Pizza is a fan favorite, but you can decide for yourself when you get here.
- 1:00 PM - Rest Hour. Take a load off! The sun is at its highest point of the day. You and your campers need to rehydrate, take a nap and reapply sunscreen to prep for an afternoon full of activities!
- 2:15 PM - 3rd Period. Head to your activity area to teach your program for the first of 3 activity periods this afternoon.
- 3:15 PM - 4th Period. Another batch of kids! Each group will present new challenges to overcome, goals to reach and memories to make.
- 4:15 PM - 5th Period. The last group of the day. You close down your activity area with the help of your program team and kids and head to the Dining Hall for dinner.
- 5:30 PM - Dinner. Did someone say, "Fried chicken?!" They sure did! Chef Mikey whipped up a traditional American classic for our International staff to experience. In addition, our specialty meal chef always has alternative meal options for vegetarian, vegan, and other restricted diets.
- 6:00 PM - 6th Period. Each day, you'll either be assigned to an area of camp during 6th Period or you'll have time off to hang out in the staff lounge, catch up on laundry, or chill. If you're assigned to an area of camp, it's something relaxed like Bracelet Making, Book Club or Lifeguarding at the Pool. You can even come up with your own program idea to lead like meditation, basketball tournament, Taylor Swift appreciation or more!
- 7:15 PM - Evening Activity. You'll meet back up with your cabin and head to an activity together. Could be the Giant Swing at the high ropes course, or s'mores at the beach during sunset. It might even be a competitive challenge against another cabin that might earn you all a prize!
- 8:00 PM - Shower Hour. It's a rule: everybody showers. After sweating, swimming and getting messy all day, it's what's best for everyone. A little deodorant is also appreciated.
- 9:00 PM - Devotions. This is a time for your cabin to reflect on their day, talk through feelings, get to know each other, or just have fun and be silly! Devotions is a special time that many counselors recall warmly, calling it their favorite part of the day, when some of their fondest camp memories have been made.
- 10:00 PM - Bed Time. Lights out! If you did not have off at 6th period, you'll have off from 9 PM to 12 AM - time you can make a run into town to stock up on snacks, shampoo and SPF at Walmart. If you did have off during 6th period, you'll get a restful night's sleep as a warm breeze blows through your window, the lull of cicadas echoes off the trees around you, and a bullfrog croaks in the distance.
Ideal Candidate
You may be the perfect fit if you identify with any of the following descriptions:
- You're creative - you enjoy sharing your passions with others and value individuality. We aim to foster an accepting environment in our camp culture.
- You have a sense of humor - whether you're dry and quiet or like to be on center stage cracking corny jokes and stretching puns or, perhaps, you've mastered your own quirky sense of humor, there's a unique culture centered on humor at Camp Tockwogh.
- You like kids - yeah, we know it seems obvious but you have got to like kids to work here. They're the reason we do what we do!
- You can embrace camp vogue - bucket hats, tie-dye, overalls, croc jibits, nose zinc, life jacket tans, tutus, glitter, friendship bracelets, thrifted threads, sandals, and much, much more. Got something to contribute to our style? Bring it.
- You want to be a part of something bigger than yourself - you want to make the world a better place, or feel like you've impacted the world around you in some way. Whether it's being a role model to an LGBTQIA+ camper, sharing your gratitude for nature, nurturing big dreams in little people or simply being part of a community that loves and cares for each individual, Camp Tockwogh is the place for you next summer.
Room and Board
All seasonal staff are provided room and board, including three meals a day from their arrival date to their contract end date. In addition, all staff over the age of 21 with an approved driving record who have passed our driving test have access to camp vehicles on their time off on a first-come-first-served basis.
Living accommodations vary in proximity to dining and program facilities across camp and are organized by age and gender. All accommodations have electricity and a single bed with individual storage space. Some accommodations have indoor plumbing, but most accommodations are located within 50 yards of a shared wash house in which stalled toilets and showers can be found.
Wifi access is available during time off in several buildings on camp. There is a staff lounge with cable TV, wifi, movies, a pool table, video game consoles, computers, snacks and games. Located nearby is a staff laundry room and a workout area with treadmills and free weights. Laundry detergent is not provided.
Employee Perks
The biggest perk of working at Camp Tockwogh is the lifelong friendships you will form here. Our staff comes from all over the world! Your next best friend could be from Australia or Colombia or anywhere in between! Our camp alumni network reaches far and wide. From international travel hosts across the globe during your post-camp travels to job connections in every field - you're bound to meet a board member or camper parent who wants to help you in your pursuit of a career.
Our local community in Chestertown, MD, an adorable coastal town teeming with locally owned businesses of all kinds, is so supportive of camp. We've partnered with some of these businesses who are willing to offer discounts and freebies to our staff on their days off. Upon your arrival to camp, you will learn about these partnerships.
Between each session, trips are planned for our international staff to places like Washington, DC, Philadelphia and more! We encourage domestic staff to join too. Transportation is provided.
In addition to the friendships and other benefits listed, our staff alumni often cite the feeling of inclusion and community here at camp. They know they can be themselves and leave more confident than they came. We strive to foster belonging in our community and for our staff to feel empowered by their experience long after the sun has set on their summer.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Most domestic staff bring their own vehicle, although it is not mandatory or 100% necessary. Staff often carpool and plan rides for everyone during time off. If you're coming from a distance, we recommend flying into Philadelphia International Airport or Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Other options include bus and train terminals in Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE. At any of these locations, our Camp Director will arrange for you to be picked up by a staff member and brought to camp.
For Fun
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a beautiful little secret that we're lucky enough to be privy to and shhhhh....we're sharing it with you! There are quaint coastal towns teeming with history, locally owned and operated farms and restaurants, farmers markets, incredible fresh seafood, natural land preserves, state parks and so much more. Head just a couple hours north or south - you'll find yourself in Philadelphia, PA, Washington, DC, Annapolis or Baltimore, MD, or Wilmington, DE. Each city has its own flair and draw.
Many of our staff and camp alumni live within two hours of camp and love to host staff on their time off. We're happy to hook you up with a tour guide!
How to Apply
- Fill out the application at the link below. If your application meets our requirements, you can expect an email within 3 business days of your submission at the email you provide on your application.
- We'll ask you to schedule a video interview. Our interview process is very relaxed, much like the atmosphere at camp. No need to wear a professional outfit! Chances are we'll be dressed casually, too.
- During your interview, we'll want to get to know you to determine if you're a good fit for our program. Be yourself!
- After your interview, you can expect to hear from us within a week with a decision to move forward with the hiring process!
Contact Info
- Patrick Gizinski
- pgizinski@ymcade.org
- (410) 348-6000
- www.ymcacamptockwogh.org
