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If you love kids, and you want to have the summer of a lifetime...
 then join the 2009 Sandy Hill Camp Summer Staff!
Learn about our staff
You must have completed high school to be on our staff, although most of our senior counselors have completed at least one year of college. So whether you're a graduating high school senior, a college student, a school teacher, or a retiree, if you have ten or eleven weeks available in your summer, there may be a good fit for you on our staff. Are you interested? Then, check out the following:
On this page, learn about:
Our Staff Standards Training you'll receive
The impact of our Christian values Key dates and pay
- weekends off
By following these links, you can also...
See which positions are still available and learn about each one
Meet the camp directors
Get answers to
frequently asked questions
Talk to former staff to get the inside scoop
Learn how to apply
Login to your secure staff home page
The Staff Standards
The main reason that we run our camp is to have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of our campers. With this as our goal, the most important thing you can do as a counselor is be a great role model. The kids will remember you far longer than they'll remember waterskiing, the ropes course, or our great skits. We have established these minimum guidelines for how we treat and encourage our campers and our staff:
- 1. Clean language, free of profanity and questionable topics
- 2. A positive attitude toward Sandy Hill, my work, co-workers, superiors, and campers
- 3. Pro-active and gossip-free problem solving - If I have a problem or if I am upset about something, I will speak directly to the person involved
- 4. Kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness to all
- 5. An alcohol-free, smoke-free, and drug-free lifestyle
- 6. An excellent work ethic: timeliness, responsibility, a positive attitude, and excellence in whatever I do
- 7. Good sportsmanship
- 8. Respect for God's creation (people of all races, ages, and abilities; the environment, plants and animals
- 9. Cleanliness - personal hygiene, neatness, and organization
- 10. Never being alone with just one camper
We take these standards very seriously, and we believe that they create an enriching and caring environment for the staff and the campers to grow, learn, and enjoy together. If you aspire to these standards, and you want to spend your summer around great people who are trying to be their very best, then Sandy Hill is for you.
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Training You'll Receive
As part of our week-long staff training (June 12-19), you'll learn about issues including emergency procedures, first aid, behavior management, effective teaching methods, learning disabilities, the camp schedule, and camper health and hygiene. Staff training is also a lot of fun as you meet and begin relationships with the rest of our great staff.
During the specialty training week (June 5-11), we will be offering certification courses in lifeguarding, speedboat driving, ropes course methods, sailing, canoeing, archery, and waterskiing instruction. Sandy Hill typically provides these specialized courses at no cost to its staff.
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The Impact of Our Christian Values on Camp Life
Our camp is designed for campers of all races, cultures and religions. The camp directors and many of the staff are Christians. However, there are staff and campers from many religious, racial, and cultural backgrounds every year at camp. You do not need to sign a statement of faith or believe any certain doctrine in order to be on our staff. Our program is activity based - "where learning and adventure meet". There are no camper Bible studies, sermons, religious services, etc. As a staff, we do pray for the kids and the camp often, and we are serious about modeling a values-centered lifestyle to each other and to our campers.
As for what the campers see directly, we say a blessing at meals in an ecumenical way. There is one optional Christian activity per week where campers can learn more about Christianity if they choose. Campers staying for a two-week session can also choose to participate in a weekend worship service at camp.
For the staff, we pray each morning during the staff meeting. Optional staff worship services, Bible studies, and prayer groups are offered throughout each week and are lead by staff. Attendance at these staff gatherings is not required or tracked.
We're sharing this with you in case this affects your decision to join our staff. There will not be any religious pressure put on any campers or staff at camp, but we strive to present a Godly example to our campers and each other.
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Key Dates and Pay - Weekends Off
Training is required and begins June 4th for waterfront staff; June 5th for ropes and equestrian staff; June 11th for cabin counselors; and June 12th for all other staff. Camp ends August 21st, 2009 for most staff, with approximately one quarter of the staff finishing a week earlier on August 14th.
Staff reside at camp from approximately 1 PM each Sunday until 5 PM the following Friday. The first day campers arrive is Sunday June 21st which begins nine week-long sessions and four two-week sessions that ultimately finish on Friday August
21st.
Unlike most other camps, you have most of your weekends off (exceptions
are the first ones for staff training, and one or two weekends if you work
with a two-week camp session). There are
some opportunities to work before and after camp and on weekends during camp for additional pay.
Pay is high compared to other camps at approximately $2400 for the summer for first-year senior staff based on your qualifications and position. International staff are paid slightly differently based on individual travel and visa requirements. Pay is
higher for licensed medical staff, returning staff and directors. This does not include weekends or pre- or post-camp work. Room and board is free for all summer staff.
Almost all staff members live in cabins with the campers. Some directors are housed in staff or family housing. Meals are provided, and the food is great!
To help you take advantage of our proximity to major area attractions, Sandy Hill also sponsors staff day-trips to New York City, Washington DC, Broadway shows, professional baseball games, the beach and more during the Saturday weekends off. The trips are a great opportunity to tour interesting sites and spend time building friendships with fellow staff.
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