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Kindness. Connection. Beloved Community
301-874-5147
3035 Buckeystown Pike
Adamstown, MD 21710

Summer Camp Staff Information

2025 Summer Staff applications open December 1!


Camp depends on a team of dedicated people who are willing to share their time, energy, and faith with children and teens. This ministry is life-changing for staff and campers alike, and it is at the heart of Claggett Camp's mission and that of the Church as a whole. We are sincerely thankful for your interest.

Please make sure to read the position descriptions below before submitting your application.

All staff must complete Safeguarding God’s Children Abuse Prevention training, and all staff over 18 must consent to completion of a background check. First Aid/CPR/AED training is required for paid staff positions. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

COVID-19 will still be a reality in summer 2024. In order to prioritize the safety of campers and staff, every member of the community will be asked to make sacrifices of personal preference and comfort. Staff will be asked to sign a covenant agreeing to abide by and create a culture of safety which may include measures such as: social distancing in and outside of camp property, masking, limiting contact as directed by our supervising physician and health team. As of May 2021, all Claggett staff and volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

STAFF POSITIONS:

Assistant Summer Camp Director: The Assistant Summer Camp Director is a member of the camp leadership team, reporting to the Summer Camp Director and responsible for coordinating logistics of day-to-day summer camp operations.This is a seasonal, residential position beginning June 4, 2024 and ending August 3, 2024.

Camp Logistics:

  • Creates daily detailed schedule for all activities and staff, including all camper activities, staff setups/prep and breaks
  • Maintains weekly schedule overview by session
  • Manage camper grouping lists for trips and activities
  • Maintains inventory of supplies and manages shopping lists/materials request according to upcoming activities
  • Support and supervise counselor staff in preparing and implementing camp activities and logistics
  • Serve with Camp Director and Administrator as leadership team for camp program, responding to daily staff and camper needs

 

Senior Counselor: The ministry of Senior Staff is to plan, develop, and implement all camp activities and programs for the entirety of the camp season, supervised by the Camp Director. Senior Staff work in cooperation with their fellow members of Senior Staff, Junior Staff, Adult Volunteers, Chaplains, and the wider Claggett Center staff to create a fun, safe, centered, and cohesive Christian community with and for children, youth, and young people ranging from 2nd-12th grade. Both a summer job and an intensive leadership and spiritual formation program, senior counselors lead our team while living in and building our community.

Eligibility: 

  • At least 18 years old and one year out of High School. 
  • Attend training June 5-14 and must be available for all camps. After hire, Senior Staff may request one of the following weeks off: Adventure Camp, Family Camp, Camp Spirit Song. Requests will be granted based on participant/staff balance for the week.
  • Some counselor positions have the opportunity to specialize in certain program areas, including: music, arts and crafts, adventure trips (training included) and lifeguarding (training can be arranged). Additional leadership roles include relevant salary increases.

Base salary for Senior Counselors is $375 per week, plus room and board for the duration of the summer. See compensation section for more information.

Summer Support Staff: The ministry of Summer Support Staff is to aid the summer camp program by assisting in kitchen, maintenance, and grounds departments to help keep the day to day operations of camp running smoothly, supervised by the Camp Director. The ideal candidate is interested in participating in the camp community, learning leadership skills and gaining job experience, but is not interested in working with youth directly as a counselor would. Summer support staff work in cooperation with their assigned department (Kitchen or Maintenance/ Grounds) to serve at meals, maintain camp facilities, and assist with the increased demand on our operations during the summer months. They work during standard daytime hours within their department, reporting to the shift supervisor, and then join the camp community in the evenings for campfire, social events, and evening worship. Support staff join senior staff counselors for the end of session clean up and transitions. 

Eligibility: 

  • At least 18 years old
  • Interested in hands on job experience building
  • Is not planning on attending Sassafras Seniors week as a camper

Base salary for Support Staff is $250 per week, plus room and board for the duration of the summer. See compensation section for more information.


Assistant Counselor:
The ministry of Assistant Counselors is to aid the Senior staff team in planning, developing, and implementing all camp activities and programs for duration of 1-2 of the busiest camp sessions, supervised by the Camp Director. The ideal candidate may not have availability for the entire duration of the summer camp season, but is willing to take on a higher level of responsibility and may have experience as a prior Senior Staff member, or other additional safety training. Assistant counselors work in cooperation with Senior Staff, Junior Staff, Adult Volunteers, Chaplains, and the wider Claggett Center staff to create a fun, safe, centered, and cohesive Christian community with and for children, youth, and young people ranging from 2nd-12th grade. 

Eligibility: 

  • At least 18 years old and one year out of High School. 
  • Attend training June 5-14 or arrange alternate training opportunities with the Camp Director. Must be available for either June 23-38, July 7-12, July 21-25, or some combination of those weeks (Mulberry Middle, Juneberry Juniors, and Special Challenge Camp).

Base salary for Assistant Counselors is $300 per week, plus room and board for the duration of the summer. See compensation section for more information.


Junior Counselor:
The ministry of junior staff is to assist and support camp programs to create a fun, centered, and cohesive Christian community with and for children and youth ranging from 2nd-8th grade. Junior Counselors assist with all camp activities and are mentored by senior staff, chaplains, and volunteers to grow their skills as counselors. They are supervised by the Camp Director and Assistant Camp Director. 

Eligibility- Junior Staff members must: 

  • have completed at least the 9th grade
  • be at least two grade years older than the camp for which they are applying
  • attend Senior High camp in the summer they are serving, demonstrating exemplary behavior
  • Attend All-Staff Training

Junior Counselor positions for 9th-11th graders are one-week volunteer positions. Room and board for the session (Sunday-Friday) is included. Graduated seniors are eligible for a $150 honorarium per week served. All Junior Counselors are eligible to apply for Equity Grants to make this opportunity financially feasible. 


Adult Volunteer (for youth camps):
Claggett camps are enriched by the presence of adult volunteers, who are able to share their time to be in community with the rest of camp! Volunteers may have a particular skill they’re willing to teach or share, or may apply to be a supporting member of the counselor team. Volunteers are supervised by the Programs Director. 

To serve as an Adult Volunteer, submit an application. Appropriate roles for each volunteer’s skill set and ability will be discussed in a volunteer interview.


Special Challenge Camp Volunteer:
We need volunteers to build connections with campers, help with day to day activities, and facilitate a successful residential community. At camp, staff and campers share meals, activities, and worship as a group!

This is a volunteer opportunity for all ages! Volunteers 13 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. High school staff will be supervised as part of our junior counselor program. If Special Challenge Camp meets your school or other requirement for community service, we are happy to sign for hours served.

Interested in volunteering with Special Challenge Camp? Click here. 


Camp Nurse:
The camp nurse stays on site and is responsible for dispensing camper medications, standing-order medications, maintaining the healthcare suite, and responding to onsite medical issues. Current RN or LPN license in Maryland or Compact State required. Great for school nurses or retirees! Compensation includes private housing and discounted camp registration for dependents.


Chaplain:
Chaplains provide spiritual leadership to campers and staff by designing and leading Chapel services based on the summer’s theme and curriculum, and providing pastoral support to the camp community. Chaplains may be clergy or lay (with relevant training/experience). They work with the Programs Director and Senior Staff team to implement faith formation activities, and when possible, work in teams of two chaplains per week.


Compensation Scale:

Assistant Director: $600/week

Senior Counselors:
Base Rate $375/week

Returning counselors: $25/week increase per year

Program area leadership bonus (Lifeguarding, Music or Arts director, Adventure Trip Leader, Spanish Language leader): $50/week

Assistant Counselors: base rate $300/ week

Senior staff alumni may receive additional rate increase pending renewed certifications, etc., up to $400

Summer Support Staff: 
$250/ week

Junior Counselors:

  • Under 18/12th grade: volunteer
  • Lifeguarding stipend (all ages): $150/week
  • Graduated senior/18+ stipend: $150/week

Summer Staff Equity Grant: 

In order to attract and retain the most qualified and passionate staff that reflects the many identities our campers hold, Equity Grant funding is available for Senior and Junior Counselors. The purpose of this grant is to decrease barriers to participation for people from traditionally marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds in camp staff and counselor roles, and to honor the reality that leading in a historically white-dominated space presents unique demands and challenges on staff members of color, LGBTQ+ identities, and other minority backgrounds.


Grant Application Process

  1.  Complete a summer staff application form and interview process.
  2. Complete the grant application form. This can be submitted with your staff application, or you may submit it after receiving a position offer.
  3. Receive your grant notification and respond to your offer of employment.

Grants will be awarded to qualified applicants in the order received as funding becomes available, so please apply as soon as possible after you receive your offer of employment.

Grants amounts and distribution structure is as follows: 

Senior Counselors- Up to $1000 per summer, paid half at the beginning and half at the end of the season. End of summer payment is conditional on successful completion of the summer agreement. 

Junior Counselors and Adult Volunteers - Up to $200 per week worked. Grant payment is contingent upon successful completion of the session/week.

Click here to Download the Equity Grant Application Form.



CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SUMMER STAFF AND VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM