Summer camp staff salaries
Aaron B. Hockley
I would like to know what other councils around the US pay their youth
summer camp staff members. Up here in the Cascade Pacific Council
(Portland, OR) the numbers are pretty little. Starting salary for a
16/17 year old program staff member is $45/week plus room/board.
What's it like around the country?
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My budget isn't losing money. I'm just in a situation of
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Aaron B. Hockley | ahoc...@clark.edu
-Student at Clark College | 503-735-2400 (B)
-Computer Sales at Computer City | 503-735-2470 (FAX)
-Business Manager at Adventure Cove |
Somehow I try to find room for a life. |
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James K Nelsen
In the Milwaukee County Council it is $70 a week for a first year staffer
plus food and a tent if you are at LeFeber Northwoods Camps. A first year
director gets paid $140 and sleeps in a cabin. At our other summer
camp (Indian Mound Reservation) all staffers sleep in cabins. Either
way, sonority increases pay.
--Jim
blanc...@aol.com
Here we go again. This question seems to pop up every year about this
time. But it is a very good question.
First:
my council works on an unwritten salary scale of haves and have nots. New
14-15 yr. old. staff makes $15 a week. Of these, they will probably make
$25 the next year. Third year staff, or those who are 16,17 will make
somewhere between $40 - $100. The scale increases dramatically after 18.
If someone worked previously, they would make around $120 - 150 at age 18.
The next year they would get anywhere from a $20-$50 raise. They would
get a similar raise the next year, usually smaller than the previous.
After someone breaks $200 a week, raises slow down (maybe only an
additional $10). It is not unusual for someone who worked camp since he
was 14-15 to be making $300 by the time he is 20-21, even if he isn't a
director. Anything over $300 is primarily reserved for directors in
skilled positions (waterfront, rifle range, program director, etc.). I
think the max is somewhere around $330. Our council got a new director
this year and he probably will revise this schedule. There was nothing
written down and the reservation director and the staff member would
negotiate salary each year. It really wasn't the fairest system,
especially if someone didn't interview well or had experience worthy of a
higher salary but it wasn't gained while on camp staff.
I think the best way to find out what other council's pay is to ask
someone going to a National Camp School to ask around there. That way he
can find out what others in your part of the country make. If you went to
camp school, got trained in a specialty area such as waterfront, don't
mind travelling, and want to make a lot of money. . . Wait until a few
weeks before camps open across the country and check this newsgroup.
Camps across the country desperatly seeking that waterfront or COPE
director will post advertisments on this newsgroup for positions at
enormously high salaries. Of course it's always more honorable to remain
loyal to your own council, especially if they sent you to camp school.
Good Luck,
Ben Whitehouse
Thad
In Germany (Trans-Atlantic Council BSA) first year staff salarys range by age
and job from 65$/week(C-A-T) to 100$/week(18 dinning hall stuard)
----
TC
"Do not worry about your problems in mathmatics,
I can assure you that mine are still greater"
-Albert Einstein
Michael Hesbach
Robert E. Lee Coucil pays for six weeks of boy scouts, one week of
cub/weblos, and staff week
position age pay
Counselor 15-17 $300-999
Direcotor 18 $1000+ depends on experience
Program director 21 $3500
Health Officer 18 2000-2400
Cope, rifle, waterfront Director 21 2000-2400
Head Cook 18 3000-3500
Ass Cooks any 600+
Commisioner 18+ 1000-1500
TP/QM 16+ 800
This is a good listing of pay at Camp Brady Saunders I have worked there
for five years mainly as health officer
_____________
Love is sentimental measles.
Jared Warren
In article <Pine.HPP.3.91.961114...@clark.edu>, "Aaron B. Hockley" <ahoc...@clark.edu> wrote:
>I would like to know what other councils around the US pay their youth
>summer camp staff members. Up here in the Cascade Pacific Council
>(Portland, OR) the numbers are pretty little. Starting salary for a
>16/17 year old program staff member is $45/week plus room/board.
>
>What's it like around the country?
>
camp. I've worked one year as an Ecology/Conservation Instructor, and another
as First Year Camper Director (the title is for the camps looks, not mine, it
just means I was the sole first year camper instructor, and that I was
responsible for teaching totem' chip and firem'n chit to anyone who wanted it
;).
However, I think I should also note that the salary was of little concern for
me. I left a job where I could have made much more for much less work. I
was employed at a small camp in Oklahoma, with a staff of around 20
scouters working a camp holding, on average, 200 scouters a week (we tend to
be a little proud of the fact that we are small). When there are so few
staffers, you tend to be on call 24-7. It wasn't unusual to be drug out of
bed at least 2 times a week to go find a camper who didn't tell his
scoutmaster he was running to a friend's campsite, or find a Cub who got lost
in the woods. If you're looking at working at a scout camp for money, stop
looking. If you're looking at it for experience, learning, and - yes - even a
little fun, then you're in the right place. I can honestly say that my two
years on staff have been the best summer's of my life, but definitely not the
easiest.
--
Jared S. Warren
JAS, Troop 260
Secretary, Loquanne Allangwh Lodge #428
jwa...@netexas.net
Bieber
Thad (tle...@knox.knox.edu) wrote:
: > I would like to know what other councils around the US pay their youth
: > summer camp staff members. Up here in the Cascade Pacific Council
: > (Portland, OR) the numbers are pretty little. Starting salary for a
: > 16/17 year old program staff member is $45/week plus room/board.
: >
: > What's it like around the country?
: >
I have worked at Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch in Elbert, Colorado for 4 years now
, and my pay started at 45$ a week and increased up till last summer at 125$ a
week. Camp runs aproximately 10 weeks. The general pay scale is 45$ a week for
a first year 16 yr old staffer. If the scout was a CIT (staffer under 16,
volunteer) then he may start at 50 or 55 when he turns 16. Depending on the
job, most 18 yr olds make 100 a week.
All of these years at PV a scholarship fund is in effect. First year is
100$, second is an additional 200$, and so on. This scholarship paid me 1000$
when I started college, but it's not normally figgured in the pay.
I will freely admit that I would have enjoyed more money, and that I
slightly envied my friends last summer who made 3000 to 4000 while I made 1300
working twice the hours, but I will also say that I have never had as much fun
than my work on camp staff.
A year or so ago I checked out a few non scout camps in the area. I
found that, being an 18 yr old Lifeguard, both BSA and Red Cross, I could make
from 150 to 260 a week at other camps. I was offered positions from Lake
Director for a budding Lake Program at Highlands Presbyterian to Lifeguard at a
water sport based camp on the edge of a multi square mile lake whose name
eludes me at the moment. After looking at all these jobs which payed more and
were much more romantic (c'mon would you rather be BayWatch, :) or teach cubs to
shoot BB guns? ) I found that I just couldn't part with PV. I think that the
biggest factor in what you earn at a camp is not the pay, but the fun and the
experience.
YIS
Chad
----
P.S. I recently earned credit in a project based class here at Colorado School
of Mines for my time at camp and my Eagle. The class taught teamwork and
communication skills.
Zay
I worked as a CIT at Adirondack Scout Reservation Camp Sabattis last
summer. Obviously, CITs do a TON of work and aren't paid anything! We
got all the menial jobs... just look at Staff week. We had to hand
weed-wack the entire camp (thank G-d there were a lot of trees) because
our program director borke the motorized one... etc. Still, it was
worth it. I personally had the best summer of my life (and it's not
just because i was a girl in a boys scout camp!), and i met a lot of new
people. If i get hired back next summer (i should...) I'll be gettin g
$300- $400 for the summer (7 weeks) it increases every year that you
work there and depends on the job. One of my very good friends has been
on staff for seven years, and was paid $2100 last summer, for Assistant
rock director. Another, it was his first year and he made $700 as
Trading Post manager. So it really all depends on how long you've
worked there and what job you have.
Lindsay
Jeff Squires
Zay (z...@mindspring.com) wrote:
: I worked as a CIT at Adirondack Scout Reservation Camp Sabattis last
: summer.
: Lindsay
Well Lindsay, things have really gone up at Sabattis since I worked there
in the 1965-66 years. I made $5 a week. It did go up the nxt year to $10,
but I was the highest paid youth there (I was Program Director, in charge
of all of the Merit Badge CITs). I wonder, who owns Sabattis now. Then it
was owned by the Plainfield Area Council. Has Sabattis gone National?
Jeff
Zay
Jeff Squires wrote:
> Well Lindsay, things have really gone up at Sabattis since I worked there
> in the 1965-66 years. I made $5 a week. It did go up the nxt year to $10,
> but I was the highest paid youth there (I was Program Director, in charge
> of all of the Merit Badge CITs). I wonder, who owns Sabattis now. Then it
> was owned by the Plainfield Area Council. Has Sabattis gone National?
>
> Jeff
I'm not sure if we're talking about the same Sabattis. As far as I
know, Hiawatha Council has always owned Sabattis, which is located on
the edge ofthe Five Ponds Wilderness Area in the Adirondacks, between
Long Lake and Tupper Lake. Now, Hiawatha Council (Syracuse NY) joined
with Otetiana (Rochester, NY) to have a total of what was three camps
(but Forester closed a few years ago) now two, Mountaineer and Sabattis,
as part of the Adirondack Scout Reservation. Are we talkin gabou tthe
same Sabattis?
Lindsay
Jim Kenison
In New Hampshire, two summers ago, Cub Scout program staff were paid
approx. $1200 to $1400 for the eight week summer ($150 - $175 a week)
and Provisional leaders were paid approx. $1600 for eight weeks ($200 a
week) all PLUS meals and lodging. Den Chiefs (Boy Scouts assisting with
the provisional group) were paid about $300 for the full eight weeks.
Dave
At Indian Mound Scout Reservation in Wisconsin, Directors only get, at
the most, $150 a week. Everyone else doesn't even make that.
***********************************************************************
____________________________________________________________
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James K Nelsen
Dave (ree...@sqruhs.ruhs.uwm.edu) wrote:
:
: At Indian Mound Scout Reservation in Wisconsin, Directors only get, at
If memory serves, first year staffers get $75 a week at IMR. This is the
same as at our other summer camp, LeFeber Northwoods, with pay increasing as
you get more seniority. IMR also gives you a roof over your head while
staffers sleep in tents at LeFeber. (Directors get cabins.)
--Jim
Zay
James K Nelsen wrote:
> If memory serves, first year staffers get $75 a week at IMR. This is the
> same as at our other summer camp, LeFeber Northwoods, with pay increasing as
> you get more seniority. IMR also gives you a roof over your head while
> staffers sleep in tents at LeFeber. (Directors get cabins.)
>
> --Jim
So? What's wrong with tents? These are platform tents right? so they
leak a little. I spent my entire summer in the same type of platform
tent that the scouts use (I was staff, and due to a large number of us
they ran out of housing) and to tell you the truth, the only time I
would've traded was when we had a few massive lightning storms. Usually
though, I'd just turn up the music on my walkman and try not to think
about the 50-year-old tree my tent was next to. Maybe I had a few more
luxuries than the campers, but hey, I'm staff. We ran an extention cord
from the cabin we were next to so we had electricity to power a small
painter's lamp and a small radio.
A little while ago I actually had a nightmare about staff housing
condidtions. Some how, I was put in a tebin (cabin) for next summer.
As I walk in to set up all of my stuff, I find two TVs, three printers,
two computers, and seven lamps. Like I said, it was a nightmare! I
think that I prefer to sleep in the tents. (Scary thing is, some of the
cabins looked like that last summer. The kitchen staff's cabin had a
TV, stereo system, and super nintendo. ::shudder::)
Lindsay
Pro html
I have been working at camp Lost Valley in southern cal
Under 18 year olds get 50 a week tax free.
over 18 depending on position and years on staff, you can range from 100
to 280 a week...
I have worked in the crafts area and last summer, my fourth summer I was
making about 230 ever two weeks after taxes..
One thing to remember, you can have the best paid staff, but if the staff
is not friendly etc... the staff is not going to make the camp look good.
James K Nelsen
Zay (z...@mindspring.com) wrote:
: James K Nelsen wrote:
:
: > If memory serves, first year staffers get $75 a week at IMR. This is the
: > same as at our other summer camp, LeFeber Northwoods, with pay increasing as
: > you get more seniority. IMR also gives you a roof over your head while
: > staffers sleep in tents at LeFeber. (Directors get cabins.)
: >
: > --Jim
:
: So? What's wrong with tents?
Nothing is wrong with tents. I'm just stating that there are differences
between the Milwaukee County Council's two summer camps. The pay scales
are the same but room and board differs unless you are a director.
--Jim
Pro html
I work at a top of a line in the area of souethern cal, ran outta the
Orange Couty Council.
Just last summer the council spent almost 300.000 dollars in building new
staff cabins, nice big, warm cabins. The cabins are about the size of a
normal room in a house. a kitchen of something, they can sleep 8, but
during summer only 4-5 staffers sleep in them. The staff of 80 found them
rather nice last summer.
The under 18 are paid 50 a week tax free, and an honorandom at the end of
the summer if the staff has worked any previous years.
The over18 director type people are paid at least 100 a week, the pay rate
varies depending on number of summer worked and what position, naturall a
position where there is a high rate of saftey like the rifle range the
director will get paid more. Maintance are also paid higher...ETc....
I worked at the crafts area for four summers and I recived about 230-250 e
very other week.
I really enjoy at the camp i work at, thousands of dollars of new
improvments are going into the camp each year, last summer we had the new
cabins, and a new cope course. In a couple years a new 500 seating mess
hall is going to put in.
The camp is Lost Valley for information
714-546-4990
YIS
Jeff Richardson
pro...@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/prohtml/mypage.htm
Check it out Over 500 links by 1997!
Mike Wright
Zay wrote:
>
> James K Nelsen wrote:
>
> > If memory serves, first year staffers get $75 a week at IMR. This is the
> > same as at our other summer camp, LeFeber Northwoods, with pay increasing as
> > you get more seniority. IMR also gives you a roof over your head while
> > staffers sleep in tents at LeFeber. (Directors get cabins.)
> >
> > --Jim
>
> leak a little. I spent my entire summer in the same type of platform
> tent that the scouts use (I was staff, and due to a large number of us
> they ran out of housing) and to tell you the truth, the only time I
> would've traded was when we had a few massive lightning storms. Usually
> though, I'd just turn up the music on my walkman and try not to think
> about the 50-year-old tree my tent was next to. Maybe I had a few more
> luxuries than the campers, but hey, I'm staff. We ran an extention cord
> from the cabin we were next to so we had electricity to power a small
> painter's lamp and a small radio.
> A little while ago I actually had a nightmare about staff housing
> condidtions. Some how, I was put in a tebin (cabin) for next summer.
> As I walk in to set up all of my stuff, I find two TVs, three printers,
> two computers, and seven lamps. Like I said, it was a nightmare! I
> think that I prefer to sleep in the tents. (Scary thing is, some of the
> cabins looked like that last summer. The kitchen staff's cabin had a
> TV, stereo system, and super nintendo. ::shudder::)
>
> Lindsay
I worked at El Rancho Cima this past Summer and the summer before that
and I think that they are one of the best camps I have been to. Staff
lives in Staff site (At Cockrell River Camp...I don't know about those
horseshoe people as far as solid roof goes...nore Strake for that
matter) in six man tents. There are few 'privlidged' folks like the
comishioners director and upper staff who had living arangements in
buildings (my roomie and I had to clear out a storage room) and the only
thing I could think to complain about is the food, but that goes without
saying. The pay thing sound the same as everyone else with the hirearchy
working as follows (smallest to top):
Merit Badge Counselors
Commisary and kitchen
Area directors
Everyone else...
Of course the money is also distributed as a need basis (ie: Mr. college
vs. 14 year old man... whos gonna win?) Of course it seems that everyone
needs a raise by week two and everyone is making more than you!
Appreciate camp for the memories it has to offer!
WWW
Mike Wright
Peter Kupfer
I work at Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan in NOrthern Wisconsin for the NOrtheast
Illinois Council and a first time 16-year old staffer starts at $90. If he
had worked for free as a 14 or 15 year-old, he reaceives a $10 bonus per
year, and you also receive a minimum pay increase of $10 a year.
You also get free boarding in an 8 x 10 bugalow and free food. I encourage
anyone who gets the chance to work at summer camp, it's a great experience.
Yours in Scouting,
Peter Kupfer
peter....@aquila.com