Staff > Staff Opportunities
Camp Haiastan employs about 50 staff for the summer. Opportunities exist within 7 main areas:
- Camp Director & Assistant Director
- Head Instructors for “Hye Time” & Aquatics
- Head Boy’s & Girl’s Counselors
- Cabin Counselors
- Program Specialists & Activity Instructors
- Staff-In-Training
- Support Staff
Let’s take a closer look at the more important duties and qualifications for these jobs.
Camp Director
The Summer Director is in charge of the summer operation of Camp Haiastan. He or she assists the Executive Director in recruiting, hiring, training and evaluating the summer staff. Staff and camper supervision, assignments and schedules, as well as program and activity supervision and schedules are important Camp Director duties. The Camp Director must coordinate the support staff and counseling and program staff to insure a smooth, seamless operation. In a broad sense the Camp Director must make sure that the camp operation is true to it’s mission of offering a high standard of safe and healthy camping with an emphasis on the appreciation of, and preservation of Armenian culture and heritage for all campers and staff while protecting the investment in property, reputation and assets of Camp Haiastan. The Camp Director reports directly to the Executive Director.
Perferred Qulifications: At least 25 years of age, Bachelor’s Degree with professional employment experience in education, and/or physical education and recreation, and/or organized residential camp administration. Previous experience as an Assistant Camp Director, Program Director or Head Counselor is preferable. Computer skills, record keeping and maintenance are required.
Assistant Director
The Assistant Director assists the Camp Director with the summer operation of Camp Haiastan. More specifically, the Assistant Director’s duties are focused on the supervision, direction, scheduling and evaluation of the Counseling Staff and Program/Activity Instructor Staff. Under the supervision of the Summer Director, the Assistant Summer Director is responsible for making sure that all camp programs and activities provided for campers are properly scheduled, supervised and include adequate, safe equipment and facilities. The Assistant Director’s duties include scheduling and supervising staff assignments, and activity and special event scheduling. The Assistant Summer Director reports directly to the Summer Director.
Preferred Qualifications: At least 21 years of age, minimum 2 years of college with employment experience in education, and/or physical education and recreation programming, and/or organized residential camp programming and staff supervision. Previous experience as an Assistant Camp Director, Program Director or Head Counselor is preferable. Computer skills, record keeping and maintenance are required.
Hye Time Director
The Head Instructor for the Hye Time Program will direct the daily Armenian cultural classes. This includes the understanding of, and the implementing of the camp’s instructional benchmarks and outcome expectations for the Hye Time Program through the development of a planned instructional program. The Hye Time Director will train the Hye Time teachers in the planned instructional program and direct, supervise and evaluate their teaching as well as teach along side them. The Hye Time Director is expected to utilize the many resources available for the program as well explore and introduce appropriate new resources. The Head Instructor for Hye Time reports directly to the Summer Director and coordinates with the Assistant Summer Director.
Preferred Qualifications: At least 21 years of age, minimum 2 years of college with previous professional or extensive volunteer experience in the teaching of Armenian culture and language (Western) in an organized educational setting. Demonstrated ability to direct, supervise and evaluate subordinates. Recent previous experience in a residential camp environment is preferred as this person resides at the camp during the season. Computer skills, multimedia skills and record keeping are required.
Aquatic Director
The Aquatic Director will direct the instructional and recreational activities at the swimming pool and Uncas Pond waterfront. This includes the instruction of non-swimmer and beginning-swimmer lessons for ages 5 - 16, and novice level instruction of canoeing, kayaking and Sunfish sailing. In addition the Aquatic Director will direct, supervise and evaluate lifeguards and instructors assigned to the program and teach and work along side them. The Aquatic Director is responsible for the basic maintenance and operation of the swimming pool and related equipment as well as for the basic maintenance and operation of the camp’s small craft. The Aquatic Director reports directly to the Summer Director and coordinates with the Assistant Summer Director.
Mandatory Qualifications: At least 21 years of age. Valid possession of: Water Safety Instructor, Life Saving, CPR/First Aid, and Small Craft Certification through the Red Cross, YMCA, Boy/Girl Scouts, or other nationally or internationally recognized organization. Demonstrated ability to direct, supervise and evaluate subordinates. Computer skills, record keeping and maintenance are required.
Preferred Qualifications: Valid possession of Certified Pool/Spa Operator, and recent previous experience as Water Safety Inst., Head Lifeguard, and swimming and small craft instructor in a camp environment equipped with both swimming pool and pond or lake waterfront.
Head Boy’s & Girl’s Counselors
Two positions, one for a man and one for a woman. Head Counselors work and live directly with campers and cabin counselors. The Head Counselor will assist the Assistant Director in supervising and scheduling of the Cabin Counselors and in all aspects of the Counselor’s functions. Head Counselors are responsible for the same duties as Cabin Counselors when necessary. The Head Counselor reports directly to the Assitstant Director and Camp Director.
Mandatory Qualifications: At least 19 years of age, minimum 1 year of college with employment experience in education, and/or physical education and recreation programming and administration, and/or organized residential camp counseling. Previous experience as a Head Counselor and/or Cabin Counselor is preferable. Demonstrated ability to direct, supervise and schedule subordinates. Computer skills, rrecord keeping and maintenance are required.
Cabin Counselors
Numerous positions for men and women to work and live directly with campers within a cabin group teaching, guiding and mentoring the skills of daily small group living away from home. In essence the Cabin Counselor is the surrogate parent for campers assigned to them for two-week sessions. Cabin Counselors are responsible for no more than eight campers. Cabin Counselors are accountable for their campers at all times and will mentor them in aspects of camp life including but not limited to: Activity participation, daily personal hygeine, dining, all-camp activities, free-time and quiet time. Counselors, where qualified will teach within the program areas of the camp, but all counselors assist with all programs and activities of the camp. Computer skills, record keeping and maintenance are required. Cabin Counselors report directly to the Head Counselors and Assistant Director.
Preferred Qualifications: At least 18 years of age. Previouis experience as a paid or volunteer camp counselor, Staff-In-Training, youth leader, recreation leader, teacher’s assistant and/or Camp Haiastan camper.
Program Specialists/Activity Instructors
Specialists and Activity Instructors teach and supervise campers in various program and activity areas of camp. These areas include: Hye Time Program, Aquatic Program (waterfront/small craft/swimming pool), Archery, Outdoor Living Skills, Arts & Crafts, ROPES Challenge Course, Sports & Athletics, Games & Tournaments and Special Days/Events and Evening Activities.
Preferred Qualifications are the same as Cabin Counselors.
By law, valid certification is required for many of these positions for example: Water Safety Instructor Certificate, Lifeguard Certificate, Small Craft Certificate, and Archery Instructor Certificate. Specialists and Activity Instructors must have proficiency skills as well teaching and personal participation experience. Computer skills, record keeping and maintenance are required.
Staff-In-Training
This opportunity is exclusively for 17-year-old (must be 17 by June 22, 2008) young men and women who will work and be trained to be ready to assume counselor positions when they are 18. Many of our SIT candidates are former Teen Session campers who have completed their experience as a camper at the age of 16 and are ready to begin their staff relationship with Camp Haiastan.
As paid employees, SIT’s will work and train in three areas of the camp on a rotating schedule: Counselor-In-Training, Kitchen and Maintenance. Computer skills, record keeping and maintenance are required.
Support Staff
These positions provide support for these specific camp operations: Infirmary, kitchen, summer office and facilities and grounds. Computer skills, record keeping and maintenance is required.
Age and/or certification requirements:
- Camp Nurse must be a licensed RN or LPN and experienced in pediatrics and preferably experienced in the residential camp environment.
- Camp Cook must have Mass. ServSafe certification, at least 21 years old
and demonstrated cooking experience in high volume commercial food service. - Assistant Cook must have Mass. ServSafe certification, at least 18 old and demonstrated experience in high volume commercial food service.
- Summer Office Manager age requirement is at least 17 years of age (usually a Staff-In-Training).
- Kitchen and Maintenance help age requirement is at least 17 years of age
(usually a Staff-In-Training).
Staff Expectations
To prospective staff candidates:
We expect that all staff members display a high level of personal and professional responsibility. Camp living is in “tight quarters” and works best when each person is caring, respectful, responsible, and supportive of each other. Camp Haiastan has high standards for the behavior and conduct of its staff. Work at camp is very demanding, yet is also extremely fulfilling. Living and working at camp is a unique environment, and behavior and conduct expectations are pretty simple:
1. Counselors live with a group of children and are responsible for them at all times 24/7 (unless on a day off).
2. Most other staff, though not living with children, has a responsibility to them as well as they do to their fellow staff members whom they live in close intimate quarters with.
3. With this in mind it’s easy to understand why we expect a lot from you when it comes to behavior and conduct, yet we will always promote an atmosphere of close family-style living where mutual support of each family member by each family member is paramount to our individual and collective success.
