We’re so glad you’re thinking about joining our lifeguard team. At Camp Tannadoonah we take very seriously the privilege and immense responsibility of taking care of other peoples’ children. And of taking care of those children themselves — our campers are our greatest joy and this job is ALL ABOUT THEM — the campers!
All of our waterfront staff (lifeguards, WSIs, waterfront director, boat drivers) are also cabin counselors. If you’re thinking about becoming a camp counselor then you’re thinking about one of the toughest, most creative, most rewarding, and most demanding jobs a young person can get. And if you become one, you’ll get all the rewards that come with that — meaning valuable experience and an excellent resume point.
As a lifeguard, you will be teaching activities to campers during morning and afternoon activity periods. This involves planning and facilitating the programs. These activities include: swimming lessons, fishing, stand up paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, waterskiing, and wakeboarding. Occasionally you will be assigned to other activities away from the waterfront. Our lifeguards also guard during our open swim time for 30 minutes, twice each day.
Lifeguards will also be responsible for overseeing the Polar Bear program for one or two weeks each summer. This activity is an opportunity for campers to get up early and swim before the rest of camp wakes up. And finally, lifeguards will guard the Lake Swim each Saturday morning. The Lake Swim is an early morning swim all the way across Birch Lake (about 1200 yards).
As a counselor, you will live in a cabin with, and be responsible for, a group of 8-20 campers, between the ages of 5 and 17. Counselors share cabin responsibilities with 2-3 other co-counselors. All counselors supervise activities with their own campers, as well as other campers. Counselors also help coordinate and carry out evening activity each night.
If you think you have what it takes to give of yourself in the pursuit of helping to nurture, inspire, and educate young campers, and to model the highest level of ethical, responsible, focused, and uplifting behavior, then camp counseling might be a perfect fit for you.
Interestingly, many qualities that it takes to be a camp counselor and lifeguard — long hours, selfless service, physical strength, creativity, organization, time management, self-starting, warmth, clear communication, and being a team player — are all ones that employers across the spectrum seek in their employees. To that end, being a camp counselor is a HUGE piece in what it takes to join the adult world with your budding career goals.
Young people want to shape the world.
Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are.
In Camp Fire, it begins now.
