Interested? Apply Now!

Camp Haiastan employs about 40+ staff for the summer. Opportunities exist within 7 main areas:

• Camp Director & Assistant Director
• Head Boy’s & Girl’s Counselors
• Aquatic Director
• Cabin Counselors
• Activity Instructors & Teachers
• Staff-In-Training
• Support Staff

Let’s take a closer look at the more important duties and qualifications for these jobs.

Camp Director

The Camp 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, Counselors 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 our mission of offering a high standard of safe, healthy and enjoyable camping with an emphasis on the appreciation of, and preservation of our Armenian culture and heritage for all campers and staff.  The Camp Director is also responsible for helping protect the investment in property, reputation and assets of Camp Haiastan. The Camp Director reports directly to the Executive Director.

Preferred Qualifications: 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 and detailed record keeping is 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 Camp Director, the Assistant Director is responsible for making sure that all camp programs and activities provided for campers are properly scheduled, supervised and include appropriate and safe equipment, supplies and facilities. The Assistant Director’s duties include scheduling and supervising staff duty and job assignments.  The Assistant Director reports directly to the Camp 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, and detailed record keeping is required.

Aquatic Director

The Aquatic Director will direct and oversee the instructional and recreational activities at the swimming pool and Uncas Pond waterfront. Insuring the safe and healthy enjoyment of our swimming pool and pond waterfront at all times is a paramount responsibility for the Aquatic Director.  Duties include 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 and teach and work along side them. The Aquatic Director is responsible for the safety of, maintenance of and physical operation of the swimming pool and related equipment.  This includes the camp’s small craft and related equipment at Uncas Pond. The Aquatic Director reports directly to the Camp Director and coordinates with the Assistant Director and Camp Caretaker.

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, detailed record keeping and basic mechanical abilities 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 Camp Director and 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. The Head Counselor reports directly to the Assistant 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 at Camp Haiastan is preferable. Demonstrated ability to direct, supervise and schedule subordinates. Computer skills and detailed record keeping is required.

Cabin Counselors

Numerous positions for men and women to work and live directly with campers within a cabin group teaching, guiding and mentoring campers in small group living away from home. In essence the Cabin Counselor is the surrogate parent for campers assigned to them each session. In most cases, Cabin Counselors are responsible for groups of eight campers (in some cases 10 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 hygiene, dining, all-camp activities, free-time and quiet time. Some counselors, where qualified will teach within the program areas of the camp such as Aquatics, Armenian School, Archery, Arts & Crafts for example. All counselors are required to assist with evening activities, special theme days, Armenian enrichment activities, Camp newspaper, memory DVD and much more.  Computer skills and detailed record keeping is required. Cabin Counselors report directly to the Head Counselors, Assistant Director and Camp Director.

Preferred Qualifications: At least 18 years of age. Previous experience as a paid or volunteer camp counselor, Staff-In-Training, youth leader, recreation leader, teacher’s assistant and/or Camp Haiastan camper.

Activity Instructors & Teachers

Activity Instructors and Teachers instruct and supervise campers in various program and activity areas of camp. These areas include: Armenian School, Aquatics ( Lifeguard/Instructor for waterfront/small craft/swimming pool), Archery, Outdoor Living Skills, Arts, Crafts & Ceramics, ROPES Challenge Course, Sports & Athletics, Games & Tournaments and Special Days/Events and Evening Activities and more.  Teachers and Activity Instructors are responsible to the Camp Director, Assistant Director and Aquatic Director (Lifeguards). 

Preferred Qualifications are the same as Cabin Counselors, and demonstrated knowledge, skill and experience of the program or activity area to be taught is mandatory.

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 and Teachers must have proficiency skills as well teaching and personal participation experience. Computer skills and detailed record keeping is required.

Staff-In-Training

This opportunity is exclusively for 17-year-old (must be 17 by June 25, 2012) young men and women who will work in a training position in order for them 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. Phyiscal stamina, ability to listen to and follow instructions and directions is imperative.  Computer skills and detailed record keeping is required.

Support Staff

These positions provide support for specific camp operations: Health Center, Kitchen/Food Service, Summer Office and facilities and grounds. Physical stamina, computer skills and detailed record keeping is required.

Age and/or certification requirements:

• Camp Nurse must be a Massachusetts licensed RN or LPN and experienced in pediatrics and preferably experienced in the residential camp environment.  Responsible to the Executive Director and Camp Director.
• Health Center Assistant (part time) is usually a nursing school or med school student and is also a Cabin Counselor.  Responsible to Camp Nurse and Camp Director.
• Camp Cook must have Mass. ServSafe certification, and must be at least 21 years old and demonstrate high volume cooking experience.  Responsible to the Executive Director and Camp Director.
• Summer Office Secretary age requirement is at least 17 years of age (Staff-In-Training or Counselor).  Must have office and organizational skills.  Responsible to the Camp Director.  
• Kitchen and Maintenance help age requirement is at least 17 years of age (in addition to Staff-In-Training).  Responsible to the Camp Cook, and/or Camp Caretaker and Camp Director. 

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 simple:

1. Counselors live with a group of children and are responsible for them at all times 24/7 (unless on a day/night off) and are ultimately responsible to the Camp Director.

2. All other staff, whether directly responsible to a group of children or not have a responsibility to them as well as to their fellow staff members whom they live in close quarters with and are ultimately responsible to the Camp Director.

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.

Interested? Apply Now!