Is being a counselor for me?
Being a counselor at Camp Taconic is a fun and demanding job. If you are passionate about working with children and helping them thrive and grow, you will be a great fit here. You live and work with children 24 hours a day. The directors, parents and campers have high expectations of all of our staff members. For camp to function well everyone has to work hard. One thing our staff knows is that the more you put into the experience, the more rewards you will get out of it.
Where are the other staff from?
Our staff comes from all over the United States, Canada, the UK, Mexico, Australia, Poland and many other countries. Our community thrives on the diverse backgrounds and cultures, which our counselors bring. We are all bound by one common thread: our passion to work with children.
What happens during Staff orientation?
All of our staff participates in an eight day orientation prior to the campers’ arrival. Staff orientation is a wonderful opportunity for staff to ‘live camp’, understand our philosophy and program, get to know each other, and feel comfortable in your summer home before the campers arrive. By opening day, our staff; both diverse in background and experience, with a wide range of interests and personalities; has come together as a family dedicated to the growth and development of our campers.
What happens during a typical day of camp?
Below is a sample of a typical day. Usually, staff get one 55 minute period “off” during the day.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30 | Wake-Up |
| 8:00 | Breakfast |
| 8:20 | Bunk clean-up |
| 9:00 | Morning Sing |
| 9:20 | Three 55 minute activity periods |
| 12:45 | Lunch |
| 1:15 | Rest Hour |
| 2:15 | Milk and Cookies |
| 2:45 | Three 55 minute activity periods |
| 6:00 | Dinner |
| 6:30 | Free Time |
| 7:30 | Evening Activity |
| 9:00 | Younger Campers return to cabins for bed Older Campers go to the Rec Hall for Teen Snack |
| 10:00 | Counselors rotate being "on-duty" for campers or night off. |
Can I bring a car?
Yes, we have ample parking.
How do I get to camp?
Camp provides a travel stipend for staff to get to camp. We pick up from Pittsfield Bus Station, JFK, Boston, Albany and Hartford Airports on specificied days.
Where will I sleep?
You will be living in a bunk with approximately 10 campers and 4 counselors. We have bathrooms and showers in all cabins. Our Staff is crucial to the creation of a ‘summer home’ atmosphere in the cabins where all campers feel safe and comfortable.
What do I need to bring to camp?
We are based in the Berkshires, so we have sun, clouds and rain all in one day! We provide a detailed packing list for all of our hired staff.
What do I wear at camp?
Camp provides a Camp Taconic staff shirt, which is only required to be worn on special days. Staff can choose to wear what they want that is appropriate for their specific position and for a children’s camp. Staff is usually most comfortable in athletic type clothing.
What is the salary?
Camp Taconic provides room and board, laundry service, a travel stipend and a camp t-shirt. We provide a competitive salary commensurate with experience, which is paid every two weeks.
How often do I get time off?
We know a happy staff is the key ingredient to a successful summer and happy campers. Staff receive one hour off per day plus evenings free from about 9:30pm until curfew, at 1:00am, 4-5 nights per week. Staff also receives 5 days off and two early evenings off over the course of the 7 week season. Our staff can relax at camp in the “Clubhouse” or Staff Lounge where there is high speed WiFi and TV. We also offer some late night recreational activities and transportation for staff. Our fitness center may be used during leisure time, as well as any of the camp facilities when properly supervised. At Taconic, we make our best efforts to help staff receive enough time to stay healthy, happy and energized.
What can I do during time Off?
The Berkshires has an abundance of cultural activities. We are 15 minutes from Pittsfield, MA where there is shopping, restaurants, bowling, movie theaters, and more! There are adventure parks and outdoor concerts at nearby Tanglewood. Some staff choose to travel to Boston or NYC which are both about 3 hours away. We encourage international staff to travel with Ameircans in their cars on off days and we also provide a bus for off day staff.
Will I have access to the Internet?
Yes, we have free WIFI in our Staff Lounge and Rec Hall.
Who works at Taconic?
Our staff members come from as close to camp as Pittsfield, Massachusetts and as far away as New Zealand. In a typical summer, about two thirds of our staff come from somewhere in the United States and the other third comes from abroad, with most of our foreign staff from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. Over the years we’ve had staff from Columbia, South Africa, Poland, Mexico, and Canada, and we value the diversity of backgrounds and experiences that our staff bring to our Taconic family. Bunk counselors are most often between the ages of 18 and 23. We are proud to have many former campers as part of our staff as well, as attending Taconic often breeds a lifelong love of camp. Our former campers are able to become Junior Counselors before completing a year of college if they complete our Leader in Training Program.
Many of our staff are interested in working in education, coaching, or recreation in the future, though this is certainly not a requirement. We do ask that all of our staff come to Taconic with a love of working with and supporting children. Taconic does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity, sexuality, socioeconomic class, or field of study, and we welcome interested individuals of all backgrounds to apply to work at Taconic. We hire staff based on ability and experience and encourage any interested applicants to reach out for more information.
What other kinds of training does Taconic provide for staff?
Taconic provides an extensive orientation for staff members. Camp leadership members begin orientation and planning in early June and then welcome bunk counselors for approximately 7 days of counselor orientation. Throughout that week of training, staff participate in a variety of interactive sessions aimed at providing counselors with an understanding of what to expect throughout the summer as well as with tools to support campers and address common camper issues. Sessions focus on both bunk life and teaching in specific activity areas. We are aware that a week of orientation cannot possibly address every possible situation that may arise throughout a summer, and so a major part of our staff orientation is teaching counselors who they can reach out to for help with different aspects of camp. Additionally, we hold weekly staff meetings so that all staff can receive regular updates and training throughout the summer.
Who do I go to if I have a question?
Anyone and everyone! Our goal at Taconic is to build a welcoming community in which all staff feel comfortable approaching anyone when they have a question. We’ll spend time throughout orientation discussing who to go to with questions about specific topics, but, when in doubt, please come talk to your head counselor, activity director, an associate director, or a director. You’ll also find a wealth of knowledge in returning counselors and even in many of our campers. There is no such thing as a stupid question at camp, and we highly encourage all staff to reach out when unsure or curious. We don’t expect anyone to know everything, but we do hope you’ll know when to ask for help.
What else should I know about working at Taconic?
Many counselors at Taconic have a dual role, working as both a bunk counselor living with children and as an activity counselor, teaching in a specific activity area. This means that counselors generally have two separate supervisors, a head counselor, who oversees all aspects of a given division (i.e. Inter Camp Girls, Upper Camp Boys) and an activity director, who is in charge of the area in which the counselor teaches. Some counselors are general counselors or cabin specialists, meaning that instead of teaching in an activity area, they circulate throughout different activities with their bunk of campers. Head counselors and activity areas are often teachers and coaches who have extensive experience working with children. Their role is to support staff in any way possible, providing counselors with resources for teaching, engaging with campers, and conflict resolution.
Above all, camp is meant to be fun! This doesn’t mean that there will never be stress or problems to resolve, but we hope that those will happen alongside lots of learning, growth, enjoyment, and development of meaningful relationships and friendships.
