Summer Camp Kitchen Manager / Head Cook

Description

Offering unique, active outdoor experiences in the Blue Ridge Mountains (Travelers Rest, SC), Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands Camp WaBak is nestled on 135 acres of forest, trails, lakefront, creek with waterfall, and cabins—an ideal natural setting for all to enjoy canoeing, hiking, archery, environmental education, and team challenges. We are seeking an experienced, energetic Kitchen Manager / Head Cook who enjoys and thrives in a camp environment.

Seasonal staff compensation includes weekly pay rate, room and board within a supportive camp community that prioritizes safety, growth, and fun. 

Manage and supervise the food planning, purchasing, and preparation for the camp. The incumbent must maintain health and safety standards in the dining hall according to the Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoint standards, the American Camp Association (ACA), and DHEC regulations. The Kitchen Manager reports to the Camp Director and oversees two kitchen assistants.

Requirements

Your background includes…

• No prior Girl Scout experience required to apply.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• HS Diploma or equivalent required (advanced education or college preferred).
• Successful reference check, drug screen and background check.
• ServSafe certification or documented experience in kitchen management and food safety required.
• Experience with meal planning, ordering food, and familiarity with a variety of dietary needs such as allergies, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free menus.
• Supervision experience preferred; must be able to use a computer to timely place food orders, manage inventory.
• Ability to prepare and serve all meals Sunday dinner through Friday lunch and occasional weekends and simultaneously have pack-out meals ready.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to make independent decisions, effective interaction with staff and volunteers, and work well with children.
• Upon hire, must hold personal membership in the Girl Scout organization and subscribe to the tenets of the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Ability to drive preferred but is not required. Drivers must have personal transportation and the ability to drive. Must possess a valid driver’s license, maintain personal auto insurance which meets the council insurance company’s requirement for coverage. Bilingual (Spanish) verbal communication abilities are preferred but not required.
• Assists in the smooth functioning of summer camp by performing other duties as assigned.

Your experience and leadership passion includes…

• Oversee and manage the opening, running, and closing of the kitchen in accordance with ACA, Girl Scout, and DHEC regulations related to food handling and kitchen procedures.
• Lead the timely preparation and serving of all summer meals consumed in the dining hall.
• Supervise other kitchen employees and delegate job assignments as appropriate.
• Plan and prepare healthy and creative meals for staff, incorporating staff requests when possible.
• Estimate needs, order, receive, and store food products and supplies.
• Accommodates dietary needs of staff and campers including homemade, nutritionally balanced, and varied vegetarian options served at every meal.
• Prepare an evaluation and summary of the current season including inventories, and recommendations for the following season.
• Ensure that the kitchen, dining room, and bathrooms are clean.
• All meals provided during shifts. On-site lodging provided but not required. May reside at camp in a cabin with other program managers and/or administrative staff for the duration of the summer.
• Ensure camp facilities meet established standards before, during, and after camp sessions. Coordinate and work with the property staff to identify and resolve property issues and needs.
• Must hold personal membership in the Girl Scout organization and subscribe to the tenets of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. 

Physical requirements are…

• Activities occur both inside (un-air-conditioned kitchen environment) and outside with employee subject to both environmental conditions to include fluctuating weather conditions (hot, cold, windy, etc.) as well as outdoor exposure to variety of vegetation.
• Ability to stoop, kneel, bend, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, work with fingers, grasp, feel, talk, hear, and perform repetitive motions; and physical dexterity to operate kitchen utensils and equipment.
• Ability to perform light work exerting up to 40 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Maintain good personal hygiene and wear the appropriate protective clothing to work in a kitchen, including long pants, closed toed shoes, and hair coverings.

Compensation/Benefits package includes...

Summer seasonal employment is a unique experience and falls under the seasonal exemption standard categorized as “seasonal amusement or recreational establishment” by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Department of Labor (DOL). This exempts the position from federal minimum and overtime wage requirements as we compensate a daily rate plus. The potential weekly earnings for this position are between $600-700 depending on availability, scheduling, experience and any related certifications. All meals provided, housing provided, access to staff lounge with washer, dryer, kitchen, and internet.

Seasonal staff may be eligible for a performance-based bonus that will be paid after the first 4 weeks of summer camp and at the end of summer camp. 

Successful seasonal team members may qualify for a performance-based bonus and a stay-on bonus. Bonus eligibility may include:

• Staff who meet or exceed weekly key performance and competency metrics; paid mid- summer and at the end of camp in the final pay. 
• Staff who work all weeks through to the end of summer camp; paid out at the end of camp in the final pay. 
• While health insurance benefits are not offered to seasonal staff, all meals, housing in camp cabins, access to staff lounge with washer, dryer, kitchen, and wifi are provided.
• An interactive summer learning cool new activities and skills to teach others
• Optional informal time-off adventures.
• Leadership, human behavior, and conflict resolution training to build meaningful job preparation skills.

An unforgettable, active and engaging summer with the chance to make lifelong friends and to positively impact camper’s lives. 

Summer Camp Schedule:

The 2026 camp season begins with paid staff orientation/training starting on May 26th with camp running through Saturday, July 25th. There are 5 weekly sessions, 2 half week sessions of camp plus 1 weekend session requiring overnight stay. Summer staff, with the exception of the one overnight weekend stay, are to report to work on Sundays by 12 pm. Once camp is cleaned and cleared on Friday, summer staff often leave around 4 pm.

Girl Scouts of South Carolina - Mountains to Midlands (GSSC-MM) is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, disability, veteran status, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. If you require special assistance or accommodation while seeking employment with GSSC-MM, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@gssc-mm.org . GSSC-MM reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.