Summer Camp Counselors / Lifeguard Certified

Description

 Offering unique, active outdoor experiences in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Camp WaBak is nestled on 130 acres of forest, trails, lakefront, and cabins—an ideal natural setting for all to enjoy canoeing, hiking, archery, environmental education, and team challenges. We are seeking enthusiastic seasonal team members, Camp Counselors / Lifeguard Certified, who love the outdoors and are dedicated to delivering inclusive, activity-driven experiences for girls. This position requires female staff in accordance with privacy and supervision standards under the Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) exception for youth in single-gender cabin and restroom settings.

Seasonal staff compensation also includes room, board, and comprehensive training within a supportive camp community that prioritizes safety, growth, and fun. 

Serving as a Camp Counselor / Lifeguard for one unit of similarly aged campers, the role has a greater emphasis on activities that take place at our waterfront activities, like our pool, canoeing and kayaking at the lake, or hiking up the creek to our waterfall. This key position has a secondary role in facilitating other interactive activities based on the theme of the week, the interests of the campers, the program areas available at Camp WaBak, and their own unique skills. 

Requirements

•  Leading small groups of girls in activities providing daily program delivery like weekly themed activities, singing camp songs, playing games, facing group challenges, and general camp ridiculousness.
• Ensuring that program objectives are met for each session while building camper confidence and developing relationships with each camper in your unit.
• Being cool, calm and collected outdoors in the face of spiders, bugs, critters, and things that do not actually go bump in the night.
• Ensure the safety of campers at all camp waterfront locations including pool, lake, and waterfall through your role as a lifeguard.
• Helping campers and staff learn to live together, resolve conflict, and solve problems within the unit by modeling openness, communication, and investment in group outcomes. 
• Demonstrating through your actions a respect for diversity, individuality, and empowerment of youth.
• Assist in creating a waterfront environment filled with games and activities including girl-driven choices.
• Assisting in supervision at the dining hall, leading all-camp activities, and with weekly post-camp clean up.
• Learning and implementing the crisis management plan, including emergency procedures; be aware of any ongoing medical needs of the campers in your unit. 
• Counselors will sleep in a girl unit (sometimes in a camper cabin with a partition, sometimes in a staff cabin, and sometimes in an attached but separate room) and are expected to help with nighttime supervision and morning routines. 

Your background and outdoor leadership passion includes…

• This position requires female staff in accordance with privacy and supervision standards under the Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) exception for youth in single-gender cabin and restroom settings.
• No prior Girl Scout experience required; must be at least 18 years old.
• Must hold a HS Diploma or equivalent required (advanced education or college preferred).
• 2 years of relevant experience developing and facilitating progressive activities with youth ages seven and older. 
• Certified ARC Lifeguard, Waterfront Module Preferred
• 2 years’ experience Canoeing or Kayaking; ACA or ARC certification preferred.
• First Aid and CPR certification required (available during camp staff training if needed). 
• Must hold personal membership upon hire in the Girl Scout organization and subscribe to the tenets of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. 

Physical requirements are…

• Must be capable of being very active outdoors in various weather conditions with exposure to summer sun, heat, inclement weather, and natural wildlife habitats, including animals and/or insects for extended periods of time.
• Ability to be on “camper level” which may include the ability to stoop, kneel, bend, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, work with fingers, grasp, feel, talk, hear, and perform repetitive motions.
• Ability to perform light work exerting up to 40 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Ability to practice self-care by staying hydrated, getting enough rest, and asking for help if you need it.

Your Seasonal Benefits:

• An interactive summer learning cool new activities and skills to teach others
• All meals provided, housing provided in camp cabins, access to staff lounge with washer, dryer, kitchen, and internet
• Optional informal time-off adventures
• Leadership, human behavior, and conflict resolution training to build meaningful job preparation skills.

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 $425-450 depending on availability, scheduling, experience and any related certifications. 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. 

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 training starting on May 29 and runs through Saturday, July 25th. There are 5 weekly sessions, two half week sessions of camp, and one weekend session during the summer requiring seasonal staff to stay overnight at camp. Staff have Friday evening to Sunday noon off most weeks, and two half week breaks June 11-13 and July 9-11. The required days of staff training are May 26 through June 4, 2026.

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.