Summer Camp Job vs. Life Experience
“A Manitou counselor is an energetic person who is eager to teach and live with children. We ask our staff to make a full-time commitment to maintain a safe and healthy atmosphere in their cabin where their campers feel as comfortable as they do in their home.” Bob Marcus, Former Director
We encourage our summer camp counselors to exercise their creative abilities, share personal interests and talents, and challenge themselves as they challenge their campers. Our counselors come from all over the country and the world, bringing with them a wide variety of skills and abilities. All are valued equally in an hospitable environment where friendships are fast and abiding.
Manitou Facts
Camp Manitou is a premier residential sports camp for boys ages 7 to 16.
Our community includes
- 110 cabin staff,
- 15 directors,
- and 50 operations staff (kitchen, office, health center, etc).
Of the 100 cabin staff 30% are from overseas - with New Zealand and Australia being the most popular countries of origin.
The majority of the American cabin staff are currently attending or have recently completed college.
70% of Manitou’s staff return and 30% are former campers.
The average age of a Manitou counselor is 22.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR We seek mature, young men and women who enjoy working closely with children and have the ability to teach with a high level of proficiency in one of our instructional areas. We're looking for adults who want to make a difference, not kids passing time between semesters.
In addition to their primary cabin and instructional responsibilities, counselors serve as role models, mentors, and coaches to inter-camp teams.
They will participate in activities such as exhibition games, competitions against counselors from other local summer camps, talent shows, the camp band, and the end-of-the-year musical. Counselors accompany their campers to out-of-camp events, including camping trips, whitewater rafting, whale-watch cruises, ball games and other activities. The camp covers the cost of these excursions.
Instructional Areas
Athletics:
Team sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Hockey (ice, roller, street)
- Volleyball
- Ultimate Frisbee
Individual sports
- Tennis
- Ropes and Climbing
- Fencing
- Archery
- Riflery
- Track and Field
- Weights and Fitness
Waterfront:
- Waterskiing & Wakeboarding
- Wake-Surfing
- Swimming & Lifeguards
- Kayaking
- SCUBA
- Fishing
- Sailing
- Windsurfing
Creative:
- Computer Animation
- Video
- Digital Photography
- Ceramics/Pottery
- Arts and Crafts
- Wood Working
- Theater (set design, costume design, technical)
- Newspaper
WHAT WILL I BE DOING? Manitou’s professional and friendly staff spends its summer living, eating, teaching, coaching and playing with Manitou's campers for seven weeks a year.
The typical day begins at 7:30 a.m. and lasts until at least 9 p.m., which is bedtime for the youngest campers. All male staff members live in cabins with six to twelve campers and two to four other staff members. While your days are busy and filled with activity, Manitou provides its staff with ample time off to recharge. There is no better place to be during the summer than central Maine, which in addition to its natural beauty, offers an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities to take advantage of each summer.
All of Manitou’s staff are specialty counselors - on top of being a cabin counselor they teach and coach in one of Manitou’s forty activities. No staff member is limited to one area of camp all summer, however. We encourage staff to explore all of their talents and serve in several areas of camp.
Staff participate in Manitou's intra-camp College League, Color War events, and have the opportunity to play on staff teams, act, or help design sets and costumes for evening theater and stage performances.
Daily schedule
7:30am – Reveille
7:50 – Flag-raising
8:00 – Breakfast
8:45 – Clean-up and getting ready for morning activities
9:15 – First activity – instruction & coaching (note: staff work 2 out of 3 morning periods, have 1 period off)
10:20 – Second activity - instruction & coaching
11:25 – Third activity - instruction & coaching
12:30 – Lunch
1:15 – Rest period (on-duty rotation with co-counselors)
2:15 – Games & Special Events – camp does both inter and intra camp competitions where staff will coach and referee, also run groups activities and events – all staff on duty
4:15 – Open Waterfront
5:30 – Wash-up
5:50 – Flag-lowering
6:00 – Dinner
6:45- Free-play – opportunity for staff to run specialty clinics or practices for the there area.
8:00 – Evening activity – talent show, game show, play, movie, bowling, etc.
9:00 – Milk and cookies
9:15 – After-dark for older campers
9:30 – 10:30 – Bedtime for campers
1:00am – Curfew - Check-in for off—duty counselors
TIME OFF There are two large staff-only areas with a pool table, ping-pong table, library, board games and telephones. This facility also has computers with high-speed Internet connections and remains open until midnight. Cable television and movies are available for evening use when off-duty. All other facilities are open to counselors during their free time in the evenings, including the brand new indoor sports complex with indoor basketball courts and surround-sound movie theater.
STAFF PRE-REQUISITES All staff must have the ability and desire to work with children. They must demonstrate enthusiasm in what they do and caring compassion for those under their care.
Athletic departments: We look for professional and friendly coaches and instructors who have high school and college level playing or coaching experience. You need to demonstrate advanced knowledge of rules, strategy, and game play as well as the ability to cultivate sportsmanship and teamwork in youth.
Waterfront - boating: Instructors must have advanced knowledge and skill in their respective activity area. Waterski and wakeboard instructors should be 21 and have boat-driving experience. Strong swimming abilit as well as current first aid and CPR certifications are required.
Waterfront – swimming: Instructors must have current American Red Cross WSI certification, plus CPR and First Aid certificates. Instructors will teach according to the standards set forth by the American Red Cross and have the option to coach a swim team as well. Lifeguards must have a current American Red Cross Lifesaving certificate plus CPR and First Aid certificates.
Creative departments: Instructors should be majoring in or have professional experience in their respective field. They must have extensive knowledge of the required equipment, techniques and computer applications (as applicable).
Staff training: All counselors are required to attend an eight-day orientation prior to the arrival of the campers.
Summer Camp Staff FAQs
The following is a conversation between a staff applicant and Jon Deren, director of Camp Manitou.
Prospective Staffer: Jon, thanks for taking a few minutes to talk.
Jon Deren: Sure thing! It is very important to choose your summer work carefully. On the one hand, you need an opportunity to recharge your batteries before you go back to school and on the other, you want to build your resume and gain valuable life experience. I'm thrilled to talk with you about becoming a summer camp counselor because I think a position at a boys' summer camp fulfills both of those requirements perfectly.
Prospect: First of all, where is Camp Manitou?
Jon: Manitou is five miles from Waterville, Maine, a college town with lots of recreational and social opportunities. Manitou is a three-hour drive from Boston, an hour’s drive from Bangor Intl. Airport, and an hour’s drive from Portland Intl. Airport.
Prospect: How do I get to camp?
Jon: When we send your contract it will include reimbursement for travel expenses to and from camp. Manitou provides travel to and from the Waterville Bus Station , the Portland Jetport, and Boston’s Logan Airport on a designated day. You may drive your own car to camp if you want.
Prospect: What about the people I'll be working with? Where do your staff members come from?
Jon: About 70% of our staff come from the United States and 30% from overseas. International counselors typically come from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Spain, and France.
Prospect: What kind of athletic facilities does Manitou have?
Jon: Manitou has a brand new weight and fitness room plus several lighted basketball and recreation courts. We also have an oval track and roller hockey arena. Many of our staff need to stay in shape over the summer for school sports and you will have the opportunity to do so during off-duty periods.
Prospect: What about room and board. Is that provided?
Jon: Room and board is included in all live-in staff contracts. We serve three hot meals a day plus periodic snacks.
Prospect: What are the living arrangements?
Jon: You will be living in a cabin with about 10 campers and 3 other counselors. Our cabins are well-sized and typically include a large main room, screened porch, coat room and an well-appointed bathroom.
We spend considerable effort matching our staff with the right group of campers. Most of our staff cite their cabin experiences as something that far exceeded their expectations.
If living and working with kids is not your cup of tea, let me tell you now, you should be looking for a different summer job.
Prospect: What kind of medical care is provided?
Jon: We have an on-camp health center with four nurses and a doctor. There are two hospitals five miles away. All staff are required to present a current medical form signed by your physician as well as a copy of your health insurance coverage.
Prospect: Speaking of recharging the batteries, will I have any time off?
Jon: Absolutely! You’ll get 6 days off during the summer plus 4 or 5 nights off per week. You’ll also have 2 to 3 one-hour periods off during the day.
When you’re off duty you have access to most of the facilities at camp as well as the staff lounge. On a typical night, there will be over 75 off-duty staff, so its not hard to find other people looking for fun.
Waterville, home of Colby College, is fifteen minutes away and it offers plenty of "collegiate" diversions. You’ll have access to camp transportation for trips
into town.
Our staff enjoys good relations with the staff at our sister camp across the lake. They’re a lot of fun and you’ll have ample opportunity to get to know them.
You know, at Manitou we treat our counselors like adults. We impose limited restrictions on how you spend your off-duty time, as long as your actions don't affect the camp and your ability to effectively do your job.
Prospect: How can I keep in touch with friends and family while I'm at camp?
Jon: Most staffers keep in touch at TouBucks, our staff-only lounge with high-speed internet, email, and phones. There’s cable TV in there as well.
Prospect: Wow, working at Manitou sounds like a lot of fun! How do I sign up?
Jon: Just fill out our online application and we’ll take it from there. Typically you’ll get a confirmation email immediately after you apply, then we'll look over your app and get back in touch within a week to set-up an interview.
If you have questions, please give us a call at 800-326-1916.
Apply—Online