Staff FAQs

The starting salary for a US counselor with one year of college is $2250. Additional compensation is provided based on experience, skills, and certifications. The starting salary for an international counselor depends on recommendations from their specific international staffing agency.

Staff training begins in early June and ends the second week of August. The contract period is approximately 10 weeks: staff training (2 weeks), first session (4 weeks), and second session (4 weeks)

All staff are required to be lifeguard certified. We provide lifeguard training at camp in early June before the start of staff training. Certifications we encourage staff to pursue on their own are Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT, Water Safety Instructor, and instructor certifications in our various activities. Camp will increase your salary accordingly based on your current certifications.

Staff are placed in a cabin with one other staff member and 4-8 boys of the same age group. Daily duties include wakeup, supervision during family-style meals, aiding in cabin cleanup, 4 hours of activity instruction (staff receive 1 hour of time off from activity instruction each day), approximately 3 hours of free time supervision, put to bed, and sleeping in your cabin overnight.

Camp provides a lifeguard certification course before the start of staff training. All staff are trained on how to run a handful of the camp activities, how to handle behavioral problems with campers, how to promote growth and learning experiences for campers, what to expect from the daily schedule, and how to prepare for and lead a one- to four-day canoe trip.

Staff stay in rustic, open cabins with one other staff member and 4-8 boys of the same age group. The cabins have screen windows and electric overhead lighting.

The kitchen is able to accommodate most dietary restrictions (food allergies, gluten intolerance, and dairy intolerance being the most common). Please contact the camp office with further questions.

While not on time off, staff are on duty for the majority of the day. Staff actively teach 4 hours of activities and receive 1 hour off. The rest of the day consists of supervision during wakeup, meals, cabin cleaning, and camper free time. Staff put their campers to bed and sleep in the cabin overnight. While leading an out-of-camp canoe trip, staff are on duty 24/7.

Staff receive 1 hour of activity instruction off each day. Staff receive 2 days and 2 nights off per 4-week session. Staff receive 1 day off before the start of first session and 1 day off before the start of second session. Staff may not be able to take both days and nights off during a session where they lead an extended wilderness canoe trip.

Staff spend their hour of activity instruction off in the staff retreat or in the staff gym. Staff members typically bring gaming systems for the staff retreat and a quality set of weightlifting equipment for the gym. Staff typically spend their days and evenings off in the city of Bemidji, playing golf, watching a movie, using the internet at the local coffee shop, getting food at a restaurant, or relaxing at one of the many parks. Bemidji is a 25-minute drive away from camp.