AThe camping experience is valuable to both campers and staff alike. We strive to create a positive work atmosphere where our staff wishes to return year after year. A summer at Tall Pines allows you to impact the campers lives’ while creating life-long memories and friendships for yourself. We look for outgoing, enthusiastic, and dedicated people to join the Tall Pines family!
At Tall Pines we are proud of our staff. We strive to create a positive work atmosphere where our staff wishes to return year after year. The national average return rate for day camps is 50 percent. At Tall Pines the rate is 90 percent! Each summer we employ approximately 350 staff members. The most common question we receive is, “Where do you get your staff?” To which we reply, “We grow our own.”
Here are some amazing statistics:
90% of our 150 Senior & Junior Counselors that work in the bunks are former campers.
90% of our staff returns each year. The national average is 50%.
Over 50% of our staff are our former campers.
10% of our staff has been here for 15+ years.
33% of our staff has been here for 10+ years.
Preference is given to former campers due to loyalty and knowledge of our camp culture.
Senior Counselors
There are 50 Senior Counselor positions.
In the last five years we have more returning Seniors Counselors than available positions!
40 out of 50 are former campers.
Average age is 26 and they have an average of 9 years of experience at Tall Pines.
A Senior Counselor leads each group, or “bunk”, with assistance from two Junior Counselors.
Senior Counselors are required to have finished their freshman year of college.
Fifty percent of our Senior Counselors are state certified teachers.
Twenty-five percent are college education majors and the remaining twenty-five percent are typically long term staff members that have grown up at Tall Pines.
Junior Counselors
All of our Junior Counselors (100) are returning staff members or graduates of our Counselor-In-Training Program.
95 out of 100 JCs are former campers.
The average JC has 8 years of experience at Tall Pines.
Junior Counselors range in age from 15 to 18 and there are two for each bunk.
Staff Hiring Processes
Each staff member follows the same hiring process:
A face-to-face interview.
Annual criminal background check for all staff over 18.
Annual check in the National Sex Offender Registry Database.
We check three professional/personal references and work histories.
Important Dates
2025 Camp Dates: June 23rd to August 15th, Closed July 4th
Staff Training: Saturday, May 31st
Job Descriptions
- Counselors
- Counselors are responsible for the physical and emotional well-being of the campers in their bunk. Counselors supervise between 15 and 20 campers as they participate in activities on their daily camp schedule. Counselors are role models for their campers while providing support and guidance throughout the summer. Each group is led by a Senior Counselor with the assistance of 2 to 3 Junior Counselors.
- Specialist
- Specialists are instructors who have expertise in a specific activity and work every day in that program area. Specialists are responsible for creating engaging and age-appropriate activities to expose campers to new experiences and build skills. Each program area is led by a Senior Specialist with the assistance of a Junior Specialist if necessary for the program.
- Ropes Course Staff
- Ropes Course staff members supervise the Zip Tower, Climbing Tower, High Ropes Obstacle Course, Ninja Course, and Junior Ropes Obstacle Course. Ropes Course staff members must not be afraid of heights. Required training and certification are done on the camp property prior to the camp season.
- Lifeguard
- Lifeguards are responsible for teaching instructional swim lessons and supervising the pool during free swim periods. American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification is required, and swim team experience is preferred. A Lifeguarding certification class is typically held at camp prior to the camp season.
- Maintenance Staff
- Maintenance Staff members are responsible for maintaining the equipment, grounds, buildings, and swimming pools on site. If you work on our Maintenance Staff, you must be willing to get your hands dirty.
- Kitchen Staff
- The kitchen staff assists in the preparation, serving and cleanup of daily meals and snacks.
- Bus Driver
- Drivers must be a minimum of 21 years of age and hold a current Commercial Driver’s License, Class B or C, with Passenger and School Bus Endorsements.
