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What do you think of when you hear the words, Summer Camp?

If you never went to camp as a kid you might conjure images of crackling campfires, kids happily singing songs while hiking mountain trails, diving into a shimmering lake, or rock climbing with friends cheering them on to the top. These visions of camp magic are not wrong, all of those imaginings would be true, but for those who have been to Camp there’s one central piece of the puzzle that’s missing from those visions. It’s the Camp Counselor. The person who makes the magic possible. The ever-present, big buddy, story-telling, group-game leading, pied piper of a human being who lands in your story as a cross between Dumbledor, Glenda the Good Witch, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The role of the Camp Counselor is one that defines the experience and sets the tone for each cabin full of kids. At Camp Southern Ground, the Cabin Counselor is the cornerstone on which our Inclusion Model is built. Each Counselor plays the role of greeter, teacher, cheerleader, homesickness helper, Band-Aid applier, friendship encourager, bravery builder, and playful mentor who guides each camper through the adventure of self-development. Our Counselors facilitate the process of growth, tailored to each child’s strengths and support needs.

Many of our Summer Staff arrive with some measure of camp experience, but each one of them grow and develop professionally throughout their adventure here at Camp Southern Ground. Our staff is made up of individuals who arrive seeking that growth but end up leaving with so much more. As one of our staff members put it at the end of last summer, “I came here knowing that I’d was going to be learning, growing, and giving, but I could not have imagined how much I was going to be receiving in return!”

This is the special alchemy that happens when you work at Camp Southern Ground. The act of dedicating yourself to helping our campers to learn and grow ultimately leads to our own learning and growing. In working toward helping campers to overcome self-doubt, we find our courage. While helping campers build friendship skills, we end up building the closest friendships of our lives. As we work every day to give our campers the best summer of their lives, our staff finish the summer and discover that they’ve just had theirs!

If you or someone you know are 19 years old (or 18 with a year at university) and are interested in being part of the Staff of 2025, check out our available positions and start the application process today! Adventure awaits!

Matty Cook
Camp Director
Camp Southern Ground