Position Summary: 

At Camp Bauercrest, the most meaningful parts of summer often happen in the moments between activities. A camper finding his place in a new bunk. A counselor helping two boys work through a disagreement. A young staff member discovering what it means to be a leader. As Head Counselor, you'll serve as a member of our camp administrative leadership team, helping shape the relationships, experiences, and culture that define life on the Hillside.

You'll oversee the daily life of our residential community, supervise and mentor bunk counselors, and help ensure that every camper feels safe, supported, included, and connected. From morning wake-ups and bunk inspections to evening activities and bedtime routines, you'll provide the leadership and guidance that help our bunks function as positive, welcoming communities.

Staff development is at the heart of this position. You'll coach counselors through the challenges of working with children, provide meaningful feedback, conduct staff evaluations, and help young adults develop the confidence, judgment, and skills needed to become exceptional counselors and role models.

You'll also play a central role in camper care and family communication. Working closely with the Camp Director, Camp Mom, and other members of the leadership team, you'll support campers navigating homesickness, friendships, behavioral challenges, and the everyday ups and downs of growing up. You'll build trusting relationships with families while helping counselors respond to campers with empathy, consistency, and care.

At Bauercrest, you'll do more than supervise counselors and oversee bunk life. You'll help create a community where boys feel they belong, young adults grow into leaders, and the relationships built on the Hillside last a lifetime.

What You'll Do:

As a Head Counselor, you'll be a key member of Bauercrest's administrative leadership team, working closely with the Camp Director, Camp Mom, and other senior staff to support campers, develop counselors, and oversee daily residential life. You'll be a visible, approachable leader who helps ensure that our expectations, relationships, and everyday experiences reflect the values of Community, Confidence, and Competition.

• Lead, Mentor, and Develop Bunk Counselors. Supervise counselors throughout the summer, establish clear expectations, observe their work, and provide regular coaching, feedback, and formal evaluations. Help staff grow as leaders while holding them accountable for the care and supervision of their campers.
• Champion Camper Care and Well-Being. Build meaningful relationships with campers and help them navigate homesickness, friendships, social challenges, behavioral concerns, and the everyday ups and downs of camp life. Work collaboratively with the Camp Mom and leadership team to provide thoughtful, consistent support.
• Oversee Daily Bunk Life and Residential Operations. Help ensure that bunks are safe, organized, welcoming, and functioning effectively. Monitor daily routines, including wake-ups, bunk inspections, transitions, rest periods, and bedtime, while supporting counselors in creating positive bunk communities.
• Coach Counselors Through Challenges. Serve as a trusted resource when staff encounter difficult situations involving campers, bunk dynamics, or their own responsibilities. Model effective problem-solving, communication, conflict resolution, and sound judgment.
• Support Family Communication. Partner with the Camp Director and Camp Mom to address parent questions and concerns, share relevant observations, and help families feel confident in their child's care and experience.
• Build a Positive and Inclusive Camp Culture. Help create an environment where every camper feels a sense of belonging, counselors model the behavior expected of campers, and traditions and daily interactions reinforce Bauercrest's values.
• Develop and Support Staff Training. Help prepare counselors for their responsibilities during staff orientation and reinforce expectations throughout the summer through ongoing guidance, coaching, and professional development.
• Maintain High Standards of Safety and Supervision. Ensure counselors understand and consistently meet expectations for camper supervision, appropriate boundaries, behavior management, and residential safety. Recognize concerns early and work with camp leadership to respond appropriately.
• Collaborate as a Member of the Administrative Leadership Team. Participate in leadership meetings, communicate important camper and staff concerns, help address operational challenges, and contribute to decisions that improve the overall camp experience.
• Be a Visible and Engaged Leader. Maintain an active presence throughout camp, build relationships across age groups, recognize successes, and step in when additional support is needed. Lead by example in the way you interact with campers, counselors, families, and fellow administrators.

Why This Role is a Game-Changer for You:
This isn't just a summer job in camp leadership. It's an opportunity to develop the skills, judgment, and confidence to lead people, navigate challenges, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young adults.

As a Head Counselor at Bauercrest, you'll gain valuable experience in staff supervision, performance evaluation, child development, conflict resolution, family communication, and organizational leadership. You'll learn how to balance empathy with accountability, make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and support people with different personalities, needs, and experiences. Whether you're pursuing a career in education, psychology, social work, youth development, or organizational leadership, these are skills that extend well beyond the summer.

And you'll experience the moments that make this work meaningful. Watching a counselor you've mentored become a confident leader. Helping a homesick camper find his place in the bunk. Seeing a group of boys who arrived as strangers develop into a close-knit community. You'll also become part of a collaborative leadership team where your perspective matters, your growth is encouraged, and your contributions have a lasting impact.

You'll leave Bauercrest having done more than help run a summer camp. You'll have developed as a leader, helped young adults become better counselors, and shaped experiences that campers will carry with them long after summer ends.