Journey's End Farm Camp

Job Descriptions

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Assistant Director

Please contact Kristin if you think you might be interested in this position.

Cook

The cook is in charge of planning and preparing meals for ~55 people, two meals--lunch and supper--per day, six days per week (counselors cook breakfast).  We emphasize good nutrition, using fresh vegetables and a minimum of processed foods.  Some of our farm animals are raised for meat, allowing us to include high-quality poultry, pork, and beef in menu plans, although it’s rarely the main focus of any menu or meal.  When meat is served, the cook needs to provide a protein alternative for vegetarians.

In the last few years we have worked with our cook Tricia to create a book of recipes that can be used to create most of our meals.  In that same span of time, more children who have food sensitivities and allergies have been coming to camp, making it necessary at times to come up with lactose-free or gluten-free or nut-free alternatives.  We ask the families of children with allergies to bring special foods to camp, either ready-to-eat or items we can use to prepare safe and familiar foods for them.
 
It’s also become a daily practice for the cook to have a helper in the kitchen, if desired.  This is something that counselors enjoy as a break from their everyday routine.  Be aware that some are very familiar with cooking and with the JE kitchen and others may have little to no experience but want to learn.

Menu planning should be partially influenced by the garden, and is otherwise something of a balancing act between nutrition, kids’ taste buds, and economy.  The directors do the shopping–with input from the cook–choosing simple, quality ingredients.  Simplicity in ingredients and meal planning is really important, even though you may be tempted to prepare something elaborate.  Getting a nourishing and satisfying meal out for 55 hungry people is elaborate enough.

Although we discourage pre-recorded music at camp, we make an exception for kitchen work when the cook enjoys it. There is a Tivoli CD player/radio in the kitchen.

Unless otherwise arranged for, the cook sleeps in the bunkhouse with the campers and counselors, although at times a separate tent or bunk area may be available.  Your work hours will depend somewhat on your work strategy, but generally from about 9AM–7PM, with an hour or two break during the afternoon.  You have Thursday morning off and all day Sunday off.
 
This is a challenging job!  It doesn’t end when the meal is done. There is a lot of careful planning that needs to happen, as well as a certain amount of improvisation, juggling food allergies and selective eaters with the basic need to set out a healthful meal on time.

Comfort with the values and way of life at Journey’s End and familiarity with our daily schedule are important.  Of equal importance is your own temperament and ability to keep an even keel on the waves that summer camp can and does bring.  The kitchen is situated between the office and the nurse’s porch and the dining room, so there is a lot of potential distraction.  While you’re here, you need to be able to enjoy the people and the farm, and to rest well enough to stay healthy and grounded.

Nurse

Check campers in on arrival day, collect meds and vitamins, talk with parents about any concerns, make sure medical form is in order and release is signed. Record height, weight, temp., and do a thorough head check for lice.
Alert staff of noteworthy conditions/situations/needs re: medical form info, parental consultation, or check-in. We may ask for a presentation during staff orientation week on a pertinent health topic or standard procedures for injuries.
Oversee/dispense daily medications and supplements. Make health announcements as needed. (Ex: wash hands, drink water, use sunscreen, etc.)
Care for injuries or illness that may occur. Serious conditions will be referred to camp physician(s). Sterling Pediatrics–3 miles. Wayne County Hospital–22 miles.
Keep First Aid kits stocked. Make sure hikes and overnights have adequate First Aid kit along. Kit with sunscreen goes with swimming counselors (daily) to the pond.
Check out campers and staff for “soundness” prior to all overnight campouts and long hikes. Check in upon return, including temp. and head check (preferably after they have showered).
Keep infirmary ready for occupancy, changing bedding, emptying trash, etc. Dishes, utensils, and cups used by sick people must be sterilized in a separate wash basin.
Advise directors and staff of health/safety concerns.
Make sure Epipens and OTC medications are available and currently dated.
Coordinate with directors to make sure other medical supplies are on hand.
Keep thorough records in medical notebook.
Involvement in the daily camp program is encouraged (morning meeting, assembly, activities, etc.) as this will give you a valuable perspective as to the total program and the kids themselves.
End of session: Make sure camp families take home meds, vitamins, etc.
End of summer: Inventory supplies, list needs for next summer. Alphabetize current health forms (all sessions) for file.
Add to this list as needed. Write down your reflections for future reference.

Counselor

Journey’s End is a camp which also attempts to be a community.  We are committed to helping children enjoy themselves as well as learning useful skills, and accepting responsibility.  These values are taught through our actions and interactions.  We combine practical skills with the ideals of old-fashioned living and a hopeful future vision.

Counselors at Journey’s End have a wide variety of responsibilities.  You will be leading activities, supervising work jobs, play times, or rest period, helping children tend animal chores, packing, leading, and organizing overnight campouts, and supervising/helping with bunk and bathroom cleanup (there is an element of teaching in all of this).  You will share in dishwashing, and in sweeping and mopping floors.  Your specific focus for activities will vary according to camper interest, and your own skills, interest, and initiative.  We encourage you to be creative and use the natural resources of the farm (animals, woods, fields, creeks, pond, swamps) as much as possible.

You will be with children—responsible for their well-being—at all hours, six days per week.  You will have seven days off during the eight-week season, and an additional hour or two several times a week.  There are evening staff meetings twice weekly after the campers’ bedtime.  Most other evenings there will be some time for socializing, reading and writing, or preparing for the next day, with counselors taking turns on bunkhouse duty.  We ask that you get to bed reasonably early (for college students)—by 11 pm—in order to adequately meet the demands of the camp schedule.  In general, you should be prepared for an intense and enjoyable summer.

Camp life is simple and rustic.  You will be sharing the (mostly) unlighted bunkhouses with the campers.  Bathrooms (with shower, sink, and toilet) are a short walk from the sleeping quarters.  We hope that you are not dependant on electronic entertainment.  If you bring an iPod or cell phone, please limit use to days off away from campers.  We ask that you use rechargeable batteries.

We are less regimented than many camps.  This allows for more flexibility and requires more commitment.  You’ll be working with other staff, leading or assisting with activities most of the time, and taking sole leadership at other times.  Campers and counselors alike enjoy the warm community atmosphere and the emphasis placed on individual needs and strengths.

Counselor Helper

Counselor helpers are generally high school age (16 or 17 years old), and are invited to join the staff for part of the summer -- one or two sessions.  Helpers may take a turn helping the cook in the kitchen once or twice per week, and may wash dishes a little more often than counselors, and if so would have a little more time off.  Counselor helpers get one day off per week, from daylight/6 am until supper/6 pm.  Once you feel experienced and comfortable with your role, there will be opportunities to take leadership for daily activities or other daily tasks.  Helpers, especially if returning for a second year, may put forth as much effort as a counselor, and take on most of the same tasks.  This is your opportunity to see how well you adapt as a counselor, and see if it is right for you.

Your role is very similar to that of a counselor, although counselors are expected to take more of a leadership role in most areas, while you will assist in more of a support role.  You will be as much of a role model to the campers as any staff member, and it is important that you are ready for that.  It is tiring work, more so than you might imagine if you are a former camper.  (The daily workings are now partly your responsibility.)  If you are prepared for the work, it should also be very rewarding and a lot of fun.  It does require a lot of positive energy focused on providing a high quality experience for all campers.  This often requires putting the needs of others ahead of your own.  If you have done babysitting or other types of child care, you probably already know that working with children is demanding of time and energy, patience, and understanding beyond the usual limits.  Our rewards are usually proportionate to our efforts.

Compensation is minimal, especially for younger less-experienced helpers, and generally starts at $40 per week for a first year (16-year-old) helper.  Second year compensation is generally a bit more, the amount being at the discretion of the director.  Certified lifeguards earn an additional $35/week, and we always need this skill so you may want to consider joining a certification program in the winter/spring.

Hiring prospects:
In recent years, the desire to be a counselor helper (“junior counselor” etc.) has become increasingly strong among former JE campers. While this gives us many prospects to choose from, it also means that each year it is likely that several of you will not get hired.  We also consider applicants who have not been at Journey’s End before if they are otherwise qualified and interested.  Generally 17-year-olds have priority over 16-year-olds, but all hiring decisions are at our discretion.  If we do not hire you it does not mean that you would not make a good counselor. We may simply have too many strong candidates to choose from.

Family Camp Staff

As Family Camp staff, you will be expected to:

• Attend Family Camp changeover so that you can reacquaint yourself with JE, bond with your fellow staff, and contribute to planning the week.
• Work with your fellow counselors and staff to encourage the fun, growth, and enjoyment of all Family Campers (adults, tweens, and camp-age) throughout the week.
• Plan one age-specific activity and one general activity each day.
• Plan at least one special activity (hike day, adult discussion, overnight, campfire, etc) and participate in said activities unless off-duty.
• Participate in all staff meetings as well as camp evaluations (held on the last day of Family Camp).
• Be an example to all Family Campers by how we interact with each other at Journey’s End (zero waste, nonviolence, kind language, responsibility, etc.).
• Be on time for chores every day with energy and enthusiasm.
• Have as much fun as possible!

“It’s really hot here, usually reaching the 90s, so swimming is a blessing.”
- Camper, age 12