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Prospective Staff
Thank you for your interest in Gold Arrow Camp for summer employment. For
75 years, Gold Arrow Camp has provided its campers with a quality camp
program where campers can have fun, make friends and grow. We hope
that each member of the Gold Arrow Camp family, campers and staff
alike, leave camp having built new friendships, learned new skills, and
grown in their independence, social skills, and self-confidence. Before
submitting an application for employment, please read through the
information in this section to see if Gold Arrow Camp is the right fit
for you.
 
Who is on staff?
Approximately 130 dedicated individuals make up the counseling, administrative, and support staff of Gold Arrow Camp. Our staff members' enthusiasm, dedication and interest in child development are the key to positive experiences for each camper. Counselors are selected based on the ability to serve as outstanding role models and leaders. All staff members must be at least 19 years of age and have completed one year of college or work experience. They must have exceptional communication skills, be dedicated to providing children with a memorable and fun camp experience, and support Gold Arrow Camp’s overall philosophy and goals.
Staff are recruited from all over the United States and from Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. Our diverse staff, like our campers, add a unique flavor to the camp community. The entire staff works together toward their final goal of providing a positive, fun, and nurturing camp experience for each child.
What is camp life like?
 Staff will experience rustic, outdoor living at Gold Arrow Camp. Group and activity counselors live with groups of 8-10 campers in large canvas tents on wood platforms with a deck. Group counselors are primarily responsible for the overall well-being of their cabin group. They live with and lead their group of campers to activities and meals and assist in teaching during our Free Choice activity period. Activity counselors are responsible for the organization and instruction of an activity during program periods. There are at least 2 counselors within each cabin group, one group counselor and one or two activity counselors. Many campers and staff sleep on the deck under the stars. Bring your sleeping bag to sleep on comfortable army style cots. Modern bathroom facilities with private showers are located near tents throughout camp.
Campers and staff dine on an open-aired, covered dining porch which overlooks Big Creek. Healthy, well-balanced, delicious meals are prepared by our chef and kitchen staff. A fresh, well-stocked salad bar is offered at both lunch and dinner. There are a variety of options, like our pasta bar, for selective eaters
Gold Arrow offers over 20 outdoor, recreational activities including: waterskiing, horseback riding, sailing, rock climbing, waverunning, canyoneering, archery, riflery, drama, arts & crafts, canoeing, fishing, nature study, backpacking, knee boarding, ceramics, day hikes, campfires, and skits. Our structured program ensures that every camper will be able to participate in each activity.
Anyone who has worked at a summer camp before will tell you that working at a summer camp will be unlike any other job you will have. While working at camp, staff members not only have the opportunity to make a positive impact upon the lives of our campers but also positively impact their own lives. Staff members participate in a week long training before any campers arrive. During this time, our staff learn about child development issues, conflict resolution, team building, and communication and leadership skills. At the end of each summer, our staff walk away with valuable life skills that can be used in any career and friendships that last a lifetime.
What Our Staff Says About Working at Gold Arrow Camp:
 “I have worked at another summer camp for 4 years, but it doesn’t compare to GAC. The life experience and friends I have gained are awesome. I also felt very encouraged to grow in my leadership abilities and skills. GAC was the best summer so far. Lasting friendships, skills and memories; what a great summer!"
"GAC has been an absolutely amazing experience. I am so grateful for all GAC Staff has done for me. Working with children is my passion and it really helped me grow as a teacher to see a different spectrum of children outside of the classroom. I have smiled and laughed more in these past 2 months then I have in most years. My advice for future staff would be to savor the experience because it goes by quick! Thank you again for everything!"
“GAC is an environment I wish I had experienced as a kid. Even as a counselor, the fun and safe environment is a much appreciated escape from the pressures of school and everyday worries.”
"Working at a different camp for two summers made me think that most camps were on the same level, but GAC blew me away. It was totally different from my old camp. I feel like I learned more here, met more people, impacted more kids, and came out a better person because of it."
“I have loved each summer I’ve worked at GAC. The feeling of accomplishment one gets from being a positive role model and friend alone is worth flying across the country for a two month summer ‘job.’”
"GAC has been a part of my entire life. It has been a place to make new friendships and leadership skills are developed while having a blast on a beautiful lake in the Sierras. Working with kids for the summer is rewarding and gives you the opportunity to learn not only new things, but also more about yourself. It has been amazing and I've benefited from it so much."
 “GAC is an awesome place to come and be yourself. Working here guarantees an awesome, fun-filled summer with an enthusiastic and outgoing staff and amazingly interested and determined kids. I had a great summer of challenges, development, hard work, and fun.”
“This was my second summer at camp on staff, and I loved it just as much as my first year. The kids are great, the staff is awesome and the support is superb. Camp is definitely about the kids, and I wouldn’t have it any other way, but I wouldn’t be returning for my third summer if it weren’t for the staff here. I love the community GAC has and it really is a “family camp” full of campers, counselors and all of the other staff.”
“As a counselor, you are taught to help campers stretch their limits, but what you don’t realize is that you have stretched your limits as well.”
"Working here this summer has been one of the greatest experience of my life. I've been able to meet kids from all different backgrounds and make an impact on their lives. Having the chance to meet counselors that have come from all over the world has been amazing. Being able to form friendships with people that are here for the same reason I am is so awesome. I've made some amazing friendships that I know will last for so long. I'm so grateful for this opportunity." 
"Simply the most rewarding and challenging summer ever! I have grown so much personally just in two months, have made so many special friends from all over the world, and have felt humbled and privileged to work with such enthusiastic and diverse kids. I love GAC!"
“GAC has been a great experience for me. It is wonderful to know that there is a place where children and staff members from all over the world can come to know each other and become a family.”
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