Description:
Here at Birchwood Wilderness Camp, our campers are our first concern, but our employees are a close second. We value our staff's experience at BWC and want each of our counselors to have a rewarding and fulfilling summer. Our staff become a life-long family!
At Birchwood, campers are surrounded by a vibrant team of male role models who are meticulously chosen for their warm personalities and engaging style of leadership. These college-age men are enthusiastic teachers as well as caring cabin counselors and considerate wilderness guides. All day long, they teach from the heart, encourage challenges, inspire kindness, and focus on each child’s individual strengths. In particular, this counselor position focuses on our rock climbing trips.
Contact Information:
PHONE:
Dan 218-259-5575
Ashley 218-256-7164
Victor 218-213-5535
EMAIL:
office@birchwoodwildernesscamp.com
First and foremost, our rock climbing specialist must have a fun-loving disposition and sincere desire to be a strong and caring mentor who enriches the lives of boys, around the clock, 24/7. Being a camp counselor AND rock climbing specialist is incredibly fun and rewarding - but it demands a lot of energy, patience, and kindness!
It is essential to have a great attitude for all eight weeks of the summer and to be an excellent team player. Our climbing specialist must have the ability to set routes at various climbing locations in the BWCA and along the norther shore of Lake Superior, take the initiative, lead groups of boys effectively in a variety of wilderness settings, communicate openly and honestly, and maintain healthy relationships with peers.
Experience setting up climbs is required for this position. Experience teaching rock climbing is preferred. Employees must be willing and able to promote our specific vision after extensive training and on-going support. Counselors must be able to complete all of their responsibilities each day with a positive attitude.
We hire a small team of 20 college-age men each summer. Applicants must be able to commit to the entire summer season, including our staff week that typically begins around June 6th. We prefer applicants who have completed at least one year of secondary education and have taught children in a hands-on, experiential setting.
All staff positions require visual and listening skills sufficient to keep campers safe and the physical and emotional strength to work the long hours that are part of the camp counselor position.
As for daily life at Birchwood, counselors live in a cabin with five to seven campers, aged seven to seventeen years old, and one other adult counselor. Counselors are expected to take groups of campers on canoe and hiking trips ranging from three to seven days.
Counselors must be in appropriate health to carry a canoe over portages, willing to cook on a campfire or camp stove, and lead in-camp activities such as; fishing, riflery, archery, rock climbing, arts and crafts, wilderness cooking, canoeing and kayaking. We don’t expect every counselor to be an expert in all of these, just be willing to learn and try new things.
Camp is located at the end of the Gunflint Trail in northeast Minnesota. We are accessible by water only. This position will require the right applicant to be comfortable in a wilderness setting. Cabins do not have electricity and the shower/bathroom is a short walk down the path.
