Drawing jobs at summer camps are a perfect fit for illustrators, art students, and fine artists who love sharing the foundations of visual art with eager young creators. From traditional sleepaway camps running daily sketch electives to specialty fine arts residential camps offering intensive drawing studios, instructors get to spend the summer mentoring campers through observation, technique, and storytelling on paper.
As a drawing instructor at an overnight camp, you’ll teach gesture, anatomy, perspective, shading, and composition while supporting campers through individual projects and group prompts. You’ll plan progression-based lessons across age groups and often contribute to camp-wide gallery showcases. Many co-ed residential camps blend drawing into broader visual arts programs alongside painting, printmaking, and animation, giving multi-discipline instructors variety throughout the summer.
What does a drawing instructor at summer camp do?
You’ll teach foundational drawing skills — gesture, perspective, shading, composition — while supporting individual camper projects. Most sleepaway camps run drawing as a daily elective with end-of-session showcases throughout the summer camp season.
What background works best for drawing jobs at sleepaway camps?
Fine art, illustration, or art education backgrounds are ideal. Working illustrators, MFA students, and art teachers all thrive in these roles at residential camps. Comfort with kids and a strong portfolio matter most.
What supplies do summer camps provide for drawing programs?
Most overnight camps provide paper, pencils, charcoal, ink, markers, and basic drawing supplies. Specialty arts residential camps often stock more advanced media. Instructors usually get input on what to order.
What does the pay look like for drawing jobs at summer camps?
Pay is competitive and commensurate with experience and credentials. Sleepaway camps include room, board, and laundry alongside salary, which makes the overall summer camp package meaningfully more valuable than the base figure.
Are drawing roles usually combined with other art areas?
Often yes. Many co-ed residential camps blend drawing into broader visual arts programming alongside painting, illustration, and mixed media. Multi-discipline art instructors are especially valuable at sleepaway camps building rich visual arts schedules.
Ceramics, Photography, Painting and Drawing, Cartooning, Jewelry Making, and more!
Being a staff member at Laurel South is far more than a summer job… it’s an unforgettable experience in beautiful surroundings… and a rare opportunity to reach your full potential as you help others reach theirs. Laurel South is a down-to-earth place where you will meet and make friends of all ages – from all over the world – and form bonds that will last a lifetime. Most of all, it’s a place where a family feeling is encouraged and both campers and staff are urged to be themselves.
We are seeking college students and teachers to lead and instruct a wide variety of activities. Our staff are caring and fun individuals who have a desire to make a difference in a child’s life.
Laurel South is among the most well-respected camps in the country. We offer quality instruction designed to allow children to participate in activities they love, while also allowing them to explore new and exciting opportunities.
We are looking for a two-month commitment June 10th – August 11th. We offer room and board for the time you are working at camp. Interested applicants, please send a cover letter detailing your interest in working with children and resume. We look forward to hearing from you!
