What Are Lighting Tech Jobs at Summer Camp?

Lighting Tech Jobs at Summer Camps

Lighting tech jobs at summer camps are creative tech roles for theater lighting designers, working board ops, and AV pros who love designing rigs and running shows for camper productions. From traditional sleepaway camps with weekly cabarets and theme nights to specialty performing arts residential camps mounting full musicals each session, lighting techs are central to every magical moment on stage and across camp-wide events.

As a lighting tech at an overnight camp, you’ll design lighting plots, hang and focus fixtures, program and run boards (ETC, Hog, ChamSys), manage gel and gobo inventory, and partner with sound, set, and stage management staff on integrated productions. You’ll light theater shows, color war reveals, dance parties, and special evening programs. Many co-ed residential camps maintain serious lighting rigs that give techs a real production environment all summer long.

What does a lighting tech at summer camp do?

You’ll design lighting, run the board, hang and focus fixtures, and support shows and events. Most sleepaway camps with theater programs run multiple productions throughout the summer camp season.

What background works best for lighting tech jobs at sleepaway camps?

Theater technical design, working board op experience, and proficiency on ETC or similar consoles are highly valued. Theater tech students, working LDs, and live event pros all fit well at residential camps with serious performing arts programs.

Do summer camps have professional lighting rigs?

Specialty performing arts residential camps often maintain pro rigs with intelligent fixtures, full grids, and modern consoles. Traditional sleepaway camps may have smaller setups centered on conventionals. Equipment varies by camp.

What does the pay look like for lighting tech jobs at summer camps?

Pay is competitive and commensurate with experience and credentials. Overnight camps include room, board, and laundry alongside salary, which adds meaningful value to the overall summer camp package beyond the base figure.

Are lighting tech roles typically full-summer hires?

Most are full-season roles of 7–9 weeks including staff training. Some specialty performing arts residential camps hire by session for back-to-back productions throughout the summer at the sleepaway camp.