Nature Jobs at Summer Camps in the USA
Nature jobs at summer camps are a dream gig for naturalists, environmental educators, and ecology enthusiasts who want to spend their summer connecting kids to the natural world. From traditional sleepaway camps with daily nature electives to specialty environmental residential camps running serious ecology and outdoor education programs, nature staff create some of the most grounding and inspiring experiences of every camper’s summer.
As a nature instructor at an overnight camp, you’ll teach plant and animal identification, ecology, Leave No Trace, animal tracking, water sampling, and wilderness skills. You’ll lead hikes, run outdoor classroom sessions, and partner with adventure and farming staff on integrated outdoor education. Many co-ed residential camps build nature into broader environmental programs that fold in gardening, sustainability, and animal care, giving multi-discipline instructors a varied and rewarding summer.
What does a nature instructor at summer camp do?You’ll teach plant and animal ID, ecology, tracking, water sampling, and Leave No Trace while leading hikes and outdoor classroom sessions. Most sleepaway camps with nature programs include daily activities throughout the summer camp season.
What background works best for nature jobs at sleepaway camps?Environmental science, ecology, biology, or outdoor education backgrounds are ideal. Working naturalists, park rangers, and environmental educators are excellent fits at residential camps with strong nature programs.
Do nature instructors lead overnight trips?Often yes. Many overnight camps with nature programs run regular overnights and longer wilderness trips that integrate ecology and outdoor skills throughout the summer at the residential camp.
What does the pay look like for nature jobs at summer camps?Pay is competitive and commensurate with experience and credentials. Sleepaway camps include room, board, and laundry alongside salary, which adds meaningful value to the overall summer camp package beyond the base figure.
Is nature usually combined with other outdoor roles?Often yes. Many co-ed residential camps blend nature with adventure, farming, gardening, and sustainability programs. Multi-discipline instructors are especially valued at sleepaway camps with deep outdoor education offerings.
Browse Summer Camp Nature Jobs for 2026
| Salary | Job Type | Setting |
|---|
| USD Starts at $2300/summer | Full-Time Seasonal | Overnight Camp |
Start Date: June 1, 2026
End Date: August 31, 2026
Come spend your summer on beautiful Lake Ashmere in The Berkshires!Camp Danbee is currently hiring outdoor adventure and ropes instructors to spend their summer instructing our campers in Climbing Wall, High Ropes, Low Ropes, Outdoor Adventure and more. You will specialize in this activity, so you must have extensive knowledge of the area, however you work as a team! We’re looking for passionate, skilled individuals to be great roles models for our campers!
The Role:
You will serve a dual role as a counselor at Camp Danbee. Those roles include being cabin counselor and program instructor. As a cabin counselor, you and one to three other co-counselors will live in a cabin with 10-12 campers, whom you will supervise for the summer. As a program instructor, you will help prepare and lead instructional lessons in your dedicated program area.
Male instructors do not live in cabins with campers, and will have additional duties outside of program instructional time – you’re a valuable part of the camp family!
Working at camp is an opportunity to develop skills that can be used in a career outside of camp. You will enhance your leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills. Camp Danbee has a large leadership team to learn from, from multiple college Head Coaches to experienced professionals across the education, outdoor recreation, and sports industries.
We will work with your college/university to earn paid internship credits.
The Perks:
- Salary starts at $2300 for a Freshman in college and increases from there
- Travel allowance in addition to salary
- Room, board, and staff t-shirts
- Internship credit*
- Experience The Berkshires, meet people from all over the US and the world, and have the summer of a lifetime!
*Some educational institutions require prior approval before the start of an internship. It is the responsibility of the student to check with their institution to be sure they meet any requirements before they accept a position
