Painting jobs at summer camps are a perfect fit for working painters, art students, and educators who love sharing the magic of color, brush, and canvas with eager young artists. From traditional sleepaway camps offering daily painting electives to specialty fine arts residential camps with full studios, painting instructors get to spend the summer mentoring campers across watercolor, acrylic, oil, and mixed media throughout the season.
As a painting instructor at an overnight camp, you’ll teach color theory, brushwork, composition, and technique while supporting individual camper projects and running group prompts. You’ll manage studio supplies, easels, palettes, and ventilation while contributing to camp-wide gallery showcases. Many co-ed residential camps blend painting into broader fine arts programs alongside drawing, printmaking, and mixed media, giving multi-discipline instructors plenty of variety throughout the summer.
What does a painting instructor at summer camp do?
You’ll teach color, brushwork, composition, and technique across watercolor, acrylic, and oil while supporting individual projects. Most sleepaway camps with painting programs run daily studio time throughout the summer camp season.
What background works best for painting jobs at sleepaway camps?
Fine art, illustration, or art education degrees are ideal. Working painters, MFA students, and experienced art teachers all fit naturally at residential camps. Comfort with kids and a strong studio portfolio matter most.
What media do summer camps typically offer?
Watercolor and acrylic are most common; some specialty fine arts residential camps also offer oil painting and large-scale mural work. Media availability varies by camp ventilation and supply budget.
What does the pay look like for painting 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 painting usually combined with other arts roles?
Often yes. Many co-ed residential camps blend painting with drawing, printmaking, and mixed media. Multi-discipline fine art instructors are especially valued at sleepaway camps with deep visual arts offerings.
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!
Camp Med-o-lark is seeking Silk Painting artists to work at our one-of-a-kind arts camp for summer 2025.
Responsibilities include teaching up to 5 one-hour classes per day of approximately 5-10 campers. Our well-equipped silks studio provides campers unlimited creativity. Our silk painting counselors will explore the creative use of water-based resistant paint to create beautiful designs and colorful patterns to make wearable art. We encourage you to bring your own ideas!
Med-o-lark is a coed residential creative arts camp for ages 8-16 and specializes in visual and fine arts, performing arts, circus, music, culinary, digital media, waterfront, and more! Med-o-lark offers staff benefits including a competitive summer salary, free room and board, laundry, and ample time off. Staff have some evening responsibilities and may live in a cabin with campers. This is a summer job that can be a ton of fun, gives you the opportunity to meet others from all over the world (both counselor and camper), and allows you to teach what you love to do!
No matter what field you ultimately go into, a Med-o-lark summer will always be an asset on your resume. We’re always glad to provide letters of recommendation or reference describing the skills you’ve developed with us. As a Med-o-lark staff member, you will have a positive impact on campers’ summers. They look up to you, learn from your example, and leave camp at the end of summer with new skills and accomplishments because of your influence. It’s an enriching experience helping campers create, grow, achieve, and excel. Apply today!
