What Are Stage Design Jobs at Summer Camp?
Stage Design Jobs at Summer Camps
Stage design jobs at summer camps are a fantastic fit for working scenic designers, theater BFA and MFA students, and tech crew alumni who love mentoring kids through the visual world of live performance. From traditional sleepaway camps mounting weekly cabarets to specialty performing arts residential camps producing full musicals, stage designers shape how every camp production looks, feels, and lives on stage.
As a stage design instructor at an overnight camp, you’ll create scenic designs, work with directors and tech teams on builds, partner with lighting and costume staff on integrated production design, and often teach campers basic design concepts and stagecraft. You’ll manage drafting tools, models, and design software while supporting builds. Many co-ed residential camps run full design and production departments where scenic, lighting, and costume teams collaborate all summer long.
You’ll design sets and scenery, collaborate with directors and tech crews, and often teach campers basic stagecraft. Most sleepaway camps with theater programs mount multiple productions throughout the summer camp season.
Scenic design, theater BFA or MFA backgrounds, or working production design experience are ideal. Comfort with kids and across drafting and building phases matters most at residential camps with serious theater programs.
Specialty performing arts residential camps often maintain full scene shops with drafting boards, model materials, and design software. Traditional sleepaway camps may have smaller shops with shared tools. Equipment varies.
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.
Often yes. Many co-ed residential camps blend stage design with set construction, lighting, and costume programs. Multi-discipline tech theater pros are especially valued at sleepaway camps with strong performing arts offerings.
