Ten of the Best Summer Camps in America To Work At

The best summer camps to work at in the USA offer strong community, great locations, and a supportive environment where you can build confidence, skills, and lifelong friendships. Whether you’re looking for a high-energy social summer or a more outdoors-focused experience, the right camp comes down to finding the best fit for your personality and goals.

Working at a summer camp in the USA is more than just a job. It’s a chance to spend your summer outdoors, build real leadership skills, meet people from around the world, and be part of something genuinely meaningful.

Every year, thousands of students and graduates choose to work at summer camps across America. Some come for the travel, some for the experience, and many leave saying it was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made.

But with over 2,000 camps across the U.S., choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• How to choose the right camp for you
• 10 of the best summer camps to work at in America
• What actually makes a camp great for staff

What Makes a Summer Camp One of the Best to Work At?

Not all camps offer the same experience. The best summer camps stand out because of how they treat their staff, the environment they create, and the overall experience they deliver across the summer.

Strong Staff Community

At the best camps, staff quickly become like family. You’re living, working, and spending your downtime together, which creates strong bonds fast. Shared experiences—whether it’s leading activities, eating meals together, or unwinding after a long day—build connections that often last far beyond the summer.

This sense of community is often what people remember most. Many staff stay in touch for years, travel together after camp, or even return for multiple summers because of the relationships they’ve built.

Location and Environment

Location shapes your entire summer experience. Whether it’s swimming in lakes in Maine, hiking through forests in upstate New York, or waking up to mountain views in Colorado, your surroundings become part of your daily routine.

The best camps make the most of their environment, offering outdoor-focused lifestyles that feel completely different from a typical summer job. You’re not just working—you’re living in a place people usually travel to visit.

Variety of Activities

Top camps offer a wide mix of activities, including sports, arts, waterfront, and outdoor adventure. This keeps every day different and gives you the chance to try things you might never have done before.

As a staff member, you’re not limited to just one role. Many camps encourage you to get involved across multiple activities, helping you build confidence, develop new skills, and keep the experience fresh throughout the summer.

Support and Training

Great camps invest in their staff from day one. This usually starts with pre-camp orientation, where you’ll learn everything from activity planning to working with children and handling new situations.

Throughout the summer, strong leadership teams continue to provide guidance, feedback, and support. This makes a big difference, especially if it’s your first time working at a camp.

Pay and Perks

While working at a summer camp is about more than just money, the overall package makes it a highly accessible way to spend your summer.

Most camps provide:

• Accommodation
• Meals
• Salary
• Potential travel allowance

Because your main living costs are covered, many staff find they’re able to save money while also gaining experience, traveling, and building valuable skills.

10 of the Best Summer Camps in America to Work At

• Timber Lake Camp Co-ed Sleepaway Camp in Shandaken, New York

  

  Timber Lake Camp is located on a mountaintop surrounded by 500 acres in the Catskill Mountains of New York, about 2.5 hours from New York City. We are a traditional co-ed camp with two private, spring-fed lakes and an exceptional range of facilities on beautifully landscaped grounds. TLC is one of the most respected and spirited resident camps in the Northeast of the United States.

  Our objective is to educate children how to make and maintain friends while also developing their self-esteem, confidence, and resilience. The Timber Lake experience is designed to provide campers with the “edge” they need to excel in all aspects of their development as young adults and beyond. We have established a program on a foundation of safe and fun play in order to foster the kinds of growth that give every child the edge they need to reach their full pote…

  > more about Timber Lake Camp

• Camp Laurel Co-ed Overnight Camp in Readfield, Maine

  

  A parent’s decision to send their child to summer camp is a huge act of faith. At Camp Laurel, we take that obligation very seriously and uphold a setting that promotes safety, health, and a positive sense of self. We give campers chances to develop emotionally and physically, support their innate skills, and instill the advantages of community living. Our objective is to give our campers a fun and adventurous summer experience that inspires them to face life with courage, confidence, and a sense of self worth.

  Camp Laurel is located on 160 acres in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, 20 minutes west of Augusta, the state capital. The camp is situated on 9-mile-long Echo Lake, just beyond the village of Kents Hill.

  > more about Camp Laurel

• Camp Robin Hood Co-ed Summer Camp in Freedom, NH

  

  Set on 180 acres just minutes from New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, Camp Robin Hood is more than just an overnight summer camp—it is a tradition, a legacy, and a home. Since 1927, Robin Hood has provided an encouraging, inviting, and supportive summer environment for our campers. That environment is created in large part by our caring and attentive staff, composed almost entirely of young men and women who grew up as campers in the Robin Hood community. Understanding the enduring positive influence of the Robin Hood experience, our staff members return to camp each summer eager to provide that same experience for our next generation of campers.

  It is our responsibility to provide your child with a structured, supportive environment, in which they will develop lasting friendships, gain personal insight into the importance of mutual respe…

  > more about Camp Robin Hood

• Camp Starlight Brother/Sister Camp Sleepaway Camp in Starlight, Pennsylvania

  

  For over 75 years, campers, parents, and staff have described their unforgettable experiences and cherished memories at Camp Starlight using words that capture the essence of this premier summer camp. Located in Starlight, Pennsylvania, just two and a half hours northwest of New York City, Camp Starlight sits on a 385-acre brother/sister campus, featuring its own private lake and nestled within Pennsylvania’s “endless mountains.”

  At Camp Starlight, boys and girls participate in separate activities during the day, embracing the advantages of a single-gender camp while coming together as a family for meals and evening programs. The camp is renowned for its friendly atmosphere, dedicated staff, high-quality programs, and beautiful facilities.

  The camp offers a vibrant and structured sleepaway program with a wide range of activities, …

  > more about Camp Starlight

• Cheley Colorado Camps Rocky Mountain Summer Camp in Estes Park, Colorado

  

  Cheley Colorado Camps, nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Estes Park, Colorado, is internationally regarded as one of the top summer camps. Cheley, owned and operated by the same family since 1921, provides an unforgettable summer experience for boys and girls ages 9 to 17. Hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, technical climbing, whitewater rafting, sports, crafts, stand-up paddle boarding, and much more.

  Surrounded by natural beauty, time away from home and apart from family offers unique possibilities to develop the judgment, insight, and skills required for a happy and fulfilling life. And so that today’s youth can succeed in an ever-changing world.

  > more about Cheley Colorado Camps

• Camp Watitoh Co-ed Overnight Camp in Becket, Massachusetts

  

  What differentiates Watitoh from other camps is our size. We are a smaller camp so everyone knows each other. Campers and counselors alike feel like they are part of something more than a camp, they feel like a family. Since 1937, our warm, family-oriented, coed camp, nestled in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains on crystal-clear Center Lake, has provided a safe and supportive environment where each of our campers can live summer dreams and make them come true in their summer home.

  Every summer our remarkable campers are living the dream of a place where everyone belongs and everyone knows each other’s name.

  They are living the dream of lasting friendships and endless fun.

  They are living the dream of feeling included and secure with bunkmates, teammates, and campmates in a caring, coed community.

  They are living the dream of tryi…

  > more about Camp Watitoh

• Camp Horseshoe All Boys Summer Camp in Rhinelander, Wisconsin

  

  Camp Horseshoe is everything a boy could ever want out of summer AND so much more! Our dynamic program offers premier athletics, awesome outdoor adventure, exceptional water sports and extraordinary tripping programs. Add that to our never-ending line-up of innovative activities, creative evening programs, and unique special events, and you’ve got a summer camp experience beyond imagination! And it’s all run at an unsurpassed level of excellence by Owner/Directors Jordan and Fran Shiner and the incomparable Horseshoe staff. But these incredible activities are only the beginning. Our campers call the Horseshoe experience “amazing” “indescribable” and “the best place on earth.” We call it “The Heart of Horseshoe,” our philosophy of creating maximum fun and endless variety while promoting positive values and growth through meaningful accomplishment.

  > more about Camp Horseshoe

• Brant Lake Camp Boys Only Overnight Camp in Brant Lake, New York

  

  Brant Lake Camp, founded in 1916, is one of the oldest single-family owned camps in the country. At Brant Lake Camp, we have a thoughtful approach to caring for kids. We acknowledge that a boy’s needs change as he grows. This allows us to know each child’s personality, and recognize their strengths and needs. Brant Lake is home to boys who enjoy a summer stepped in sports, tradition and fun.

  At Brant Lake “Key Staff” is our name for the problem solvers. We are extremely proud of the quality, quantity, and longevity of our Key Staff members.

  Our Mini-Camp approach creates a small camp feel within a larger camp community, while also ensuring all programming and equipment is age-appropriate. Each Mini-Camp is designated…

  > more about Brant Lake Camp

• Lake Bryn Mawr Camp Girls Only Summer Camp in Honesdale, Pennsylvania

  

  Lake Bryn Mawr Camp, which was started over a century ago as a special, unique summer camp solely for girls, is more than just a location. It’s a place where a camper may feel completely free to be herself, where she can try new things with “summer sisters” who will support her learning from her failures and celebrate her victories, and where the focus is on her character rather than her appearance or her achievements.

  Bryn Mawr campers participate in activities including tennis, soccer, gymnastics, English riding, basketball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, dance, swimming, boating, waterskiing and arts and crafts. They challenge themselves on our ropes courses, perform in camp musicals and dance ensembles, and publish their own newspaper, The Poplar Post. We encourage our campers to learn to waterski, kayak, throw a pot, jump a three-f…

  > more about Lake Bryn Mawr Camp

• Camp Weequahic Boys Camp & Girls Camp Summer Camp in Lakewood, Pennsylvania

  

  Camp Weequahic was founded in 1953 by Art and Mollie Lustig. A member of the Weequahic High School staff in Newark, NJ, Mr. Lustig searched for the perfect place to start a summer camp. Our wonderful property by Sly Lake certainly fit the bill.

  From 1953 until the 2008 season, members of the Lustig family directed Weequahic. Known for its caring atmosphere, excellent facilities, creative activities and wonderful lake, Weequahic became a popular camp in the northeast.

  Cole and Kate Kelly took the torch so ably held by Lustig family in 2009. Having run private camps in the northeast for many years, they wanted to find a place with deep traditions where they could bring their years of experience and their family.

  > more about Camp Weequahic

Types of Summer Camps You Can Work At

Traditional Sleepaway Camps

These are the most common type of summer camp in the USA. Staff and campers live onsite for the full summer, creating a fully immersive, all-in experience.

Daily life is structured around activities, meals, and evening programs, with very little separation between “work” and “life.” This is what makes sleepaway camps so unique—you’re not clocking in and out, you’re part of a shared environment 24/7.

What to expect:

• Living in cabins with campers or nearby staff housing
• Long, active days with built-in breaks and downtime
• Strong sense of routine and community

Best for: Those who want the full camp experience, strong friendships, and a summer that feels completely different from everyday life

Specialty Camps

Specialty camps focus on specific interests or skill areas, attracting campers (and staff) who are passionate about a particular activity.

Common types include:

• Sports camps (soccer, basketball, tennis, etc.)
• Arts camps (music, theatre, dance, visual arts)
• STEM camps (coding, robotics, science)
• Outdoor adventure camps (hiking, climbing, watersports)

Because of this focus, staff roles can be more specialized, and you may spend more time coaching or teaching in your area of expertise.

What to expect:

• More structured programming around a specific skill
• Opportunities to deepen your own knowledge
• Working closely with campers who share your interests

Best for: People with a specific skill or passion they want to use and develop further

How to Choose the Right Summer Camp Job

Choosing the right camp is about fit, not just reputation. The “best” camp on paper won’t feel like the best if it doesn’t match your personality, energy, and what you want from your summer.

Ask Yourself:

Use these questions to narrow things down and get clarity before you apply:

• Do I prefer structure or flexibility?
  Some camps run on tight schedules, while others are more relaxed and adaptable.
• Do I enjoy sports, arts, or outdoor activities?
  Your day-to-day experience will revolve around these, so choose something you genuinely enjoy.
• Do I want a large or small camp?
  Bigger camps tend to be more social and high-energy. Smaller camps often feel more personal and close-knit.
• Do I want a highly social environment or a quieter, nature-focused one?
  Some camps are very high-energy with constant interaction, while others lean into calm, outdoor living.
• Am I open to trying new things?
  Camp is often about stepping outside your comfort zone—this can shape which environment suits you best.

Match Your Strengths

The best experience comes when your role aligns with what you’re naturally good at—or at least excited to try.

You don’t need to be an expert. Camps are often looking for people who are:

• Positive and energetic
• Willing to learn
• Good with people
• Open to getting involved

If you have specific skills (like coaching, lifeguarding, or teaching an activity), you can lean into those. But just as important is your attitude and willingness to show up every day.

Think About the Experience You Want

Instead of asking “What’s the best camp?”, ask:

• Do I want a summer that feels social and high-energy?
• Do I want to spend most of my time outdoors?
• Do I want to build leadership skills or just try something new?

Your answers will guide you toward the right type of camp—and ultimately a better experience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing based only on location (the experience matters more than the map)
• Following friends instead of your own preferences
• Assuming you need experience (you don’t for many roles)
• Picking a camp that doesn’t match your energy level

Taking the time to think this through upfront makes a huge difference. When you find the right fit, the experience feels natural—and that’s when camp becomes something you genuinely enjoy, not just a job.

Why Work at a Summer Camp in the USA?

Working at a summer camp gives you far more than just a summer job—it’s an experience that builds skills, confidence, and perspective in a way few other roles can.

Real Leadership and Communication Skills

At camp, you’re constantly interacting with campers, co-counselors, and leadership teams. You learn how to:

• Communicate clearly and confidently
• Manage group dynamics
• Handle challenges and problem-solve in real time

These are practical, real-world skills that translate directly into future jobs and careers.

A Fully Outdoor, Active Lifestyle

Instead of sitting at a desk or working indoors, your days are spent outside—running activities, exploring nature, and staying active.

For many people, this is a complete reset from university or office life, and one of the most refreshing parts of the experience.

Global Friendships and Community

Summer camps bring together staff from across the U.S. and around the world. You’ll meet people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives—all while sharing the same experience.

These friendships often become long-term, with many staff traveling together after camp or staying connected for years.

Travel Opportunities

For international staff especially, working at a summer camp is a gateway to exploring the United States.

Even for domestic staff, camp often introduces you to new parts of the country you wouldn’t normally visit, and gives you the flexibility to travel before or after the season.

Meaningful Impact

One of the most unique parts of working at a camp is the impact you have on campers. You’re not just supervising—you’re mentoring, encouraging, and helping shape their experience.

Small moments—helping a camper try something new, build confidence, or feel included—can have a lasting effect.

Personal Growth You Notice Quickly

Because camp is immersive and fast-paced, growth happens quickly. By the end of the summer, many staff feel more:

• Confident
• Independent
• Adaptable
• Comfortable in leadership roles

For many people, it becomes one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences they’ve ever had—not just because of what they did, but because of who they became during the process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Working at Summer Camps

Ready to Find a Camp?

The best summer camp to work at isn’t just about reputation—it’s about finding the right fit for you.

If you’re looking for a summer that’s active, social, and genuinely rewarding, working at a camp in the USA is one of the best ways to spend it.

Take the time to explore your options, think about what you want from the experience, and choose a camp where you can make the most of your summer.