OVERVIEW

Culver offers two six-week, all activity Summer Schools & Camps for boys and girls that run concurrently in a leadership, military framework. Culver's camping programs are the largest in the nation and involve approximately 1,350 boys and girls.

The Upper Campers, ages 13-17, live on the main campus in the residence halls of The Academies. The Woodcraft Campers have a separate adjacent 250-acre campus and live in sturdy A-Frame cabins. Both programs provide young people the opportunity to experience a fun and exciting summer in a wholesome environment.

Most jobs in both programs involve counseling duties, while there are a few positions, which involve instruction only. The majority of college-age positions are found in the Woodcraft Camp with the 9-13 age group.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT CULVER

Despite the demands and expectations of the job, as listed above, there are many rewards to be attained. Perhaps the most satisfying is a feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment that comes with completing a challenging task and from making a positive impact helping children learn and develop.

Feedback from staff tells us that counselor's gain as much from the Culver summer experience as the campers themselves. Some of the reasons given for working at Culver range from the opportunity to be outdoors in a beautiful environment, to establishing lasting friendships, to the making of decisions that affect the welfare of others, to preparation for teaching and parenthood.

COUNSELING

As a counselor you not only have a job to do, but the responsibility for the safety, well being and progress of the campers in your charge. In the Woodcraft Camp, counselors are expected to live in a cabin with 10-12 youngsters and be responsible for their overall activities. In the Upper Camps, counselors are responsible for a group of youngsters living in a residence hall environment. Our Summer Schools & Camps operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day during the six-week period. Working at Culver is not a vacation! It can be very strenuous; physically, mentally and emotionally and demands a healthy, stable person to meet the challenge.

Counseling is a job that demands great patience. A counselor is one who expresses feeling appropriately, who establishes rapport easily, and who administers discipline with respect. A counselor is a person who sets the proper example and is a positive role model at all times.

The daily schedule and life-style is a hectic one and far different from the environment and lifestyle that you might be used to in your winter experience. As a counselor you will be pulled in many directions and thus need to come with the idea of dedicating yourself to the campers and to the program that Culver has in place.

COUNSELING DUTIES

1. Housekeeping – includes conducting cabin or residence hall room inspections

2. Keeping and posting records on campers

3. Maintaining good relations with parents

4. Developing leadership – enthusiasm and personal example are most important

5. Teaching classes during activity periods

6. Coaching teams within unit or residence hall

7. Learning responsibilities of duty officer or officer-in-charge

8. Responsibility for cleanliness, health, and safety of campers

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

The monetary rewards that come with summer employment are significant. However, the "benefits" at Culver are much more than just monetary and are there for the taking for those who make the best of the Culver experience.

All salaries will vary with experience and level of education. Employment by agreement is for seven weeks – one week of orientation and six weeks of camp.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

In addition to a salary there are other important benefits gained when employed at Culver. The following is a partial listing of these benefits.

1. Room and board in residence halls or cabins, plus all meals in the camp dining hall

2. Married staff with families are housed in the Academy motel. Meals for family members are provided in the Academy dining hall at nominal cost

3. Children of staff may attend Culver Summer Schools & Camps at a minimal cost

4. Camp uniforms for daily wear- includes sport shirts and shorts

5. Free laundry and dry cleaning on a weekly basis for all camp related items

6. Free medical diagnosis and consultation with staff nurses and doctors for normal camp illness and injury. Pre-existing illnesses or accidents unconnected or not arising from staff duties would not be covered. If expenses are due to a accident on the job, the medical expenses are covered by the camp's workman's compensation policy

7. All staff members are encouraged to utilize Culver's beautiful 1500 acre campus and many excellent facilities. These include:

a. Nine-hole golf course
b. 16 tennis courts
c. Outdoor and indoor basketball courts
d. A year round ice arena plus multi-purpose arena
e. Recreation complex that includes: pool, diving tank, basketball courts, volleyball courts, indoor track and tennis courts, handball and racquetball courts, weight room, gymnastics room, fencing room, wrestling room and trainers office and equipment
f. Stables and riding hall (generally for riding staff only)
g. Sailing fleet of 120 boats including the largest three-masted schooner on the inland waters of the United States (used only as authorized by director of boating and skiing in each camp)
h. A fleet of 10 competition ski boats (used only as authorized by director of boating and skiing in each camp)
i. Eppley Auditorium and Theater for campus movies and theatrical productions
j. Outdoor track
k. 11 intramural fields
l. Campus and surrounding country side for jogging and cycling
m. All facilities are within walking distance, as is the town of Culver, however many staff will bring cars or bicycles

FINAL THOUGHTS

In closing, it should again be emphasized that a Culver summer job is one of hard work, commitment, and challenge but one that can be extremely rewarding in many ways. It is well documented that success and good fortune will not come in the same manner for all counselors and instructors. The idea that "you can make a difference" has long been a Culver objective and the attitudes and energy that you use in making a positive difference will have a direct effect on the benefits you personally gain. It is our hope that after reading this material you will understand what we feel are the benefits of working in Culver's Summer Schools & Camps, as well as the commitment and dedication that is needed.

DIRECTIONS TO CULVER Summer Schools & Camps