Prestigious nature-based, overnight camp and leadership expedition program for youth in midcoast Maine
Chewonki is a school, camp and environmental education organization based in Wiscasset, Maine, that inspires transformative growth, teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural world, and challenges people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives. Chewonki is a 501(c) non-profit organization.
Wiscasset Maine
About Chewonki Foundation
Camp Chewonki offers campers a place to laugh, learn, and explore. We teach children of all genders in 2nd to 11th grade to connect with the natural world, make deep connections to a new community of friends, and develop skills and strength within themselves.
Our overnight campers (2nd - 8th grade) immerse themselves in fun and educational activities focused on community building, outdoor living skills, natural history, farm and food systems, and watercraft. Additional activities include visual arts, performing arts, woodworking, and archery with opportunities for swimming, sports, and recreation during free time. Our campers participating in Leadership Expeditions (9th-11th grade) explore the state of Maine and beyond on multi-week backcountry expeditions.
Come experience the magic of camp and discover what’s inside of you!
The Employee Experience
At Chewonki, we hire roughly 100 seasonal camp staff and serve approximately 175 campers per session. We run two 3-week sessions for campers in grades 4-8, and offer more, shorter sessions for our youngest campers in 2nd and 3rd grade. Once campers graduate 8th grade, they move on to Leadership Expeditions and spend their session on backcountry expeditions, rather than at camp.
As camp staff, we have the opportunity to shape the camp experience for campers and to create lifelong friendships with other staff. Staff spend the summer on over 400 beautiful acres in mid-coast Maine, while Cabin Counselors get the opportunity to go on backcountry trips with their campers, taking them all over the state.
We have a large, experienced leadership team, including mental health staff, and fully recognize that staff wellbeing is directly linked to positive camper experience. We care about each staff member as a unique individual and are committed to providing support at all levels.
Ideal Candidate
Camp Chewonki staff are kind, empathetic, thoughtful, and fun adults who are responsible for caring for all aspects of the well-being of all of our campers. Staff help campers adjust to camp life, develop community with their cabinmates, navigate the daily schedule, and develop the skills to be successful anywhere.
Ideal candidates will have a passion for working with children, spending time in the outdoors, and a dedication to lifelong learning.
Room and Board
Room and board are included for all camp staff. Cabin Counselors reside in cabins with the campers; non-cabin staff live with other staff. Cabins are a short walk away from communal bath houses and showers. Coordinators and Heads have private bedrooms with shared bathrooms.
The food at camp is prepared each meal by our year round kitchen team, so we can accommodate most dietary requirements. Our kitchen partners with our farm, meaning much of our food is grown on site or in the local area; you can expect meals to be fresh and well-balanced. We eat buffet-style so each person has control of what's on their plate.
Employee Perks
We offer a competitive salary package (one of the highest in the camp industry) and include housing, meals, wifi, laundry service, two Chewonki shirts, travel stipend, access to camp facilities during time off (with director approval), and organized, optional staff activities during time off.
Camp Chewonki will also pay for any certification required for your role, and if you hold a job-required certification prior to employment at Chewonki, you'll receive a bonus!
Getting Here and Getting Around
Many staff choose to drive to camp and if that's the case for you, you can park your car on site for the summer. If you choose to come by bus, plane, or train, we can pick you up in Portland, the nearest major city. Portland is about 40 minutes from camp.
We always schedule several staff to be off at the same time, so if you are looking to get off-campus during your time off and don't have your own vehicle, you'll be able to car-pool with other staff.
For Fun
When on camp property, it can feel like the rest of the world is a million miles away, but in reality we are less than 10 miles from the center of the town of Wiscasset. Wiscasset is a large town with several stores, a community pool, several restaurants and coffee shops, and plenty of other amenities. We are 40 minutes from the city of Portland and 2 hours from Boston.
Roughly 3 hours north of camp, you'll find Acadia National Park and Mount Katahdin, (Baxter Peak on Mount Katahdin is the northern terminus of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail). Many staff visit Acadia during our intersession break.
How to Apply
Candidates should submit applications through the link provided, and can expect to hear from one of the directors within one week of submitting an application.