Chippewa Ranch Camp
Chippewa Ranch Camp
Currently recruiting for the season from May 18th, 2026 to August 6th, 2026.
Chippewa Ranch Camp is an all girls residential summer camp located in Eagle River, WI. We are a traditional overnight camp that has been around for over 70 years. We are a camp that is focused on building friendships, independence and kindness. Through our wide offering of activities and incredible staff, we are able to help our campers grow into strong, confident and compassionate young women.
Spend your summer in the Northwoods of Wisconsin on the beautiful Dam Lake- in Eagle River, WI.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 100
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Cabin Housing
- Family housing available
- Yes
- Single occupancy housing available
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- Yes
- Meals
- Provided
- Cell phone service
- Yes, most carriers
- Internet access
- Good
About Chippewa Ranch Camp
Chippewa Ranch Camp is home to 200 campers and over 100 staff members each summer. Our campers come from all over the United States and our staff from all over the world. With a focus on friendship building and helping campers grow into kind and independent young women, Chippewa is truly an environment for campers and staff to be the best versions of themselves. We are located on a big lake, and offer a wide variety of activities including horseback riding, water skiing, a 50 foot climbing wall with a zipline, a high ropes course, archery, landsports and the arts. We provide a safe atmosphere for our campers to try new things and take risks to help them develop social, emotional and physical skills. Chippewa gives both campers and counselors an opportunity to gain leadership skills, make new friends and spend summers in the outdoors. Campers and staff return summer after summer to spend time with their camp family, to create unparalleled memories and to continue growing at this amazing place!
The Employee Experience
Looking for a challenging yet rewarding summer job where your work truly matters?
At Chippewa, we have high expectations of our staff and we put in a lot of time and effort into selecting them. The staff is comprised of about 75 counselors and 30 out of cabin staff who range in age from sixteen to sixty six. Staff members come from all over the world, and while they each bring unique experiences, they share the common mission of providing our campers with a fun and safe summer. Being a counselor at Chippewa is an extraordinary opportunity to improve your personal and professional skills, make great friends, all while having a great time in a beautiful setting. You will be challenged daily as you help campers be safe, learn new skills, and become better people.
Ideal Candidate
Chippewa is looking to hire incredible staff members who are not only good people but also truly enjoy working with kids. Staff members who succeed best at Chippewa are flexible and resilient, self starters who collaborate well with others and posses positive energy and enthusiasm. For individuals who are looking to add value to their summers while enhancing the lives of children, this is the job for you!
Room and Board
All staff live in cabins- each with unique characteristics. Each cabin has an attached bathroom, a fantastic view and bunkbeds.
For nurses, lodging is provided in our newly renovated health center- private bedrooms, bathrooms, air-conditioning and a kitchen are all a part of this health center.
Three meals will be provided daily in our Lodge. The food is served family style and the entire camp eats together. We provide a number of options at each meal and our food is both delicious and healthy.
Employee Perks
Our salaries are quite competitive and include room, board and a travel stipend.
Each staff member gets one day off each week in addition to two nights and a morning off each week. We have wireless internet in our newly renovated staff lounge which is a comfortable area for our staff to relax and hang out. We encourage our staff to participate in our daily activities with campers when they have free time and to try something new while they are at camp!
Getting Here and Getting Around
We are located in Eagle River, WI (part of the beautiful Northwoods).
We provide a travel stipend for our staff to get to and from camp. Once at camp, we have available transportation for our staff on their time off.
For Fun
In addition to participating in the many activities camp has to offer, we are in between two very cute towns (Eagle River and Minocqua). Both have movie theaters, restaurants, a bowling alley and a bit of shopping. We are also minutes away from a beautiful bike/running path which staff often enjoy using.
Current Job Openings
Wilderness Trip Leader
Wilderness Trip Leaders guide rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, sea kayaking and other tent trips throughout the summer.
Wilderness Trip Leader responsibilities include:
• Arrange the logistics, routes, and equipment for each trip.
• Oversee all risk assessment and safety components prior to and during the trip.
• Provide basic maintenance of camping equipment.
• Assist in other areas of the camp program when needed.
Preferred Experience: Applicants should have experience and interest in camping and working with children. Wilderness Trip Leaders should be level-headed, responsible, and safety-minded. All applicants must be at least 21 years old, hold a current driver’s license, and have a good driving record. We provide WFR, LGT and CPR training.
Compensation: Wilderness Trip Leaders must be available from June 5th - August 6th, 2026. Start date depends on need for WFR certification. The WFR course will begin around May 18th, 2018. Salaries are very competitive with other camps and based on the individual applicant’s experience. Compensation packages include room & board plus a travel stipend. Additional salary bonuses are available for additional weeks worked either before or after the camping season.
How to Apply: For more information about Chippewa Ranch Camp and to find an online application, please visit www.chippewaranchcamp.com. Questions, applications, letters of interest, and/or resumes can be emailed to sari@chippewaranchcamp.com.
Horseback Riding Instructor
Horseback riding is one of the most popular activities and is a big part of Chippewa’s history. The program gives campers the opportunity for more than just a pony ride. We have some campers who are brand new to the riding experience and others who are confident in their riding skills including jumping. We run both an English and Western style program with all beginner campers learning with a Western saddle. Campers who are signed up for the program ride every other day and spend their time both in and out of the saddle learning about horse care and stable management. Campers go on trail rides, learn skill-work in the ring and spend time in the stables learning about horses and their care. Beyond simply loving the horses, campers are empowered by trying something that may be new and a bit scary, and always leave more confident than before. We run a very safe, structured and fun program for the Chippewa camp community. We are looking to hire a horseback riding instructor to help run and implement our horseback riding program and care for the horses.
Dates: May 29-August 20 (flexible on both ends)
Competitive Salary + Room, Board & Travel Stipend
Rock Climbing Instructor
We are looking for staff members to work on our high ropes course and climbing wall. The ropes course has eight elements and is 40 feet in the air. Our climbing wall is 50 feet high with four sides. There is a zipline at the top as well. It is a very popular activity and we are looking for instructors with experience instructing or climbing themselves. Knowledge and experience with belaying, tying knots, fitting harnesses and helmets is preferred. A one week training will be provided for the entire climbing/ropes course staff to review/practice skills and align procedures and policies on Chippewa's equipment.
Dates: May 29, 2026 - August 6, 2026
Camp Nurse
We are looking for a nurse who is interested in being a part of our staff team. We intend to hire a healthcare team of four (two RNs and two CNAs) who will work together to provide health-care to our campers and staff. Pay is extremely competitive, travel expenses are included, and lodging is provided in our newly renovated health center. There is an opportunity for nurses to participate in camp activities when they wish. Past nurses have found this to be an extremely rewarding job- it requires a lot of hard-work and flexibility, but with these qualities, it will be an amazing experience. We are looking to hire caring and flexible nurses who are passionate about working with children and keeping our camp community healthy.
How to Apply
Please apply online.
For more information, please check out our website. Questions, applications, letters of interest, and/or resumes can be emailed to sari@chippewaranchcamp.com.
Contact Info
- Sari Hirsch
- sari@chippewaranchcamp.com
- www.chippewaranchcamp.com
