Pinecrest Lake Overnight Camp
Pinecrest Lake Overnight Camp
Currently recruiting for the season from June 26th, 2026 to August 8th, 2026.
We offer a traditional co-ed sleepaway camp for kids ages 7–13. Campers enjoy “challenge by choice” activities, including sports, kayaking, horseback riding, and so much more on Pinecrest Lake. The staff tend to form great connections with campers and with one another! This is the hardest job you’ll ever love—and the one that will shape you the most.
Set a few minute walk from Pinecrest Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains, our camp offers staff the chance to live and work in an incredible natural setting while making a real impact on kids’ lives. Days are spent outdoors on the lake, in the forest, and on the fields leading activities, building community, and helping campers grow in confidence and independence.
- Location
- California
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 40
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Cabin counselors live with campers in a one room cabin. Kitchen staff members live in a cabin with 2-3 other kitchen staff. Bathrooms for both positions are located in a common bath house with flush toilets and warm showers. Meals are served 3 time a day in a large dining hall.
- Family housing available
- No
- Single occupancy housing available
- No
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- Provided
- Cell phone service
- Some, ask for details
- Internet access
- Intermittent
About Pinecrest Lake Overnight Camp
If you love being outside, hanging with kids, and having the kind of job where every day is different, this might be your dream summer role! Our overnight camp is all about unplugging from screens, jumping into adventure, and making memories that last way beyond summer.
As a Cabin Counselor, you’ll team up with a co-counselor to lead a cabin of 11 awesome campers. Your days will be packed with sports, games, crafts, laughs, and lots of camp energy. You’ll take your cabin kayaking on the lake, head out for horseback rides, and cheer everyone on through each one-week session.
This job is about being present, having fun, and showing up as your real self. You’ll help create a space where campers feel safe, included, and confident while building friendships, leadership skills, and stories you’ll be telling forever.
We hire staff from all over the world and across California, creating a fun, welcoming camp community you’ll be proud to be part of.
The Employee Experience
Many of our staff want to return for future Summers! We believe this is a great sign that folks are having positive experiences! We hear often that staff stay in touch with one another throughout the year!
Our vibe is that Camp Directors try to get admin work done late at night and early in the morning so that we can be around to support playing, creating and being a part of camp. We want to be a resource to counselors and our staff.
Staff will get awesome leadership opportunities and if you love kids this is the place for you! The days are long but rewarding! We truly believe you will learn more at camp then in an internship behind a desk.
The best take away of summer spent on Pinecrest Lake for folks on staff is that if you can let your shield come down and treat others with kindness and respect while engaging kiddos, you will have an AMAZING Summer!
On time off, employees have beautiful hiking trails and lakes at their finger tips!
Ideal Candidate
We’re looking for someone who loves working with kids, thrives outdoors, and isn’t afraid to jump into games and camp fun. Our ideal counselor stays even-keeled during long, busy days and leads with kindness, patience, and positivity especially when things get challenging.
Most importantly they treat campers and staff with kindness and respect!
Room and Board
We offer room and board throughout your stay at camp.
Staff sleep in cabins with their kiddos. It's a cozy one room cabin with bunkbeds (13 beds per cabin). The bathhouse is a short walk from each cabin with flush toilets and warm showers.
Nutritious meals are served 3 times a day in the dining hall. We have a professional chef and kitchen team on site. Breakfast may be something like pancakes with syrup but we always have fresh fruit, oatmeal, bagels, yogurt. Lunch and Dinner could be something like Pizza but we have a salad bar. We are able to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Employee Perks
Extra compensation is available as an 18+ bus chaperone. We pay $125 per trip so you can make $250 on a weekend to go down to the bay area and back. We also provide a food stipend and hotel on this night.
Additional compensation is provided to those who get their lifeguard cert, archery cert or WFA.
Down the road from camp within walking distance there is a general store, ice cream shop and restaurant.
We provide late night snacks to staff!
Getting Here and Getting Around
We can arrange initial transport from an airport. It may involve a night or two stay in San Jose before heading up to camp for the Summer. Cars are allowed for staff who are spending their whole Summer on site. If you bring your own vehicle up you are welcome to bring a bike.
For Fun
During time off you are in one of the best places in the world to explore nature!
There are beautiful hikes and lakes at your fingertips. Awesome running and biking trails! The stars at night shine bright!
On days off staff tend to hike, snag soft serve and fries by the lake, or go into town for some shopping excursions.
How to Apply
You can apply on our website below. We are also happy to do an interview pre-application if you send us over a cover letter! Once we get the letter or your applications we will schedule a zoom interview. We then give both side a 3-5 day window to think about if it's sounding good and then do another zoom interview. From there, we check references and send over a contract!
Contact Info
- Dave Barth
- dave@runforfuncamps.com
- (650) 823-5167
- www.runforfuncamps.com
