While the other areas of this site introduce you to Lochearn's programs, facilities,
and environment, this page will focus on your role as a staff member. We hope it will
help you to decide if Lochearn is, or is not, for you.
Lochearn selects its staff for their love of children, proficiency in camp activities, high moral character
and a sense of order. This is because Lochearn exists for kids, and your reason for being at Lochearn is
to act as parent, teacher, coach, counselor, role model, leader and friend to each girl with whom you come
into contact.
That means, to a degree, that your adult world is left outside the gate, and you are suddenly surrounded
by campers -- each with distinct needs, interests, talents, and possibly, even annoying hang-ups. Lochearn
can be the most exhilarating, fun and rewarding experience you have ever had -- or one that seems too confining,
challenging or demanding.
We offer the following observations to help you decide whether you want to begin the application process.
The information in this page provides the foundation for the interview process. Please read this page carefully
and be prepared to speak to its content during your interview.
Lochearn offers a world of fun and recreation for girls between the ages of 7 and 16. The camp abounds with
activity, song, laughter, tradition and a wealth of opportunity for campers to learn new skills and develop
into positive constructive and contributing persons. Our campers' parents view Lochearn as an integral
part of their daughters' education and development. Underlying all the joy and merriment that shapes each
day at Lochearn is a commitment from directors and staff to foster values of cooperation, respect and responsibility.
We believe that the opportunity to enhance a child's social and moral growth is inherent in her everyday
social interactions. Staff are trained to recognize and appropriately respond to the many "teachable
moments" occurring throughout the day with children in various activities and cabin groups. Whether
waiting in line at the camp store, sitting around the breakfast table, or participating in a soccer scrimmage,
numerous occasions exist to help children learn the values and habits of kindness, consideration, and fairness.
In the following guide, you will learn about your prospective role as a cabin counselor, activity instructor
and team member. You will read about Lochearn's Code of Conduct and Camp Motto. All of these are natural
expressions of Lochearn's commitment to character education. Lochearn offers a valuable educational experience
in which campers learn fundamental skills in over thirty activities and practice the spirit of good citizenship
and democratic participation. Each summer Lochearn creates a community based on goodness, one that encourages
the very best from the campers and staff who come together from around the world to make up our summer community.
If you value the opportunity to work with children in a professional learning environment, you will find
that Lochearn reaches beyond the purposes of most summer camps by focusing on the sound establishment of
positive values and behaviors. Lochearn offers you the opportunity to learn direct and specific approaches
to character education, which help guide children and staff toward meaningful choices and successful futures.
To be honest, to be kind, to seek a deeper understanding of the 
beauty about us. To make the whole camp happier for our being here To make and keep friends, but to do so
without surrendering our ideals, and above all to keep friends with ourselves To grow to have more courage
and self-confidence, and take home an open mind and a kind and caring heart.
As a cabin counselor, you will live closely with between four and eight campers, and possibly with another
counselor or junior counselor. The girls in your cabin will be your immediate family, with all the responsibilities,
joys, and frustrations this implies.
The quality of each camper's cabin life largely affects her degree of happiness at camp. We hire counselors
who are warm, caring, and patient and who genuinely want to be with their campers. Counselors with these
qualities tend to generate security and harmony among their campers.
You will have many responsibilities which center around your campers' daily lives, including supervising
cabin clean-up, helping to sort laundry, setting tables in the dining room, and readying your cabin for bedtime
and lights out. You may deal with homesickness, campers' triumphs, family upheavals, personal slights; you
will encourage friendships and you will mediate disputes. You will help your campers to develop a cabin contract
that serves as a guide for the way each cabin lives together. Each camper has equal input into its content
and equal responsibility for its maintenance. Most importantly, all your decisions and actions, as well as
those of your campers, must contribute to the safety, well-being, and fulfillment of all the campers under
your care.
As an activity instructor, you will focus on teaching activity skills to children, enabling each girl to
derive the maximum benefits from her class time with you. The most important quality you can bring to your
teaching is a sincere concern for the welfare and positive development of the children in your class. There
is little to no opportunity to invest in the further development of your own activity skills. Your job
at Lochearn is to impart your knowledge to help the children in your class acquire a good foundation of
skills. We expect that you will work consistently to develop your teaching skills and to be enthusiastic
and creative in your teaching. Over the years, the most outstanding activity instructors have been those
who consistently communicate in positive ways with campers, who know the children in their classes on a
personal level, who energize the class, and design innovative activities to teach and refine the basic
skills, and who relate openly and directly to the campers, using the activity as a medium to strengthen
each girl's self-esteem.
You will teach approximately four hours each day under the supervision and guidance
of an activity head and teaching consultant. Consultants have extensive experience
teaching a variety of skills, and they work closely with you to ensure the delivery of
well-crafted and meaningful lesson plans. They support counselors' work in organizing
and presenting lesson plans that are fun, exciting, safe, and involving. The teaching
consultants help you to develop lesson plans that serve campers well and that are designed
to provide flexibility for each girl's individual development.
Not at all! Lochearn recognizes that
each counselor is at a different stage of professional development. Our mission is to work with you as a
developing professional to increase your confidence and to help you gain experience. While it is important
to have strong skills in your particular activity, we will help you to become proficient as a teacher. Staff
who come to Lochearn with no teaching experience but with a determination to learn and a willingness to work
with the systems in place, can make enormous progress as a teacher. We are more interested in dedication
than in prior teaching experience.
In keeping with Lochearn's overall educational philosophy, the design and implementation of lesson
plans for each activity area has become an integral part of our teaching method. This is what distinguishes
Lochearn from many camps. During pre-camp orientation, a great deal of attention goes into planning the classes.
All the instructors who teach a common activity work together to plan a cycle of twelve classes, which cover
four weeks. If there are different levels within an activity, each requires a separate plan. It is not uncommon
for counselors to revise their plans two or three times before a session ends, in order to present the most
effective teaching and ensure the best opportunity for camper achievement. You will receive a tremendous
amount of support during this process, and you will draw from resource notebooks with successful lesson plans
from previous years. During orientation, you will also observe teaching demonstrations, participate in teaching
clinics and practice teach in your chosen activity area. You will grow together as a team as you learn from
each other's experiences, teaching styles, and talents.
In order for a family as large and as active as Lochearn to function smoothly, and in order for each girl
to gain the satisfaction of developing constructive habits, each day evolves around structure. While flexibility
is built into the program, and much of each girl's schedule is based on her own individual interests, most
of the day follows the clock -- when to get up, when to clean the cabin, when to go to meals and activities.
And it is you, the staff member, starting from the very first day, who is the expert, the leader, the example,
the enforcer of these schedules and procedures. Your commitment to these responsibilities is essential.
- Oversee cabin clean-up
- Participate in weekly division cookouts and cabin
nights
- Contribute to twice-weekly campfires ยท Help out with
evening programs and special events
- Lead camp songs and tell stories
- Organize and run morning assemblies
- Be in charge of a table of six girls in the dining
room
- Serve as Counselor of the Day (COD) on a rotating
basis
- Be on patrol from 9:55pm to 12:30am at least once a
week
- Serve as standard bearer for all traditions that have
been so much a part of Lochearn from over 90 years
- Conduct conferences with each of your campers and
document your campers' adjustment to camp
- Keep track of each camper's progress in her
activities, recording levels achieved and awards earned
- Write a progress report home to each of your campers' parents once each session
The previous list is not all-inclusive yet serves to illustrate some of your specific responsibilities as
a professional children's educator. You will serve as a member of a close-knit community and an interdependent
team. As such, it is essential that you uphold the standards of Lochearn and strive to support one another
for the welfare of the children and the community at large.
Serving on patrol with a co-staff member ensures that our campers may rest securely and that other staff
may enjoy time off in the evening. Two counselors patrol each living area (Junior, Sub-senior, and Senior
Line) as well as the main entrance to camp, each night beginning at 9:55pm to maintain general security.
Patrol is also on hand should campers require settling down, need to go to the bathrooms, or have any sort
of personal emergency. Patrol is also responsible for checking in those staff members who have been away
from their cabins for the evening.
There is a person from the Management Team on duty each evening along with the Counselor of the Day (COD).
These people offer patrol members continuous support and guidance.
Rather than the management of each summer being the exclusive responsibility of the Directors, Lochearn is
governed by a management team made up of the Directors along with senior staff members from key areas of
camp. The major functions of cabin life, teaching, leadership training and evening program/special events
are all represented. This means that you will have a lot of contact with and support from all members of
the management team who will engage with you throughout each day as you handle your various roles at camp.
The management team is charged with assuring that all staff adhere to a high level of safety and care as
well as abide by Lochearn's policies, procedures, and Code of Conduct. The Management Team meets
regularly to facilitate the operations of Lochearn Camp and provide leadership, supervision, and support
to Lochearn's campers and staff. All staff are welcome to contribute to the weekly agenda which covers
such matters as logistics, camper concerns, staff issues, standards and performance.
Management Team meet regularly to facilitate the operations of Lochearn Camp and provide leadership,supervision,
and support to Lochearn's campers and staff. All staff are welcome to contribute to the weekly agenda which
covers such matters as: logistics, camper concerns, staff issues, standards and performance.
On a rotating basis throughout the summer, each staff member serves as Counselor of the Day (COD). The COD
works with the Management Team to assure that camp runs smoothly and that the many scheduled activities
such as flag, meal times, morning assembly, etc., are conducted according to procedure and on time. COD
also ascertains that staff have picked up the camp at the end of each day, and that all staff have returned
from their days or evenings off by curfew. Your day as COD is very full and exciting. It enables you to
understand, on a deeper level, the multitude of schedules, activities and exchanges that contribute to
a successful day at Lochearn. Serving as COD allows you to exercise leadership in a constructive and meaningful
way.
Lochearn, established in 1916, has many customs and traditions that campers and staff look forward to each
year. While some traditions drop away from season to season, and fresh ideas are always invited, your first
responsibility is to understand and support each custom or tradition and to convey this understanding and
support to all campers. For instance, just prior to breakfast, staff and campers line up for flag raising
and the Pledge of Allegiance. While not being unduly patriotic, we find this custom unifying and an orderly
way to start the day. As a leader and example, you would be expected to get your cabin group to flag raising
on time, to see that they are in line and quiet during this short exercise, and to repeat with them the
Pledge of Allegiance. As another example, while campers and staff enjoy wearing casual and comfortable
clothes during the week, it is the tradition for dinner on Sundays and for a special campfire following
that all campers and staff wear the "Lochearn dress" of blue shorts, a white shirt, plaid sash,
and blue knee socks. We find that the formality of dress, the quieter dinner hour, and the reverence of
Sunday's campfire provide a unifying experience among campers and staff. Your role, in this instance, is
to assure that you and all campers wear the Lochearn dress properly and appreciate the intent and spirit
of this custom.
Key ingredients such as traditions, the camp motto, camper loyalty, a commitment to cooperation, staff cohesion
and the following Code of Conduct all help us create a true sense of community.
When you read through Lochearn's Code of Conduct please assess if it is consistent with your own values.
During the course of the season, it is crucial that you consistently live by the standards presented here
as they form the basis of our living and working relationship.
Rich and Ginny Maxson are the Owners and Directors. They have directed Lochearn Camp and have worked with
children in other capacities for many years. They are involved year-round in every aspect of daily life
at Lochearn. They have three children, Holly, Jennifer, and Gregory. Rich has spent his career in youth
work, juvenile justice, camping and community development programs. Ginny has extensive experience in counseling,
corporate training and team building. They are both educators holding post-graduate degrees in law, counseling
and character education. They are qualified to supervise staff summer internships. Rich and Ginny enjoy
working closely with staff toward the fulfillment of a positive moral culture committed to the values of
kindness, cooperation, and mutual respect.
Although Lochearn serves plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs and pastries, the food is, somewhat,
institutional and we cannot cater to individual demands. However, we do offer a vegetarian alternative
at each meal and during lunch and dinner offer a fresh salad bar as a supplement to the main meal. If you
have certain tastes, allergies or requirements based on religious or philosophical beliefs, we should discuss
this before you commit to coming to Lochearn.
The camping
industry, partly because of the high cost of operating such a seasonal business,
and partly because of the high ratio of staff to campers is, by law, exempt from
minimum wage requirements. Within the camping industry, however, Lochearn makes
an earnest effort to offer competitive wages.There are several factors that will
contribute to your salary, such as: prior related experience, relevant
certifications, specific responsibilities, and travel allowance if applicable.
Generally, a first-year counselor at Lochearn who is just beginning college and
has no prior experience or certifications would earn $2100 for the full-season.
This is our base line salary, so if you are an older staff with more experience,
taking on leadership roles, you could earn substantially more.
Other benefits of employment include room and board, workers' compensation insurance and laundry services.
Staff receive their checks on closing day, usually two days after the campers leave. If you need cash during
the season, you may request a deduction from your final pay check. Payroll deductions will be made for
days missed, time away from camp (other than specified days off), or late arrival/early departure.
Because of the educational nature of Lochearn's summer program and the significant learning experience offered
to staff, we encourage staff to apply for academic credit through your college or university while employed
at Lochearn. We work in partnership with you and your college faculty to help you design an internship,
independent study, or serve as a co-op learning placement. Staff earn academic credit at Lochearn for the
preparation of journals, case studies and papers in the areas of childhood and adolescent development,
counseling practice, environmental studies, equestrian instruction, teaching styles, creative learning
environments, and other personalized educational projects. Owners and Directors Rich and Ginny Maxson have
advanced degrees in education, and many years' experience working with college students. They will serve
as your on-site supervisors.
During your employment at Lochearn, you will have the equivalent of eight days off, as well as evenings off
after 9:55pm until 12:30 am, and one or two free hours each day. The rest of the time, however, you will
be on duty. At least once a week, you and a co-staff member will serve on patrol from 9:55pm until 12:30am.
Located in the small rural village of Post Mills, Vermont, Lochearn offers magnificent beauty and an abundance
of recreational activities. As Directors, however, we feel that your time off is important and we recognize
the need for staff to explore areas away from camp. For the most part, your days off will need to be spent
in locations close to camp, since time off is limited and does not allow for extensive travel. We are fortunate
in that Hanover, New Hampshire, home to Dartmouth College and a variety of cultural, recreational, and
social opportunities is only 20 minutes away from camp. Lochearn provides daily van transportation to Hanover
so that you can enjoy shopping, movies, dining and a chance to relax away from camp on your days and evenings
off. You are also welcome to remain in camp on your day off to enjoy the people and activities that make
Lochearn so special.
Thistle Lodge is a welcoming place for staff to gather during their time off. Two staff
telephones, three computers with email access, a refrigerator, coffee pot and soda
machine, a supply of novels and games, along with a VCR/DVD player and monitor for
movies, all provide nice amenities for staff. Thistle also becomes the site of occasional
theme parties for staff. We also coordinate an on-campus evening social program for
staff called "Lochearn
After Hours". Several evenings each week, from 10:00pm to 12:00am, staff offer
each other classes such as dance, arts and crafts, ceramics, basketry, and aerobics.
This is a wonderful opportunity for staff to share their talents with one another and
to spend time together in fun and constructive ways.
| 7:30am |
Reveille |
| 7:50 |
Flag Raising |
| 8:00 |
Breakfast |
| 8:30 |
Staff Meeting, Cabin Clean-up |
| 9:05 |
Morning Assembly |
| 9:30 - 10:20 |
First Activity |
| 10:20 - 10:30 |
Morning Snack |
| 10:30 - 11:20 |
Second Activity |
| 11:30 - 12:20 |
Third Activity |
| 12:20 |
Free Time and Mail |
| 12:30 |
Lunch |
| 1:40 - 2:40 |
Rest Hour |
| 2:50 - 3:40 |
Fourth Activity |
| 3:45 - 4:15 |
Store |
| 4:20 - 5:20 |
Free Choice |
| 5:20 |
Free Time/Cabin Duties |
| 5:45 |
Flag Lowering |
| 5:50 |
Dinner |
| 7:00 |
Evening Activity |
| 8:00 |
Friendship Circle |
| 9:15 |
Taps: Lights out for Juniors |
| 9:30 |
Taps for Sub-Seniors |
| 10:00 |
Taps for Seniors |
| 11:00 |
CT lights out |
| 8:00 - 9:00 |
Buffet Breakfast in PJs |
| 9:45 - 10:30 |
Community Meeting |
| 10:30 - 12:30 |
Two free-choice hours: camper/counselor games |
| 12:30 |
Lunch - Lakeside buffet |
| 1:40 - 2:40 |
Rest Hour |
| 2:50 - 4:30 |
Blue/Green Team Activities, games |
| 5:45 |
Flag Lowering |
| 5:50 |
Dinner in Lochearn Dress, Blues and Whites |
| 7:00 |
Campfire on Campfire Hill
Staff and campers to bed at same time, as listed above |
Here are a few examples of what you would be doing in some of
these time frames:
Reveille: Make sure your campers are awake and getting
dressed
Flag Raising: Your cabin is lined up in order and quiet
for the Pledge
Breakfast: Serve your campers, assure proper manners and
friendly conversation
Staff Meeting: Brief check-in to review daily details
Cabin Clean-up: Ensure that girls get their chores done,
cabin is neat
Morning Assembly: Get your cabin group there on time; sit
with your campers and get them energized for the day. Staff take
turns leading morning assemblies.
Three Activity Periods: Start and end on time, take careful
attendance, infuse the classes with fun, energy, enthusiasm, safety,
achievement
Mail Time: Spend time with girls in your cabin. Be available
to homesick campers.
Lunch: Be available to the campers. Take an interest in
their morning activities.
Rest Hour: In your cabin to maintain order and quiet. Help
your campers plan their free choice time.
Fourth Activity: Return to teaching refreshed and energetic
Store: Snacks and candy available to be eaten in main camp
area
Free Choice: Prepare and offer fun and creative programs.
Clean up your activity area, all materials organized, floor swept,
etc.
Flag Lowering: Make sure all your campers are there, quiet
Dinner: Serve family-style, facilitate good manners and
friendly dinner conversation
Evening Activity: Help set up, participate enthusiastically,
help return the facility to readiness for next day
Friendship Circle: Join your campers in saying good-night,
singing quietly
Taps and Lights out: Help your campers settle down; read
a story, chat quietly, wind down and get ready for sleep
Buffet Breakfast: Sit with and converse with campers
Community Meeting: Help your campers to offer appreciations,
express their ideas, participate in community life
Morning Activities: Assist activity leaders, participate
with your campers
Blue/Green Team Activities: Help your campers to get ready,
practice, be ready for a great afternoon
Flag Lowering: All campers and staff in proper Lochearn
dress, lined up, orderly
Dinner: Quieter, more formal; establish a mood for reflection
and sharing
Campfire: Offer readings, singing, poems, around a unifying
theme
Bedtime: Lead campers through usual routine, keeping things
calm
Our telephone calls will cover these basic areas:
- Your chance to interview Lochearn Camp, to find out
about the character of the camp, its philosophy, programs, and directions.
- Lochearn's chance to interview you to find out what
your interests, goals and plans are and to discover whether your desired
outcomes for the summer are compatible with Lochearn's purposes. We want to
find out about who you are, what excites you, and what makes you the right
person to care for and about our campers -- to make their summer the best
ever, and to nurture your own growth. We will also explore your areas of
strength in activity instruction.
- With a more informed and deeper understanding of the camp,
and in an effort to make sure we are all making the right decision,
this conversation is an attempt to determine compatibility,
and to assess your potential for success in a demanding summer
job with little respite, lots of human interaction, and many
rewards.
Since our intent here has been to spare you from later surprises,
we have stressed the demands, rather than the lighter, fun side
of your role. As a camp counselor, you are essentially, a professional
childcare provider and child educator. Maintaining a positive,
mature, unselfish attitude is crucial for your success at Lochearn.
If what you have read here genuinely appeals to you, you will
probably be very happy at Lochearn, and we are eager to receive
your staff application.
Lochearn Camp for Girls
Address: PO Box 44, 1061 Robinson Hill Road, Post Mills, VT 05058
Phone: 802 333-4211
