In the spirit of our Third Annual #GhanyJobsWeek we have some announcements about joining Team ‘Ghany for #Summer2018. First off, we’re still hiring so yes, there’s still time for you to line up an awesome summer job at the world’s greatest girls camp! (Are you getting a sense of our pride?) 🙂
So, if you’re just generally interested in applying to be a new or returning Counselor, Green Team member, or support staff, you can begin on the Our Staff page and follow the pink button for the job you’re pursuing.
Those buttons don’t just take you to an application — they take you through an explanation of the jobs first, so that you’ll have a clear idea of what it takes to become a staff member with us while also getting a sense of what you can expect from us, too!
But in addition to these general categories, we’re also seeking some specific positions within those categories that I want to announce to everyone today.
Head Counselors
Head Counselors are the top counselor leadership throughout camp. They report directly to and work closely with Director Elizabeth Shreckhise, Program Director Casey Tucker, and other administration members.
Head Counselors supervise all the counselors, and serve in many capacities demanding organization, presentation, communication, and more. They also attend our spring planning session to get prepared and plan for the upcoming summer.
All applicants to this position must have worked at ‘Ghany previously in some leadership position.
Tent Row
On Tent Row we have special staff called Unit Heads. There are Unit Heads for both Junior Camp and Senior Camp. Unit Heads are in charge of an entire section of tents at camp (a unit), that is to say, one side of the quadrangle that makes up either Jr. or Sr. camps.
Unit Heads supervise both campers and counselors while on Tent Row.
For campers, the Unit Head plans fun activities for them throughout the term to bond the age group together (Units are organized by age). She also plans special Unit Nights as part of our evening programs.
When it comes to the Counselors, a Unit Head is a step between Counselor and Head Counselor, so if a Counselor has a need or requires assistance in any way, she first goes to her Unit Head for advice, assistance, or resolution.
Unit Heads also serve the function of assisting the Head Counselors in ensuring that camp is running smoothly. They help stay on top of everything going on in camp and are another set of eyes and ears paying close attention on Tent Row and communicating back to the Head Counselors or Administration Team when necessary.
Applicants to be a Unit Head must have been not only a Counselor, but a Counselor at ‘Ghany.
Department Leadership
At Camp Alleghany for Girls, our campers take four activities during their session, and each of these activities falls under what we call a department. Those departments are each lead by what we call a Department Head. This person works closely with Program Director Casey Tucker to develop lesson plans for that activity, as well as managing those staff members (counselors) who teach in that department, too.
Department Heads also work closely with Casey across the Term to ensure the department is on target, has its supplies, and that all personnel issues are running smoothly.
We like Department Heads to have had prior Counselor experience at ‘Ghany or another camp — either way. And sometimes a department head has never been at a camp but brings a certain skill that we’re seeking and got their experience a different way. So if you think you’d like to be a Department Head, just apply and we’ll take it on a case-by-case basis.
For this summer, we’re still seeking some Department Heads to lead the following departments: Arts & Crafts, Sports & Fitness, Tennis, and Photography/Videography/Photojournalism.
If you have experience in any of these areas, and would like to move up the ladder to a position of greater responsibility, you can indicate on your application that you’re not only applying to be a counselor, but also for the department head position you seek.
Midway Mom
At Camp Alleghany we have a variety of age-cohort programs, divided as Junior Camp, Start-ups, Midways, Upstarts, and Junior Counselors. (Additionally, we have an emerging Leaders-In-Training Program for 16-year-olds that’s slated to begin in Summer 2019.)
In each of these areas we have a leadership team member who guides and supervises the unique aspects of that age-cohort program. In the case of our Midways, a program currently for 13- and 14-year-olds, that leadership team member is our Midway Mom.
Being a “Mom” at camp doesn’t literally mean you need to be a mother. It’s just our affectionate name for the counselor/mentor who leads a program.
And we’re seeking that special someone who has an affinity with young teens and a desire to offer an engaging experience and make a meaningful impact on their time at camp. You can only seek the Midway Mom position on a returning counselor application, so staff alum who are pining to come back, why not apply to move up the ladder this summer and seek our Midway Mom position?
Support Staff Second Term
There are a variety of needs around camp that are met by support staff each summer, and we have some various openings during our 2nd Term. If you’re interested in working here not as a counselor, but in some type of support capacity (though this might mean on occasion stepping into a counselor role), and you’re 21 or older, contact me via e-mail to inquire about available positions.
Guest Counselors
Guest Counselors are also part of the Support Staff so must be over 21, have prior ‘Ghany experience, but are brought on to work just 1-2 weeks at a time. It’s a way to help us fill any gaps and also keep that vital ‘Ghany connection alive for alum who really want to be here for a bit but aren’t able to be full counselors any longer.
If you’d like to apply to be a guest counselor, please e-mail me to discuss what weeks are available at this time.
APPLY!
As I’ve said year after year, it’s so wonderful to know that you have a job lined up for the summer. It’s a way to plan vacation or short trips around your summer job schedule, to know exactly how much you’ll make and where you need to be and when, and also at camp to basically be able to save your whole chunk of change since room and board is also included.
That’s why I encourage you to take the time to apply now for anything from general counselor to a leadership position to a support position. We’d love to hear from you!
— Elizabeth Shreckhise, Director, Camp Alleghany for Girls
Elizabeth Shreckhise
Elizabeth is the Director of Camp Alleghany for Girls, the third generation member in her family to hold this position. But she also spent her childhood (ages 7-16) as 'Ghany camper, then held various counselor positions, and spent a decade here as the Assistant Director. She has a Masters in Education and Human Development and is a former School Counselor. Elizabeth lives in Staunton, Virginia during the "off-season" with her husband Matt and sons Mason, Ellis, and Noah. In addition to staffing, enrollment, program planning, outreach, and camp management duties, she helps keep the website current, writes and updates camp literature, and oversees the blog.
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