Camp Employment

Work hard, play hard at camp!

You love the outdoors. You love hiking, boating and campfires. Plus, your friends say you’re great with kids. Does this describe you? If so, the perfect job is waiting for you at Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa camps!

Go-getters. Innovators. Risk-takers. Leaders. Your unforgettable summer is here. Our camp community is made up of hard-working, courageous, silly goofy, confident, thoughtful characters. You will work alongside experienced camp professionals who will guide and support you as you promote growth and confidence in girls who are experienced or first-time campers. As a camp staff team, we work to provide girls across Iowa with the best week of their entire summer.

Camp: more than just a job!

It's an opportunity to make your summer meaningful. Share your passion to help build girls of courage, confidence, and character.

APPLY ONLINE

Check out the positions below to see how your talents might align with our needs. If you believe you're a good fit for one of these roles, you can apply online!

Unit Counselor toggle arrow

Unit Counselors – Starting at $450/week (approx. 10 weeks)

You’re there for the campers 24/6 when they’re at camp. You stay with your group all day (apart from your break time) and experience camp with them. Being a counselor is a hard job, but it’s fun at the same time. You really make a difference with the girls who come to camp. You’ll help girls with basic everyday things like getting up in the morning and brushing their hair and teeth at night, but also with the amazing fun stuff like climbing into the treetops and going on a quest to find a mythical camp creature.

Ropes Course Facilitator/Unit Counselor (training provided) toggle arrow

Ropes Course Facilitator/Unit Counselor (training provided) – starting at $456/week (approx. 11 weeks)

In addition to Unit Counselor duties, like participating in GaGa ball or leading a horse around the arena, Ropes Course Facilitators use the experiential learning cycle to help campers process abstract thoughts and ideas into real world changes. They learn to ask through provoking questions and manage various group dynamics. They may get called away from their group to run the ropes course.

Lifeguard or Waterfront Staff/Unit Counselor (training provided) toggle arrow

Lifeguard or Waterfront Staff/Unit Counselor (training provided) – starting at $456/week (approx. 10 weeks)

Lifeguard Counselors guard for 1-2 groups per day, while Waterfront Staff are at the lake all day! In addition to spending time with their assigned unit when they aren’t at the pool or lake guarding or prepping for campers’ favorite part of the day.

Barn Manager toggle arrow

Barn Manager – Starting at $468/week (approx. 10 weeks)

The Barn Manager ensures delivery of a successful equestrian program that provides a quality, creative, challenging, and progressive riding program to campers. The Barn Manager ensures that all horses are taken care of, with the appropriate daily use, feed schedules and medication dosages. The Barn Manager manages a herd of 14 leased horses, manages an instructor team of 3-4, and teaches riding and equine care sessions daily.

Riding Instructor/Unit Counselor toggle arrow

Riding Instructor/Unit Counselor – Starting at $456/week (approx. 11 weeks)

Our barn staff have a unique opportunity at camp to work with children and care for a herd of 16 horses. They share their passion for horses with campers who are eagerly waiting to get close to these fantastic creatures. They work in a staff team of 4 or 5 other EQ Staff. They may get up early to do chores, but typically still have time to spend with their assigned group of campers.

Unit Leaders toggle arrow

Unit Leaders – Starting at $468/week (approx. 10 weeks)

Unit Leaders at camp are really the managers of their unit. In addition to completing camper paperwork, and crafting and maintaining the unit’s schedule, Unit Leaders manage group dynamics in their assigned staff group. They have creative freedom to work with girls to make their dreams happen at camp. Unit Leaders meet at the end of each week to review all aspects of camp life and brainstorm ways to make camp better.

Kitchen Staff/Cooks toggle arrow

Food Service Staff – Starting at $16/hour (approx. 11 weeks, housing not provided)

Our kitchen program brings all of camp together to enjoy wonderful food and each other’s company. It’s a tight knit group in the kitchen and there are opportunities to learn and grow in kitchen management, specialized diets, and commercial food production. Cooks are responsible for preparing food for meals and the salad bar, plating food to be served family style, and assist in cleaning up after cooking.

Kitchen Director toggle arrow

Kitchen Director – Starting at $17/hour (offsite housing)

Our kitchen program brings all of camp together to enjoy wonderful food and each other’s company. The Kitchen Director has a lot of responsibility and sets the tone for the entire kitchen staff. They prepare menus in collaboration with the Camp Director and make purchase orders throughout the summer. They fuel the direction the kitchen takes for the summer.

Camp Nurse toggle arrow

Camp Nurse – Starting at $600/week (approx. 11 weeks)

The Camp Nurse is a certified RN who works in the camp office. The Camp Nurse is in charge of camper medication and distribution, first aid, emergency medical situations, and caring for campers and camp staff when they are ill. There’s a lot of paperwork and organizing involved, but there is also down time to explore camp and join in the fun with campers. Caring for campers and staff mentally and physically is a hugely important job.

Program Director toggle arrow

Program Director – Starting at $468/week (approx. 11 weeks)

The Program Director takes the lead on special events and ensuring programming is carried out for each session! This role works closely with the Unit Leaders and Unit Counselors to create the best camp experience possible!

Camp Sacajawea

Camp Sacajawea dates:

Specialized Training: May 26-June 2, 2026
Summer Camp (including training): June 3-August 11, 2026

Camp Tanglefoot

Camp Tanglefoot dates:

Ropes Course Training: May 27-31, 2026
Staff Training: June 1-10, 2026
Summer Camp: June 11-August 8, 2026

Questions? We've got answers!

Are you a good fit for camp? toggle arrow

You’ll be a great fit to work at camp if you…

Can commit to a schedule and work the entire or majority of summer. We count on you to be at camp from the start to the end of the summer. Days off may be spent in or out of camp. Many staff members plan outings or activities together on their day off. Most days start early and end late, so energy and enthusiasm will go a long way!

Schedules are hard. If you’re passionate about working at camp, but are concerned about your ability to work the entire summer, apply anyways and we can discuss the possibilities!
Attend training. Depending on your position, you will arrive in May or June to attend training on safety, homesickness, camper advocacy, risk management, programming and more. You’ll also have site-specific training to prepare for the arrival of campers and activities offered at camp.
Are friendly and calm, especially under pressure. We expect camp staff to have a friendly attitude toward campers, parents, and other staff by smiling and greeting everyone you meet, getting to know others, and welcoming all campers who are attending camp to ensure they feel a sense of belonging. Campers will look up to you and see you as a role model.
Are a team player. You will be living in tight spaces and working with the same people all summer. Sometimes you may be tired or under stress, but your co-workers and your campers will count on you to be there for them 100% of the time.

Love working outdoors. We have modern amenities; however, you will be regularly exposed to natural allergens, insects, animals, weather, etc.
Are good at switching gears. All staff need to be ready and eager to help with all areas of camp at any time! Poor weather might change your entire day of plans, and you’ll need to adjust with a smile.
Are willing to learn new things. Parents look to us to be camp experts! You’ll need to learn about leading groups of campers and keeping them safe and happy.
Are willing to disconnect from technology.  Camp has access to the Internet for staff members, but time is limited. Camp phone use is for emergencies only. Staff may bring their own cell phones, but use is limited to when staff members are on their time off. All staff are asked not to have their cell phones in front of campers at any time.
Pay attention to the little things. It doesn’t take much to make a BIG difference at camp—a warm smile, a chat with someone sitting alone, a second to pick up litter. These acts create the positive and inviting culture and environment we strive to offer all campers.
Live by the Girl Scout Promise, Law, and mission at camp. The Girl Scout Promise and Law are the ways Girl Scouts agree to act every day toward one another, other people, and the world. Camp staff will need to become Girl Scout members and therefore abide by the Promise and Law.

Is this position paid? toggle arrow

Yes, camp staff positions are paid. You can find the pay rate in each job description.

Are housing and meals provided as camp staff? toggle arrow

Housing and meals are provided! You’ll live in a cabin or tent in the same living unit as your campers. At Girl Scout camp, you’ll be nearby campers, but won’t share a room with them. That means that you may stay up a little later to make sure they go to bed.

Meals are provided while camp is in session. We make vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or allergen specific meals for staff and campers who may need them.

What training or certifications do you need to work at camp? toggle arrow

All training or certifications required are provided during staff training. You can plan to be certified in CPR and First Aid. There are additional dates for position specific training including ropes course, equestrian, tree climbing, and lifeguarding.

Are there opportunities at camp to earn college credit? toggle arrow

If your degree program has internship requirements that match with camp jobs, we can work with you to complete an internship during the summer. Or if you’re looking for a freer flowing internship program, we can work to meet your goals in a camp job this summer.