ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — As teenagers and young people look for summer jobs, a more unique option is working at a summer camp — and north Georgia has plenty of them.

Positions include everything from camp counselors and equestrian specialists to mental health aides and nurses.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta has two camps: Camp Timber Ridge and Camp Meriwether. Chief People & Engagement Officer Jennifer Caraballo says people from all over bring enthusiasm and a love of camp to the job.

“When people think about working at summer camp, they think you’re going to be hiking and canoeing. That’s all true, but they can also go from canoeing into a STEM activity and learn about coding, or animal rehabilitation, or how to take care of a horse with our equestrian program, and so they are helping our campers learn a lot of different skills,” she said.

Scouting America’s Atlanta Area Council also has two camps: Bert Adams Scout Camp and Woodruff Scout Camp.

Director of Experience and Safety Jason Baldridge says the camps are looking for people who are passionate, energetic and want to serve.

“It’s not uncommon to get a letter/email/comment from a parent asking us, ‘What did you do with my teenager?’” he said. “‘They came back to me more mature, more self-reliant, more responsible, more dependable. I don’t have to wake them up anymore.’”

That’s because being on the camp staff is leadership development disguised as fun in the outdoors, according to Camping Director Kristin Sliger.

“I just really, really love seeing young people who may be unsure of themselves come into camp and leave with such an air of confidence and knowing they can accomplish so much more than they thought they could,” Sliger said.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Family YMCA has day camps at most of its branches and overnight camps at Camp High Harbour at Lake Allatoona and Lake Berton.

“There’s not a lot of other jobs you can get paid to swim, paid to do tie dye, make s’mores with the kids. It’s a pretty wonderful job, and if you ever loved summer camp as a kid, it’s a wonderful way to re-experience it and make a meaningful difference for other kids coming through camp,” Group Vice President Megan Benvenuto said.

Camp leaders said staff often form lifelong relationships.

“It’s such a huge and supportive network that you come out of these positions with,” Sliger said. “Twenty years down the road or 30 years down the road, still be able to call up on somebody and say, ‘Hey, I’m looking for a job, do you know anybody?’ or ‘I’m moving across the country and don’t know anybody in the area, do you know anybody I can get in touch with?’”

For anyone who knows a teenager or young person looking for a camp staff job, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta Area Council and the Northwest Family YMCA are all hiring now.

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