Working at a summer camp is one of the best ways to keep busy and active during the summer. Camps that employ teenagers can help them to get out of the house, make money, make new friends, and even simply be a source of fun. Throughout the community, there are countless options for jobs as a teen camp counselor. There are a wide range of camps across Long Island that can provide teens with work experience and a fun, new summer adventure.
Summer Playground is one of the most beloved summer programs for elementary school students. Directed by Foreign Language Department Chairperson Leonard Bruno, the program is one of his proudest accomplishments. It provides the opportunity for kids across the district to attend as campers during elementary and middle school, and many of those kids come back when they are old enough to get a job. Summer Playground operates on weekdays in the summer and runs from nine in the morning to noon. Junior Catherine Jennings began volunteering at Summer Playground her freshman year, then worked as a paid junior counselor as a sophomore, and will continue to work for the program this summer. “This program differs from others because of the community aspect,” she shared. Jennings loves how she can connect with kids who live close by and how she shares common ground with many of the kids, in terms of the school they go to and the teachers they have. She believes that building a close bond between the campers and the counselors is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Jennings’ favorite part of the program is its famous talent show, which allows for the kids to find ways to express themselves and present it all to their friends. She noted a highlight of last summer when she was able to get her fourth grade boys to perform a dance: “Everyone thought it was so funny.”
Camp A.N.C.H.O.R. (otherwise known as the Anchor Program Fund), another esteemed program on Long Island, is a camp for people with special needs. Similar to Summer Playground, students who volunteered or attended A.N.C.H.O.R. when they were younger can now work there as teens and adults. Camp A.N.C.H.O.R. requires volunteers to attend for at least three summers before acquiring a staff position. When awarded a staff position, one will be offered a job in a specific group they are assigned to for the summer, or a specialty that is run almost like a class in school. There are arts and crafts, music, and fitness specials offered. A.N.C.H.O.R. is funded by the Town of Hempstead, and the Anchor Program Fund raises additional money with the help of generous donors who see the pure magic that comes from the program.
Rolling River Day Camp is a popular summer camp for young kids who often attend long enough to eventually become hired as counselors. It is also the destination for elementary school trips in the district. Sophomore Leah Pisano is extremely excited for her job there this summer. She enjoys working with kids and is eager for her experience, and how “it allows us [the workers] to be outside and active, all while making new friends.”
Sportime is a gym and sports facility in Lynbrook that also offers a summer camp for kids. Sophomore Payton Stalter, who will be returning there for her second summer, emphasizes that “it is an amazing experience to get to know all of the kids, but to also play sports every day, which is something we all have a passion for.” Stalter sees her counselor position as more than just a job; she also sees it as a way to form connections with peers and campers: “I look forward to going to work every day not only because of the kids, but also because the whole staff is so nice and becomes so close.”
Looking for a summer job does not have to be stressful as there are several opportunities easily accessible in Lynbrook and neighboring towns. By either volunteering for community service hours or becoming a paid counselor, working at a summer camp gives teens experience with kids and with connecting and cooperating with peers and adults.
