Employment

Why Moosilauke?

Moosilauke is one of the oldest residential summer camps in the U.S. Since our founding in 1904, our mission has been simple but powerful: creating confident, happy, and resilient boys. Our continued success in achieving our goals is due to a number of factors: our incredibly positive and nurturing peer culture; our program of positive risk taking that encompasses a high level of skill development in three key areas (sports, waterfront and outdoor adventure); our emphasis on both structure and choice relative to activity classes, trips, and competition; and our extraordinary attention to the individual needs of each boy. Combine all of this with an enthusiastic and diverse group of 130 campers (from 18 states and 7 countries), an experienced and caring staff, and an incredible campus (100 acres of fields and forest and a secluded mile-long lake in the White Mountains of New Hampshire), and you have all the makings for an amazing summer.

What is the Moosilauke community like?

Most importantly, we create and maintain a supportive, inclusive and equitable culture. Camp Moosilauke cultivates an environment of respect for oneself and for others. We strive to be open to campers and staff of all religious backgrounds and cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities.

We ensure this through a number of steps:

hiring not just skilled staff, but caring staff
training our counselors during our 8 day orientation
setting the bar high with the campers—we talk with them openly and routinely about our zero tolerance for teasing
creating public forums, like after meals, where the tradition is to support and praise positive behavior.

Moosilauke’s exceptionally high return rate for campers and counselors is also an essential ingredient in creating a positive culture year-to-year.

What are the facilities like?

The Moosilauke campus is extraordinary. The Camp resides on more than 100 acres of forests and athletic fields and a secluded mile-long lake in the White Mountains of NH. Over one mile of shore front is owned by the Camp and kept for the private use of the campers. The lake is the site for a multitude of activities including sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, canoeing, swimming, fishing and nature excursions.

Each year, over sixty-five people work at Moosilauke in the following areas:

Athletics: Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Lacrosse, Archery, Track, Ultimate Frisbee, and Flag Football
Waterfront: Swimming/Lifeguarding, Sailing, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding, Wake surfing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Stand-Up Paddle Boarding, Fishing, and Boat Drivers
Outdoors: Instructors in Kayaking, Bouldering/Climbing, Canoeing, Mountain Biking; Backpacking and whitewater trip leaders
Food Service: Kitchen Assistants
Other: Nurse, Office, Maintenance, Woodshop, Arts & Crafts, Videographer/Photographer

How to apply

If you are interested in more information about being a counselor at Camp Moosilauke, email us at kmiller451@gmail.com.

To apply to be a counselor, please complete an online staff application.

If you are applying to be a counselor for the Backcountry Leadership Program (BLP), please also complete the attached supplement.

Staff Frequently Asked Questions

You can find a suggested packing list here.

All staff participate in a 10-day orientation and training period before the campers arrive. This is a special time for the staff to learn about Camp, get to know each other, and enjoy activities together.

Some staff will be certified in lifeguarding, climbing, archery, boat driving, etc. depending on their activity area.

Most weeks, counselors have one full day and night and two additional nights off per week. Days and times off can vary, depending on whether counselors are on trips and/or if there are special events at Camp. We have a 1:30 a.m. curfew.

Staff will also have a period off during the day to recharge and have some time for themselves.

We do not have cell service at the camp, but during time off, staff will have internet/email access and can use wireless calling.

Cell phones do function in nearby towns where staff can go during time off.

We have a wonderful dining hall with a variety of options and choices for campers and staff. We offer vegetarian options at all meals. We can also accommodate vegan, gluten free, and most other dietary requests if we know in advance.

Staff Testimonials

I worked at Camp Moosilauke for five summers between 2015 and 2019. Each of those summers has given me countless memories and connections with people from all over the world. It is the best place to spend your summer, and the Miller and McMahon family (the directors) are the best kind of people.

—Morgan, Australia

When I first came to Camp Moosilauke as a 9 year old kid, my joy stemmed from the fun activities and trips that camp had to offer; however, after returning this past summer as a counselor and my 7th summer at camp, I’ve come to realize that the real reason that I, along with many other kids, come back year after year is the comforting sense of community and family that is built within Camp Moosilauke. Moosilauke has had a big part in shaping me into the person I am today and I credit a lot of that to Moose’s core beliefs in creating a strong, supportive community that encourages positive risk taking. I love coming back to Camp Moosilauke every summer to continue to help build this community and family that I’ve come to love so much.

—Bobby, New Jersey, USA

For the past 20 years I have been the Archery Director at Camp Moosilauke. It’s truly the best place to spend a summer (or 20) as you will make so many great friends and help take part in an amazing camp experience. It’s turned me from a shy and reserved international Counselor to a Moose Bears leading, grill helping, up for anything Moosilauke Counselor.

—Timmy, England

I’ve worked at Moosilauke for two years, but was a camper for years. The area is beautiful and there is always something to do with your time off, which there is a fair amount of. There is always an awesome and special connection between the staff that you don’t really ever get to experience anywhere else, and the directors are always easy to work with while being very understanding of most situations that may occur. I can’t recommend spending a summer at Moose enough.

—Declan, New Jersey, USA

I’ve been at Camp Moosilauke for 9 consecutive summers. The reason why I keep coming back is simply because I love it. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than at Camp Moosilauke. It’s a place where you can let go of all your stress and worries of your busy life and feel at peace for a month or two. Time slows down at camp and it’s the one place where I feel like I can truly be myself. I can confidently say that my best friends are from Camp Moosilauke. The friendships I’ve made over the years at camp have been the strongest and most genuine relationships I’ve ever built. Working at Camp Moosilauke is the highlight of my year and being a part of the staff and community is truly an honor.

—Capp, California, USA

I have been at Camp Moosilauke for 11 years. I have worked for 3 of those years, and have been a camper for 8 of them. I love working at Moose because it gives me a chance to teach kids the sport I love, and see kids grow in such a short period of time as both people and in activities. I also love Moosilauke because working there over such a long period of time allows you to make some of the best friends you’ll ever have, and garner memories you will have forever.

—Curtis, Virginia, USA

As an 18 year old the idea of traveling to America for the summer to work with people I’d never met was a fairly daunting prospect. Fast forward five years and I can honestly say working at Moosilauke is the best decision I’ve ever made. My direction in life has been shaped by the summers I’ve spent on upper baker pond, the lifelong friends I’ve made along the way and the incredible mentoring I’ve had the privilege of experiencing from the dedicated and passionate camp directors. Working at Camp Moosilauke will be the best decision you ever make.

—Jack, London, England

Apart from the surface level excitement and constant energy that comes from spending a summer outdoors with enthusiastic campers, working at Moosilauke is just as much a transformative experience for staff as it is for the kids that spend 2 or 4 weeks calling Orford home. In contrast to the world in which we spend most of our time, camp offers us as young adults the chance to disconnect and develop both professionally and individually; we learn to teach and guide campers in our respective areas, of course, but we also learn how to level ourselves in the face of challenges, how to learn from those we intend to teach, and how to live amongst a community with which we may not immediately identify similarities to ourselves. In short, just as we challenge campers to step beyond their comfort zones, to work at camp is to accept this same challenge for ourselves. It is an opportunity to develop skills—both existing and new—in an incredibly compassionate, diverse and fun environment where we can then pass along the lessons we learn to the campers we instruct. Great counseling has a meaningful impact on the campers we work with, and I can speak firsthand that this impact is why many campers will also return to Moosilauke to continue passing these lessons along to those who come after them.

—Andrew, Massachusetts, USA

Moose is a special place. It is the only place I have worked where I felt truly supported by both my fellow staff members and my supervisors. I was not criticized for my mistakes but mentored in a way which allowed me to learn from them. When I went above and beyond what was expected of me, my hard work was recognized and rewarded. Camp Moosilauke helped me become the person I am today, and at Moose I formed friendships which will last a lifetime.

—Henry, New York, USA

Camp Moosilauke is a fantastic place to work, located on a beautiful lake in the New Hampshire mountains. With great sports and waterfront facilities, a brilliant staff, and very supportive and engaged management, it is easily the best job I have ever had. Camp Moose also has a great mission of helping children grow up resilient, happy and willing to take positive risks. I had three fun, fulfilling summers and made lifelong friends who I keep in touch with.

—Bruce, Australia

After working at Camp Moosilauke the past five years, I’ve been able to meet people from around the world, make some of my closest friendships, and experience the greatest summers of my life. I’ve had many of my best memories at Moosilauke as a counselor and recommend working there to everyone. Along with having a good time, working with children is incredibly rewarding and has taught me so much over the years. It’s hard to imagine a summer without camp.

—Carter, Massachusetts, USA