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Staff Requirements
Generally our staff consists of college and graduate students from across the country and the world. What we are looking for are staff members who are excited about working with people who have autism, and who are willing to learn new things. We can, and will, teach you everything else you need to know. All staff must complete an application, submit two references, and have an interview and a background check before being hired.
Alumni Staff Discuss Camp
Camp has helped so many young people decide that they want to pursue a career in the field
of autism. To read some comments from alumni staff who have gone on in the field
click here. To help give you a clear picture of what you will do at camp on a day to day basis, one of our dedicated alumni staff has written
"A day in the life of a camp counselor."
Staff Training
Camp Lakey Gap prides itself in the thorough training that is provided for the staff. During the training week all new staff members will be taught the specific strategies that will be used to help our campers understand and be successful at camp. Discussions will be lead by local autism professionals on topics such as communication, structuring the environment, and behavior management. Not only will staff learn factual information regarding autism, but they will also have the opportunity for supervised hands on training with individuals on the autism spectrum. We will also have consultants, who are local autism professionals, at camp each week for continued support throughout the summer.
Campers
All of our campers have an autism spectrum disorder or a related communication disorder. Campers range in age from 4
to adult, and each week of camp is designated for a particular age group. We accept any campers on the autism spectrum so you will find that some campers will need minimal assistance from you, while others will rely on you for aiding them in communication, social interactions, and personal care.
Part of what makes this camp successful for our campers is the low
camper to counselor ratio. We provide our campers a 1:1 and 1:2 staff
ratio. Counselors are primarily responsible for assisting campers in
understanding what is expected of them throughout the day and leading
them through the activities that are scheduled. The camp serves 16-20 campers per week and has about 24 staff each summer.
Activities
Campers will be able to participate in song time, arts and crafts, hiking, creek games, swimming (three times a day), outdoor activities, music and motion, canoeing and lake play, and special events that rotate weekly. We go canoeing and enjoy the beauty of Lake Eden at Camp Rockmont, a local boys camp that is just a few minutes down the road from Christmount. All of our activities are adapted in a visually structured way so that our campers will understand what is expected of them, and be able to participate in them as independently as possible.
College Credit
To earn college credit for working at the camp, first discuss the job with your college advisor to see if it would fit into the requirements for an internship, and then let the camp director know that you would like to pursue this. The director, Elsa Berndt, MA, would act as your internship supervisor and will help in any way.
Time Off
This camp requires a lot of energy, so it is crucial to have time off to
refuel. The day begins at 8:15 AM and you will generally be off around 8:30 PM,
sometimes a little later depending on your camper. You will be expected to stay in the Group Lodge with the campers one night each week for night duty, which is followed by a 24 hour period off. Staff are off duty from about 4:00 pm on Friday until 1:00pm on Sunday.
Compensation
First year counselors are paid $250 per week. Staff also receive free room and board, as well as a paid week of training.
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