training & personal growth
So much more than just a fun summer job...
Being
a camp counselor is a demanding job. We want to help you be successful. This is
why we conduct a thorough, fun, and educational 7-day staff orientation before
the campers arrive. Orientation is designed to build our various teams and help
each counselor familiarize herself with the procedures, policies and values of Camp
Kippewa.
Our goal is to help you become better acquainted with everyone on staff, and
learn how we do things at Camp Kippewa. You will learn about residential life,
as well as, get specific instruction from your Activity Heads in the activity
area you will be teaching. You will feel very prepared when the campers arrive
and have had lots of fun working and playing with your peers.
Along with the training you receive from the Directors, Assistant Director, and Head Counselor, experienced Activity Heads pass on their almost-limitless knowledge of their specialties to you.
Check out a few of the amazing Activity Heads currently on staff at Kippewa:
- Ed Cunningham—Arts
Program Coordinator: 2012
will be Ed’s 47th (yes, 47th) summer at Kippewa. A retired school teacher, Ed oversees all of
the fine arts departments at camp. A successful
artist himself, with more than 20 paintings currently being shown in galleries
throughout Massachusetts, he has a broad depth of knowledge in all our creative
arts.
- Mike Davis—Tennis
Director: Mike has been teaching tennis professionally
in Kingston, Jamaica for more than 25 years.
In addition to coaching tennis, Mike is a middle school teacher. He is joining us for his 13th summer in Maine!
- Alan Clare—Waterskiing
Director: After a 20
year career in competitive Barefoot Waterskiing, Alan coached the New Zealand
national team for 15 years. He was the
personal coach of the 1990 Junior World Barefoot Waterski Champion. Alan loves sharing his lifetime of waterski
and coaching experience with our campers and staff each year! He is looking forward to his 5th year at Kippewa.
- Richard
Stegman—Performing Arts Director: Richard holds
a BFA in Theatre Arts and has performed in 45 of the 50 states. He has held various roles in television and
movies in his extensive career.
Returning to Kippewa for his 5th summer, Richard brings
creativity, passion, humor and expertise to The Playhouse.
- Mary Paige Kowalski—Equestrian Director: Mary Paige has been riding horses since she was 5 years old. In the years since then, she rode competitively in the progressive show jump circuit, and later captained the Clemson University Equestrian team. Graduating with an Equine Business degree, Mary Paige now works in the veterinary industry. Her experiences coupled with her extensive camp background bring her back to Kippewa for her 4th season.
Our training does not stop when the campers arrive. Throughout the summer you will be working under the supervision of our experts in your Activity Area. Your camp counselor experience will be ongoing training for future teaching, coaching, Parks and Recreation jobs or any field where you interact with and lead people on a daily basis. Former counselors often comment that they find themselves refereeing to their work at summer camp in future job interviews, and experiences.
Additional training is provided for Adventure, Archery, Waterfront, and Equestrian staff members.
