The foundation for the success of our program at Camp Cavell is the quality of our staff.
Camp Cavell operates three seasons out of the year. We are owned and operated by the Camp Cavell Conservancy, but serve people from all areas and from many different cultural, social, economic backgrounds. Our camp is over 100 years old. We employ people to work in our kitchen, stables, waterfront, health center, housekeeping, program areas, and counseling.
Why work at Camp Cavell?

It's a great place to learn, grow & gain experience
Work with amazing kids & adults

It's a lot of fun in a beautiful environment
Beautiful outdoor setting, lots of amazing activities and exciting programs

there are financial benefits
A competitive salary, but also a summer of accommodation, meals and fun

discover your passion, strengths & best self
Develop your strengths and share your passions with like-minded colleagues

make life-long friendships with campers & staff
Our staff create connections in one summer that last a lifetime

make a real difference in campers' lives
Being a counselor, mentor, friend – you give our campers a home away from home
Job Positions
Do you want to have a job that connects you to nature and your peers? Are you ready to work outside in a job that will change you forever? Come join our Seasonal camp family! Camp Cavell is a three-season camp which has served children in the Metropolitan Detroit Community for over 100 years. We are located on 55 acres of land, with 1,800 feet of beautiful Lake Huron shoreline in Lexington, Michigan.
We work with children and adults from diverse economic and social backgrounds. Many the children we serve are from economically depressed areas, have a disability or are “at risk” in some way. We feel these groups of children need to be exposed to new challenges and growth opportunities in the outdoors. Our programming includes challenge course, waterfront, crafts, archery, horseback riding, kayaking, technical tree climbing, and lots more!
Summer Camp Counselor
We are looking for enthusiastic, attentive Camp Counselors to lead, support, and motivate campers as they enjoy all that the camp has to offer. The Camp Counselor will help plan events and lead group events, monitor campers and respond to incidents, such as behavioral problems or accidents, log events and maintain records relating to activities, and discuss camper participation and concerns with parents and other camp staff members. You should be positive, proactive, and caring while focusing on giving campers a fun, safe camp experience. To succeed as a Camp Counselor, you should be upbeat, decisive, and responsible. You should also be organized and possess strong leadership skills. Counselors are required to be at least 18 years old and available to live on site through the summer.
Rate: $400 per week + Room & Board; Returning Staff: $450 per week + Room & Board
Summer Day Camp Manager
If you have a passion for outdoor education, high adventure, and empowering children – and you have the experience to back it up, then we want you for our team! When you work at camp, you’ll build your resume with outdoor certifications and real-life leadership, communication, and problem-solving experiences that employers are looking for – all while getting paid. As a Summer Day Camp Manager, you can help create a high-quality day camping experience. You will work as a leader to create a culture of empowerment and enthusiasm for all campers.
Rate: $600 per week + Room & Board
Summer Overnight Camp Manager
If you have a passion for outdoor education, high adventure, and empowering children – and you have the experience to back it up, then we want you for our team! When you work at camp, you’ll build your resume with outdoor certifications and real-life leadership, communication, and problem-solving experiences that employers are looking for – all while getting paid. As a Summer Overnight Camp Manager, you can help create a high-quality overnight camping experience. You will work as a leader to create a culture of empowerment and enthusiasm for all campers.
Rate: $600 per week + Room & Board
Hospitality Specialist
This position supports the Hospitality Manager in a youth-focused camp program aimed at the provision of a safe and clean environment while providing a high-quality camp experience for program participants, families, and visitors. Hospitality Specialists assist in the daily cleanliness operations of the dining hall and assist in routine housekeeping for all camp facilities. Hospitality Specialists promote, encourage, and demonstrate excellent skills in communication, relationship development, respect for diversity and empowerment/involvement of youth when working with campers. You’ll have a great opportunity to be a positive role model for the campers while working at Camp Cavell on Lake Huron with everyday opportunities to experience wildlife, and take in all of the natural beauty camp has to offer!
Rate: $10.50 per hour; Returning Staff: $12 per hour
Program Manager
In coordination with the Summer Day Camp Manager and Summer Overnight Camp Manager, the Program Manager oversees, manages, and implements the summer camp experience for everybody at and connected to camp. The Program Manager focuses on the practical implementation of programming, such as organizing groups, schedules and planning group activities. The Program Manager oversees hiring and managing the Activity Specialists, Equestrian Director, Waterfront Director and Adventure Challenge Director.
Rate: $600 per week + Room & Board
Waterfront Director
Camp Cavell is looking to add an awesome new Waterfront Director to our team! The Waterfront Director is responsible for the development and implementation of a safe, fun and age/ability appropriate waterfront program on Lake Huron. This person should have experience teaching and working with children as well as experience working with a waterfront program. Supervises waterfront staff team and the management of the physical operation of the waterfront equipment. Promote high standards in all aspects of the camp program. Serve as a role model to campers and staff by your actions, appearance, manners, language, and general conduct. Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities, planning and leading those as assigned.
Rate: $500 per week + Room & Board; Returning Staff: $550 per week + Room & Board
Equestrian Director
Camp Cavell’s equestrian program is small, including a herd of 10 horses. We teach English classes of all levels from basic horse care to jumping. The goal of the equestrian program is to teach campers not just to ride but to love horses too, and to create an environment where campers can have fun and build self-confidence through the facilitation of horsemanship. The Equestrian Director leads program development. In addition to running our program they are responsible for feeding & mucking as well as general herd maintenance. This role benefits from a person with a stable temperament who is able to adapt their experience, teaching style, and philosophies to camp and can provide their insight while being open to collaboration.
Rate: $600 per week + Room & Board
Equestrian Assistant
Help further the mission of Camp Cavell Conservancy through assisting in the development and delivery of a horseback riding program that is safe, fun, and appropriate to campers’ ages & abilities! Equestrian Assistants work closely with the Equestrian Director to help implement lesson plans, supervise campers in equestrian areas, assist in maintaining the care of the herd and participate enthusiastically in all camp activities. When not horsing around, Equestrian staff will participate in camp programs, evening programs, and supply camp magic.
Rate: $10.50 per hour; Returning Staff: $12 per hour
*If an equestrian staff brings own horse to camp for use during Camp Cavell’s summer programming, an additional bonus of $500 will be received
Program Specialist
Program Specialists have the fun and impactful job of enriching the lives of our campers through unique camping, environmental studies and retreat experiences on Lake Huron. Program Specialists facilitate a variety of activities including, but not limited to arts and crafts, archery, challenge courses, technical tree climbing, horseback riding, sports and games, kayaking, fishing, swimming, nature sessions and more!
Rate: $450 per week + Room & Board; Returning Staff: $500 per week + Room & Board
Health Officer
Do you love camp and hold a current license as a Registered Nurse (or equivalent training)? Join our team as the Camp Nurse/Health Care Coordinator for Camp Cavell! Primary responsibilities of this position will include, but not be limited to: supervising the health and cleanliness standards for Camp Cavell, and working cooperatively with the Camp Director and Camp Staff to ensure adequate physical health conditions for all staff and camp participants. (NOTE: This position does not include cabin responsibilities but does include camper/staff supervision for ones staying in the health lodge.)
Rate: $600 per week + Room & Board
Kitchen Assistant
Join us at Camp Cavell for fun at one of Michigan’s most beautiful sleep away camps. No outdoor experience is required, just a love for camp! If you want to build an inclusive and loving community at our camp, this is a perfect job for you! This position supports the Kitchen Manager in a youth-focused Food Service program aimed at the provision of nutritious and appealing meals in a safe and clean environment while providing a high-quality camp experience for program participants, families, and visitors. Kitchen assistants prepare meals using Camp Cavell’s guidelines, keep kitchen inventory, practice heath/sanitation efforts, and help maintain Camp Cavell’s kitchen equipment.
Kitchen Assistants promote, encourage, and demonstrate excellent skills in communication, relationship development, respect for diversity and empowerment/involvement of youth when working with campers. You’ll have a great opportunity to be a positive role model for the campers while working at Camp Cavell on Lake Huron with everyday opportunities to experience wildlife, and take in the epic beauty right outside the Dining Hall!
Must have some experience in food prep (willing to train the right person) We work in morning and afternoon shifts with the morning starting according to the time and type of breakfast, but normally about 6:00AM. The afternoon shift tends to be from 1:00PM to 9:00PM but we may work later if we have had a large meal. We cook for 250 people a day in the summer. Looking for people who can work together as a team, take direction well, have positive customer relations, and adhere to health regulations. Supervisors: ServSafe Training Opportunity
Equestrian Director
Camp Cavell’s equestrian program is small, including a herd of 10-12 horses. We teach Western & English classes of all levels. The goal of the equestrian program is to teach campers not just to ride but to love horses too, and to create an environment where campers can have fun and build self-confidence through the facilitation of horsemanship.
The Equestrian Director leads program development. In addition to running our program they are responsible for feeding & mucking as well as general herd maintenance. This role benefits from a person with a stable temperament who is able to adapt their experience, teaching style, and philosophies to camp and can provide their insight while being open to collaboration. When not horsing around, Equestrian staff will participate in camp programs, evening programs, and supply camp magic.
Waterfront Director
Camp Cavell is looking to add an awesome new Waterfront Director to our team! The Waterfront Director is responsible for the development and implementation of a safe, fun and age/ability appropriate waterfront program on Lake Huron. This person should have experience teaching, and working with children as well as experience working with a waterfront program. Supervises waterfront staff team and the management of the physical operation of the waterfront equipment. Promote high standards in all aspects of the camp program. Serve as a role model to campers and staff by your actions, appearance, manners, language, and general conduct. Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities, planning and leading those as assigned. Must be able to complete lifeguard course (including swim formal strokes of 25 laps, dive for a body 12 feet underwater). Must be able to enforce rules while helping kids to learn and have fun. We also teach kayaking on Lake Huron.
Program Specialist
Program Specialists have the fun and impactful job of enriching the lives of our campers through unique camping, environmental studies and retreat experiences on Lake Huron. Program Specialists facilitate a variety of activities including, but not limited to arts and crafts, archery, challenge courses, technical tree climbing, horseback riding, sports and games, kayaking, fishing, swimming, nature sessions and more!
Summer Day Camp Manager
If you have a passion for outdoor education, high adventure, and empowering children – and you have the experience to back it up, then we want you for our team! When you work at camp, you’ll build your resume with outdoor certifications and real-life leadership, communication, and problem-solving experiences that employers are looking for – all while getting paid.
As a Summer Day Camp Manager, you have the opportunity to help create a high-quality day camping experience. You will work as a leader to create a culture of empowerment and enthusiasm for all campers.
Summer Day Camp Counselor
We are looking for enthusiastic, attentive Day Camp Counselors to lead, support, and motivate campers as they enjoy all that the camp has to offer. The Day Camp Counselor will help plan events and lead group events, monitor campers and respond to incidents, such as behavioral problems or accidents, log events and maintain records relating to activities, and discuss camper participation and concerns with parents and other camp staff members. You should be positive, proactive, and caring while focusing on giving campers a fun, safe camp experience.
To succeed as a Day Camp Counselor, you should be upbeat, decisive, and responsible. You should also be organized and possess strong leadership skills. Counselors are required to be at least 18 years old.
International Overnight Counselors
International Counselors – We do invite International Counselors to join our Girls’ Summer Camp Staff. Although, International Counselors first need to contact a “camp counselor placement service”
Camp Nurse
Supervise and implement health care for all camp children and staff members. Follow standing orders for immediate care, distributions of medications, and emergency protocols. Required Skills and Abilities: Hold a current license as a registered nurse (or other equivalent training), have experience with children and young adults, have the ability to originate, update and/or monitor health care, maintain records and implement the camp’s health care plan, and hold current CPR and First Aid certifications.
Housekeeping
To clean cabins after a group has departed and to clean some general areas and bathrooms each day. Can be combined with kitchen for more hours. Duties include sweeping, straightening, mopping, and cleaning bathrooms. Some hours are flexible, but will need to work on days a group leaves to get camp ready for the next group. This is usually on the weekends in summer and weekdays in the spring and fall.
Maintenance
Grounds keeping, care of buildings, equipment, and vehicles.