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COUNSELORS:
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15% of our staff hail from countries such as Australia, Holland,
Britain, and New Zealand. Others come from throughout the
U.S. The average age is 24 and many staff return year after
year, ensuring the continuity of programs, traditions, and
the Hidden Valley Philosophy.
Key staff and instructors are professionals in their fields.
Hidden Valley's staff also includes four Registered Nurses.
Our camper:staff ratio is 3:1. |
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We
seek warm, bright, responsive, energetic, child-centered
individuals for our staff of 100 people. Apply
Here
In anticipation of an important professional
relationship, we interview each candidate, looking
for significant personal resources and accomplishments,
talents in camp areas, self-awareness, solid
judgment, and a capacity to participate productively
in a child-centered environment. Reference
and background checks are part of this extensive
off-season process.
We
offer a wide range of job
opportunities.
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Counselors
join us two weeks prior to camper arrival for a professional
training session. We talk about child development
issues and relationship building, safety and first aid,
and the many ways in which we can support children's emerging
sense of independence. Cabin Staff prepare to create
a family atmosphere in the cabin, and instructors practice
classes in their program areas. We can't wait for
campers to arrive!
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Ask Peter and Meg about their hiring, training and ongoing
support of Hidden Valley's counseling and teaching staff.
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 "Our
daughter chose Hidden Valley from the several camps she
saw in videos. But videos cannot guarantee that there will
be a caring person who takes time to notice that a child
who is generally sunny may need some attention from time
to time... I cannot tell you how comforting it was for us
to know that you were there for her when she most needed
a friend... Counselors like yourself make all the difference
in a child's life and I want to thank you from the bottom
of my heart. "
| -Letter
from a Parent to a Counselor |
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Dear
Potential Staff Member,
Thank
you for your interest in Hidden Valley's international summer
camp for boys and girls ages 8 to 13. Hidden Valley is a
special place for young people, and over the years the camp
has attracted unique, dynamic, creative staff people from
throughout the U. S. and around the world. We hope that
you consider joining us this summer.
Not
only is a summer at HVC filled with growth for children,
it also represents a growth opportunity for all staff members.
Please complete this application form
and return it to us as soon as possible.. Please feel free
to contact us at (207) 342-5177 or summer@hiddenvalleycamp.com
with any questions you may have about Hidden Valley.
Looking
forward to hearing from you.
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 "Thank
you for being for being so supportive, sensitive and caring
to the staff as well as the campers... I have personally
grown this summer and this would never have happened were
it not for the two of you... Peter - I shake my head in
amazement watching you jump from meeting to meeting and
still take the time to really be there for everyone on a
personal level... Meg - thanks for being the universal "Mom"
for campers and staff...with such compassion, fairness and
true wisdom."
-
Letter from a Counselor to Meg and
Peter
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Imagine the possibilities...
Staff life at...
Hidden Valley Camp
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Teaching
- Seeing
your dance class on stage
- Recording
a song for the camp tape
- Helping
a child explore, take risks make choices, have
fun
- Teaching
a child to throw a mug
- Hanging
a child's first stained glass piece
- Watching
a child's first dive
- Sending
the Camp Newspaper to press
- Greeting
a camper at the top of the Climbing Wall for the
first time
- Peeking
from backstage at the Camp Play or Musical you
directed
- Llama
trekking to a picnic
- Mentoring
a counselor-in-training
- Travelling
to nearby camps with the soccer team
- Hiking
up Tipi Hill to paint wildflowers
- Handing
a newborn duckling to a child
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Campers
- Giving
campers a voice
- Hiking
Tom's Trail with your cabin
- Helping
a homesick camper feel comfortable
- Lillian's
Tofu Pot Pie
- Blueberry
pancakes on a cool August day
- The
Candy Drop Saunas at the Lake
- Lobster
Banquet
- Making
a Dunking Booth for Fair Day
- Sunset
at the Frye Mountain Fire Tower
- Meeting
Families
- Harmonizing
with your cabin at Pinegrove
- Eating
smores on cabin night
- Lillian's
sausage on a stick on Fair Day
- Making
a difference
- Greeting
the Breakfast Sheriff
- Cabin
Night at the Pool
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Staff
Training
- Challenging
yourself
- Doing
the Zip Line on the High Ropes Course
- Working
with returning counselors
- Driver
training with Wes
- Discussing
counselor techniques
- Exploring
camp with a returning counselor
- Hanging
out in the shade of the Grape Arbor
- Training
with staff in your program area
- Role
playing a homesick camper
- Picnic
by the ocean
- Sharing
summer goals with your co-counselors
- Planning
for the first day and night
- Figuring
out the daily schedule
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Off Time
- Sunset
views at Ledge Mountain
- Canoeing
at sunrise
- Sundaes
at the Superscoop
- Climbing
Mount Katahdin
- L.L.
Bean and outlet shopping in Freeport
- Portland
Sea Dog baseball games
- Evenings
in the stained glass studio
- Moose
sightings
- Movies
at the Railroad Square Cinema
- Browsing
in the Fertile Mind Bookstore
-
Jazz at Bell the Cat
- Making
friends from all over the world
- Checking
out the shops in coastal Camden
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 Camp
Life
Organizing
the HVC Olympics...Playing Condiment Twister on
Gross Day...Dressing up as an alien to promote the
WhoDunit mystery...Making a kid laugh, smile...MC'ing
at the Valley Fest Outdoor Talent Show...Hog Calling
at Meg's Rodeo...Wheel of Misfortune...Sleeping
under the stars...Orbiting at Meg's Organic garden...Contra
Dancing...Hay rides in the Green Pig with Peter...Jamming
with Inca Son...Laughing with Willie Claflin and
Maynard the Moose...Sir Laundrybag Oliver...the
Bangor State Fair...Elvis Day..Ice Sledding down
Tipi Hill at Interest Groups
...and
more!
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Staff Facts
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Population: 275 campers (boys and girls ages 8 to
13) and 100 staff people from throughout the U.S. and
the world.
Location:
South-coastal Maine, about 80 miles northeast of Portland
near the harbor towns of Camden and Belfast. Accessible
to many beaches. Acadia National Park, hiking, rafting,
etc.
Salaries: Competitive. Bonuses for certain experience
and credentials. Free room and board.
Time Off: Generous off-time includes one of two teaching
periods per day and every other night from dinner time
until the following morning. Also, once weekly, staff
have one 36-hour period off.
Use of Facilities: Staff
have access to our waterfront (canoes, etc.), pottery,
stained glass, and other crafts buildings, sports equipment,
300 acres of fields and forest, sauna, staff cabin, and
other facilities during their off time.
 Pre-camp
Training: Our specialized training includes professional
workshops in counseling techniques and a range of leadership
and counseling issues. We enjoy our 12-day orientation,
setting up program areas and visiting coastal Maine as
we build a community among the staff. All staff spend
a day of staff training enjoying our ropes course. Pre-camp
training may include Red Cross lifeguard and ropes training
for those with previous experience.
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Questions and Answers
about working at Hidden Valley
Camp
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What are my responsibilities? Counselors' jobs break
down into two categories: Staff teach or assist 4 workshops
daily. Additionally, staff members live in a cabin with
one or two other counselors, and share responsibility
for the care of a group of campers.
Who is on the staff? We look for mature, creative,
independent people who have interesting backgrounds and
previous experience with children. Staff come from all
over the U.S. as well as about 15 staff people from nations
such as Australia, Sweden, Britain, Holland, etc. The
average age of the staff is 24. We are looking for high
school graduate or older, please.
What are the children like?
About 40 U.S. states and other countries were represented
last summer. This is an active, creative group of children,
oriented to our non-traditional camp values.
What's your philosophy?
H.V.C. is unregimented, non-competitive and non-sectarian.
Campers have many choices within a supportive structure.
In our informal atmosphere, we minimize hierarchy and
foster independence and creativity among staff members.
What's the food like? Excellent! A variety of
fresh foods. Plenty of seconds and choices, including
a lunchtime salad bar. And a balanced vegie alternative
at all meals.
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