What is Stanford Sierra Camp?
Stanford Sierra Camp is a family camp located on Fallen Leaf Lake near Desolation Wilderness in the Lake Tahoe Basin. During the summer, Stanford alumni and their families come up to Camp for one of 12 weeklong sessions. Camp is staffed primarily by 58 energetic and enthusiastic Stanford students. The camp program includes activities such as kids’ groups (divided by age), hiking, arts and crafts, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tennis, volleyball, archery, naturalist walks and talks, faculty speakers, and so much more.
What is a family camp?
Stanford Sierra Camp is a family camp, which means that, unlike many summer camps, kids’ counselors do not live in cabins with their campers. SSC staffers are responsible for the kids during structured kids’ group hours and the campers stay in cabins with their families at night.
How does the application process work?
All applications are due at the front desk of Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center by 5:00pm on Friday January 19th, 2007. When you drop off your application, sign up for an interview in the binder provided. All applicants are interviewed by two members of the Interview Committee. 60 first-round applicants are chosen to go on to the second-round-interview pool, joining former staffers (usually around 30) who are reapplying. Final selections are made after the second-round interviews, which are conducted by Assistant Director Antja Thompson and Staff Director Laura Creager. Former staff and new applicants will be given equal consideration in the second round of interviews for the 58 available assignments. Decisions are made before spring break.
I applied last year and didn’t get hired. Should I even bother applying again?
Yes! Many successful summer staffers were not hired or were waitlisted the first time they applied.
What qualities do you look for in SSC staffers?
There is no “ideal” staffer; we have no mold to fit. We’re looking for people of all ages, personalities, majors, racial and ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, and nationalities. The unique contributions of each individual staffer make the magic of Sierra Camp. As long as you are hardworking and excited, you can thrive at Camp.
Do I have to work the whole summer?
Yes. When you accept a position as a summer staffer you commit to the full summer. The commitment for summer 2007 is from June 14th until September 8th. Graduating seniors report up to camp on June 18th, the day after graduation.
What is a typical work schedule?
Staffers are typically scheduled for a 47-hour workweek. Each staffer’s schedule is the same from week to week. If you are a kids’ counselor, approximately 25 of your hours will be devoted to your kids’ group. If you are an individual instructor (such as volleyball or crafts) approximately 15 of your hours will be related to your program. Other duties include lifeguarding, meal shifts, working in the camp store, social hours for adults, story hours for kids, rowing, leading morning exercise, leading a talk/discussion on a topic of your interest, cleaning the lodge, to name a few. Each week, all staff participate in Saturday morning cabin cleaning (approximately 4 hours of making beds, scrubbing bathtubs, vacuuming, etc.), one all staff meeting, and an introductory meeting for campers (each counselor group performs a skit for the guests). Each staffer gets one and a half days off per week. Time off beyond your one and a half days is allowed only for emergencies.
What can I do on my days off?
Possible activities for days off are as limitless as your imagination and energy level. Books have been read. Sleep has been had. Sun has been soaked up on the boat dock. More energetically…hiking in Desolation Wilderness, biking, trips to town, Reno, the Bay Area, Yosemite, Shakespeare in Ashland, the Grand Canyon, rafting, spelunking, rock climbing…and so much more. The possibilities are truly endless.
What is the pay?
Compensation for the 12-week season, in addition to room and board, is approximately $5,500 before taxes (a weekly salary plus tips from guests).
Where will I live?
Summer staffers live in cabins shared with an average of 2-3 roommates. The close quarters are made up for by gorgeous views of the lake. Most cabins have been recently renovated. Some cabins have their own bathrooms and others have shared bathrooms nearby.
How's the food?
Camp has amazing food. The kitchen staff creates 3 gourmet meals a day. Meals are served buffet style and there are always plenty of different options. Mealtimes offer an incredible opportunity for staffers to socialize with guests. Guests love getting to know staffers and staffers can make valuable alumni connections.
What about staff training?
Staffers participate in two training sessions. The summer staff comes up to Camp for an orientation weekend in April and receives additional training when they report to Camp mid-June. Ski Dock Instructors come up to Camp for an additional orientation weekend in the spring. In addition, all staffers are required to be CPR, First Aid, and Lifeguard certified. Camp will arrange and pay for these classes during spring quarter for those not already certified.
Can my family and friends come visit me?
Yes. You are welcome to have visitors, but you must follow the Staff Guest Policy. Having personal guests at camp is a privilege and a responsibility. Having a guest cannot interfere with your work performance and your guests are expected to comply with the same code of conduct as summer staffers. Each staffer can have 6 free overnight guests during the course of the summer (i.e. one guest for two nights equals two guests) and after that can pay $25 for an additional overnight visitor.
Many people’s families come up to visit during the summer. Since space at Camp is limited, most families stay nearby in one of the many rental houses or hotels in South Lake Tahoe.
Can I stay connected to the outside world?
Yes. Wireless internet access is available throughout most of Camp. Cell phone service is limited, but there are multiple payphones and calling cards are sold in the Camp office.
What are the benefits of working at Stanford Sierra Camp?
The benefits of working at Camp are numerous: spending the summer in the beautiful Lake Tahoe Basin, making connections with successful Stanford alums in a variety of fields, leadership experience, making money and having virtually no living expenses, developing your own programs, possible internship credit for your major, working with kids, free waterskiing and wakeboarding, showcasing your talents and interests, making lifelong friends… |
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