Join Our Staff
Who We Are
Welcome to Camp Kinneret! We are a summer day camp that prides itself on creating a wholesome and supportive environment for our campers and staff. We call ourselves a child-centered program, meaning that our attitude and approach to everything we do at camp focuses on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere where individuals can be themselves without fear of judgment and where every person belongs. The massive amounts of growth we see would not be possible without dedicated, caring individuals like you who want to make a difference in young people’s lives. We invite you to explore what Kinneret has to offer!
Why Work at Camp Kinneret?
Here at Kinneret, we offer a lot of the classics. We play gaga and shoot arrows at archery. We learn to ride ponies and go on hikes (to the Lemonade Tower!). We sing songs and play field games. But the thing that sets us apart from other camps is our dedicated focus on developing a growth mindset for our campers and staff. We believe that our campers and staff have a lot of potential – they may be great at some skills, and they may still be working on improving their other skills. We have created a welcoming environment for our staff and campers to push themselves outside of their comfort zones, try new things, and learn to succeed as well as struggle. If you’re looking for a job where you can grow as a leader while having lots of fun, then Kinneret is the place for you!
We’re Committed to Camper Growth (How We Help You Help Campers)
- Camp is a valuable opportunity to coach campers on critical life skills. Here at Kinneret, we strive to nurture five themes of life skills through our program: Independence, Teamwork, Creativity, Friendship, and Community. When you work with campers, you will try to maximize opportunities for your kids to practice these five Kinneret Roots.
- We keep our camp groups small on purpose. You will have 10 – 15 campers a day, and at least one high schooler in training or a co-counselor with you and your group throughout the summer. Our small group sizes and teams of counselors and high schoolers ensure that each of our staff members finds the moment to connect with their campers on a deeper level.
- We want you to spend quality time with your campers. Our 4- and 5- week session structure allows you to get to know campers over an extended, consistent period of time, which gives you more room to facilitate growth within your campers.
We’re Committed to Staff Development (How We Help You Grow)
- Staff attend 4 days of orientation, receiving training in: team building, conflict resolution, group management, creative problem-solving, and much more. We believe in active learning, and provide our staff with multiple hands-on opportunities to practice what they learn throughout the orientation program.
- Our staff attend weekly meetings to receive on-the-job training and ongoing education.
- Staff receive friendly one-on-one support from a Leadership Team member, who’s there to guide you as you set goals, overcome challenges, and develop skills. We emphasize this relationship as a partnership – Leadership Team members are there to help you in any way you need.
Build a 21st Century Resume by Working at Camp
The Partnership for 21st-Century Learning has identified the 4 skills (or the 4 Cs) that today’s employers believe are most crucial to success in the workforce: Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration. Camp work requires you to use and hone each of these skills every single day, all while enjoying a job that gets you outside, gets you laughing and playing, and turns you into a role model for children.
Here is just a sampling of the roles you’ll practice this summer that will help you develop your 4 Cs:
- Good communicator – Our staff members interact with people aged 4 – 400, which means that they must learn how to connect with people across all age ranges.
- Life-long learner – Our staff members embrace a growth mindset. They know that there’s always room to learn more and improve, and are prepared for any challenges that come their way.
- Community player – Sometimes our staff members are bombarded with what feels like a million challenges all at once. Staff and the Leadership Team members work together daily to overcome problems, develop new ideas, and best support our campers. But that’s okay, our staff members use their resources like Leadership Team members and fellow staff members to problem solve together and come out stronger.
- Creative thinker – Our staff members love to add twists to old games and activities to make them new, fresh, and engaging. They learn how to think on the fly!
- Detail-oriented worker – Our staff members are often in charge of more than one camper at once, so they learn how to always have eyes on everyone. Details are important!
- Leader – Our staff members are responsible for little people, which means that they must practice being responsible leaders that their campers can always lean on.
- Problem solver – Staff members are always problem solving how to help their campers grow. Everybody wants to go first at archery? Our staff members strategize a fair system of choosing who goes when. A camper struggles with losing honorably? Our staff members invent a game that focuses on good sportsmanship rather than winning. Staff members develop the skills they need to efficiently resolve problems and challenges. And if you are feeling stuck, our Leadership Team members will assist you in finding a solution that fits your goal and approach!
Kinneret Staff Positions
At Kinneret, we have two broad themes of staff members: group counselors and specialists. Group counselors spend their whole summer with one group of campers, lead the day and facilitate activities for their group, and work with their Leadership Team member to create a memorable summer for their campers. Specialists spend their summer at an activity (like ponies or arts and crafts), get to spend time with multiple different groups every day, and introduce campers to new projects and programs at their activity. You can learn more about Kinneret’s staff positions here! (redirect to staff positions page)
How to Apply
Tips and Tricks for Submitting a Successful Application
Online application
How do I work on my application?
Start an application by clicking the “Start My Application” button below. Note that you will need your employment history and contact information for three references handy (one personal and two professional).
Who should I include in my references?
We ask for your references so that we can learn more about you from the people around you. You should pick people that you know well, and who have insight into your leadership experiences and work ethic.
What should I include in my leadership experiences?
We want to hear about your past leadership experiences that have helped prepare you to become a camp staff member. If you have previous experience working with children, that’s great! Tell us about what your roles and responsibility were and what working with children was like for you. If you don’t have extensive experience with children, that’s okay too! We are looking for staff members who value having a growth mindset and are willing to make a difference in children’s lives. Tell us about your previous experiences and what you have learned from participating in them.
Group Interview
Will the group interviews be in person or virtual?
This upcoming season, we’re offering virtual and in-person options for the group interview. You may pick whether you want to attend a group interview over Zoom or in-person at camp. Make sure to check whether the date you select has the virtual/in-person format that you want to pick!
What should I expect for my group interview?
The group interview is where you get to meet camp and we get to meet you! You will be in a group interview with 5-10 other prospective staff members, and will participate in discussions about camp and children, work together as a team on a project, and teach something to the interview group that you might teach to children at camp.
What should I teach?
You will have 3-5 minutes to teach something to your group, and you can pick anything you want! Many applicants choose to teach a song, craft, or skill. Please note that if you choose to attend an in-person group interview and will need supplies for your teaching activity, you must remember to bring any materials with you. If you attend a virtual interview and your teaching activity needs supplies, please let us know before your interview so that people have time to gather the necessary supplies (please pick easily accessible items for virtual interviews).
Who will I be teaching?
The other applicants will be your “campers” for this exercise. You will want to treat them as you would a group of campers. You will let the group know the age group this activity is designed for and then you will jump right into teaching! Everyone will get a chance to be the teacher, while the rest of the applicants get a chance to participate as campers!
Individual Interview
Will the individual interview be in person or virtual?
This is up to your personal comfort level and preference! You may choose to have your individual interview over Zoom, or you may come to our winter office for your interview. Please let us know what you would prefer.
What should I expect for my individual interview?
This is the last step in the interview process! During your individual interview, you will meet with the camp director to talk about Kinneret’s philosophy, your goals and expectations, and the potential staff role you’ll be in this summer. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you weren’t able to find answers to prior to the interview.
What happens next?
After you meet with the camp director, we finish up our end of the hiring process. We’ll check your references, see if you’d make a good fit for the summer, and then we’ll notify you soon whether you are hired.
Please note that this may take us a while! Sometimes checking your 3 references takes a couple of weeks (like because of missed phone calls or unavailable mutual times), but the reason that we check references in the first place is because we want to get to know you better. We want to make sure that you, along with the rest of your fellow staff members, are a part of a cohesive, supportive, and collaborative staff community. Hang tight, and we’ll get back to you soon!
FAQs
What makes working at Camp Kinneret unique?
What are three words to describe what Camp Kinneret is like?
Caring, growth-mindset, and supportive.
I noticed that Camp Kinneret offers longer sessions than some of the other camps in the area. What’s special about having 4- and 5- week sessions?
Our campers enroll in camp for a whole 4- or 5-week session (or both!), which means that they get to spend a lot of time with their counselors and group. As a staff member, you would get the opportunity to really get to know your campers because you will spend a lot of quality time together. You will learn about their favorite hobbies and animals, their favorite trees and juice bar (frozen fruit juice popsicles we end each day with) flavors, and most importantly, about how you will make a lasting impact on your campers.
What’s the staff culture like at Camp Kinneret?
Our staff are really proud of the caring, engaging, and supportive environment they get to work in during the summer! Our staff members are ready to help each other overcome obstacles, hype each other in friendly singing competitions, and create a wholesome experience for their campers as well as each other.
Where exactly is camp?
Where is camp located?
We are in the heart of Agoura Hills, located at 29646 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301.
I noticed that that Camp Kinneret shares its address with the Gateway Church. Is Kinneret affiliated with the church?
We are not! We lease the site from the Gateway Church, and we are not affiliated with the church. Camp Kinneret is a non-religious, non-sectarian program for all children and staff.
Does Camp Kinneret provide housing for camp staff?
Our camp is a day camp, which means that all staff and campers go home at the end of the day. We are unable to provide housing for our staff, and our staff members must be able to arrange their own summer housing. If you live within 30 minutes of any of our bus pick-up points (listed in our transportation section), you are close enough to work with us.
Do I have to drive to Agoura every day?
No! We have a number of buses that pick up in various places along the 101 corridor from Studio City, out to Simi Valley, and Newbury Park. See below for more information.
How does transportation work?
Even though our camp is in Agoura Hills, we get staff and campers from all over Conejo and San Fernando Valleys and the greater Los Angeles area! Many of our campers and staff do not drive all the way to camp every day, and most of our camp families and staff participate in Kinneret’s transportation program.
Kinneret’s buses run in Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Calabasas, Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, and Moorpark. If you live within 30 minutes of any of our bus pick-up points, then you are close enough to work with us.
If you join our bus staff team (and most staff members do), then a part of your job would be to ride the bus to and from camp every day, making the bus experience fun and engaging for all. So your camp day will actually start much closer to home and your commute will be part of your work day!
Kinneret’s buses run in Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Calabasas, Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, and Moorpark. If you live within 30 minutes of any of our bus pick-up points, then you are close enough to work with us.
If you join our bus staff team (and most staff members do), then a part of your job would be to ride the bus to and from camp every day, making the bus experience fun and engaging for all. So your camp day will actually start much closer to home and your commute will be part of your work day!
I am an international applicant. Can I still apply?
If you have a local place that you can stay during our summer season, then absolutely. Unfortunately, we don’t have any housing opportunities on our site.
Who are we looking for?
What is the time commitment for the summer?
Dates will be added as we get closer to the summer, but the summer starts with a week of orientation, followed by a 5- week session and then a 4- week session.
Camp is a full ten-week commitment. Missing time is difficult to accommodate, and must be approved in advance. Contact us today if you are concerned about potential schedule conflicts.
Camp is a full ten-week commitment. Missing time is difficult to accommodate, and must be approved in advance. Contact us today if you are concerned about potential schedule conflicts.
How long is the typical camp day for staff members?
Daily hours vary depending on position, but most staff work approximately 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. We also have staff meetings Tuesday evenings and two Friday night Sleepouts.
How much do staff members earn over the summer?
Our staff are really proud of the caring, engaging, and supportive environment they get to work in during the summer! Our staff members are ready to help each other overcome obstacles, hype each other in friendly singing competitions, and create a wholesome experience for their campers as well as each other.
What does Camp Kinneret look like in action?
What does the typical day at camp look like?
We have 8 activities scheduled for every day in camp. Two of these activities always include swim and lunch, and the other 6 change daily and rotate between active and creative play, adventure, and arts and nature. You can check out the activities we offer here. (redirect to activities page) No two days at Kinneret are ever the same!
Here’s a sample schedule of what your day could look like.
Here’s a sample schedule of what your day could look like.
What’s a Leadership Team for?
The Leadership Team is built of 5-7 camp professionals and educators who are there to support counselors and their groups make the most of their summers. Your Leadership Team member will encourage you to set and accomplish your goals toward becoming a better leader, help you with any challenges you may encounter, and most importantly, come hang out and play with your group.
I’m ready to apply! What’s next?
How do I apply?
The 2022 summer staff application will be available in December!
Click “Join Our Staff” at the bottom of the page or click on the “How to Apply” tab for more information.
Looking for a part-time position working with children during the school year? Growing Outdoors & Developing Outdoors are currently operating before and after-school programs in the Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake, and Thousand Oaks areas. Click below to find out more. (add in links for Growing Outdoors and Developing Outdoors)
Click “Join Our Staff” at the bottom of the page or click on the “How to Apply” tab for more information.
Looking for a part-time position working with children during the school year? Growing Outdoors & Developing Outdoors are currently operating before and after-school programs in the Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake, and Thousand Oaks areas. Click below to find out more. (add in links for Growing Outdoors and Developing Outdoors)