Staff Information

Campers and staff live in small rustic cabins that are spread throughout our large, picturesque site, each in their own scenic forest setting. You may share a staff-only cabin, share a staff room in a camper cabin or live in an open room shared with children. In most cases, bathrooms and showers are a few steps away from our cabins.

Most are returning staff who cannot seem to get enough of Surprise Lake Camp. They are a valuable resource for the new staff members we hire every year. Our staff is diverse, drawn from across the United States and from abroad. You’ll work with some really great people with a wide range of interests.

We provide more time off than most camps: one full day a week, some evenings off, and periods off during the day. We think it is very important to take care of you, so that you can “recharge” and be at your best when you take care of the campers.

Time Off:

Relax in camp: Enjoy the Staff Activity Center and its recreational facilities, movie room, internet access, and refreshments. We also host frequent evening staff programs like barbecues, tournaments, crafts nights, and DJ parties.

Being a staff member at Surprise Lake Camp is a big commitment. We expect our staff to give their all to make every camper’s experience as positive as it can be. We ask staff members to dedicate themselves to our Staff Standard of Excellence. The Staff Standard of Excellence is woven into the fabric of everything we do at Surprise Lake Camp. It is the code of principles by which we live.

Every job at Surprise Lake is demanding. The counselors and specialists live, eat, sleep, and play with kids all day long for eight full weeks. The support staff help make the daily camp operation run smoothly. Everyone is expected to work hard, have a good attitude, and like and value children.

We believe that the single most important ingredient at camp is the staff. And since we want the very best for our kids, we expect the very best from our staff.

Your success is our success. To help our staff do the best job possible, Surprise Lake Camp provides a job description to every staff member. Our counselors receive a staff routines manual and our kitchen and office staff also receive staff manuals. These manuals are provided when you come to camp, used throughout our eight day orientation, and referred to for the rest of the season.

Required for all staff, training takes place prior to the opening of camp via zoom and in person. You’ll become immersed in our camp philosophy, and you’ll explore the routines, goals, and methodology for working with each age group. This is a hands-on experience to learn about building relationships, establishing mutual confidence and support, and practicing particular skills.

Many new counselors also have the opportunity to attend our First Aid & CPR course just prior to orientation. The course would ordinarily cost you $200, but we offer it to our staff at no additional charge. It teaches valuable, potentially life-saving skills that will benefit you the rest of your life.

Summer 2025 base salaries for bunk counselors are as follows:

Your salary may be higher than these amounts if you have prior counselor experience, have relevant certifications, or have taken part in certain approved Jewish educational experiences, (separate application required for this last item). In addition, there are many opportunities to earn extra money at camp.

Counselors who complete a session in SLC’s Mountainview unit will receive a bonus.

Please note that Surprise Lake Camp has a no-tipping policy, which is considered best practice by the American Camp Association because it ensures fairness for campers and staff. Instead, we encourage parents to recognize staff members by making a contribution to our scholarship fund in honor of those individuals.