Rural Alaska Travel Camp Staff

RURAL PROGRAM: TRAVEL CAMP STAFF

SEASONAL POSITION

Room and Board included!

Seasonal 

Pay Rate: $15.88/hour + $500 bonus if Lifeguard Certified. 

Program Dates: May 19th - August 6th, 2025

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

As a member of the Rural Program Travel Staff, you’ll have the pleasure to guide campers (youth, teens) and families in daily activities within the rural program schedule, with a focus on implementing youth and community-based programs, maintaining strong community relations and cultural relevancy. You'll support Camp Fire’s Promise to provide youth with the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice and discover who they are. In this position, you'll actively participate in leading, teaching, and assisting in all program areas, such as; swimming, cooking, health and nutrition, creative arts, hiking, etc. while you obtain valuable experience in planning, implementing community events, and outreach with community members. You'll have a vital role in building relationships among campers, families, elders, and community members while collaborating with the Rural Program leadership to identify staff and program needs, develop successful programming, and take part in evaluations to collect data about the program. The valuable professional and personal growth experience you'll achieve while in Rural Alaskan communities will give you a lifetime experience you'll carry with you moving forward after the season comes to an end. Join our team and make a lasting different in the lives of our youth!

A day in the life: 

A typical day in a rural community begins with staff announcing the program over the VHF radio from their designated program space, followed by the setup of necessary supplies for the day in a local community facility or school. Teams serve one meal each day at a scheduled time, paired with engaging activities. During the mealtime, staff dine alongside the youth, fostering interaction and connection. After, staff transition into their planned activities, which can take place either in the program space or throughout the community. These activities are developed in collaboration with Indigenous agencies prior to the season's start, forming part of a wellness curriculum called "Strong Kids." Staff work closely with local contacts to ensure the activities align with the community’s current needs.

Staff will get a one-hour break before reconvening for an additional hour to complete daily paperwork and conduct scheduled weekly check-in calls with leadership support. Four evenings a week, the workday concludes with two hours dedicated to Teen/Family Night programs or community events. On the fifth evening, staff focus on completing paperwork, planning, and preparing for the following day.

This reflects a middle of the season type day; first and last weeks in a community may have additional or varying schedules. Teams will have more time dedicated to connecting with community, start up and close out paperwork, and the planning and implementation of community events.

To be successful in this position you will need have cultural awareness and be open to listening and learning from the members of the communities you will be serving. It is essential to have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate positively with other.  It is imperative to be flexible and adaptive to changes and challenges that will likely arise. 

Program Overview 

Program: The Rural Alaska Program travels to primarily Alaska Native communities throughout the state to deliver summer day camp programs to youth, teens, families, and elders. Camp Fire sends 2-3 person staff teams with, supplies, food and activities to many different communities, creating a fun summer camp experience while teaching about healthy life choices, reducing high risk behaviors, and encourage youth and community engagement.

Location: Cooper Landing, Alaska for training and 3 Rural communities within Alaska. Teams of staff travel to 3 communities in June and July, providing a program that lasts 3 weeks in each community. 

Dates: Full season dates are mid-May - early August.  Travel to Rural Communities begins in early June and ends in early August.  Staff start in mid-May to complete a 2 week training in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The season ends in August with program close out. 

Shifts: Rural Travel Camp staff reside in assigned rural communities. Work days typically run from 12pm-9pm with programming from 12pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm, Monday through Friday each week and occasional travel on weekends. Staff generally have two days off each week to explore the local community.

Activities: Travel Camp Staff develop and run summer day camp programs such as team building, sports and games, cold water safety and swimming, outdoor recreation, and community events.  Evenings are reserved for teen based programs.

Pay Rate: $15.88/hour

Lifeguard Certification: If you have a current lifeguard certification you'll be eligible for an end of season bonus!

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: 

• Minimum of 18 years of age required, 21 preferred.
• Current CPR/AED and First Aid from a nationally recognized provider(s).

Preferred:

• Prior experience working with diverse populations (multicultural, age, gender, etc.) in an overnight camp or cultural exchange setting is strongly preferred.

• Professional Rescuer or Wilderness First Aid (WFR) Certification Preferred

• Current Lifeguard Certification from a nationally recognized provider(s). Lifeguard Certification will include a Current CPR for the Professional Rescuer, AED & First Aid Certification preferred. *Bonus is given to those with Lifeguard Certification.

• Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education, education, outdoor recreation, sociology, social work, nursing or another related field is preferred.

YOU MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION BY EMAILING HR AT jobs@campfireak.org. 

Some email correspondence may go to your junk/spam folder. Please be sure to check your junk/spam folder regarding correspondence from Camp Fire Alaska.  Thank you!

*All applicants who are offered employment with Camp Fire Alaska will be subjected to reference checks and a criminal history check through the Alaska Background Check Program. Offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of both the reference checks and criminal history check in accordance with Municipality of Anchorage Child Care Licensing regulations.

Camp Fire Alaska Inclusion Statement:

Camp Fire believes in the dignity and the intrinsic worth of every human being. We welcome, affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, citizenship or immigration status, religion and non-religion, and any other category people use to define themselves or others