Join our Staff

Learn more about open roles below.

Working at The Main Idea

At The Main Idea, we create a magical summer for 130 girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Are you ready to grow, learn, and change, digging deep into yourself to discover the values you want to pass forward to the next generation? Can you balance self-care with the incredible energy and excitement of a roaring camp environment? Are you ready to enter into community with fifty-three years of wacky traditions and the people who love them?

All counselors are specialists, teaching in one of our eleven activity departments. Female counselors live in the bunks with campers, while male counselors have separate accommodations.

In addition to role specific responsibilities, all staff members

  • Model appropriate behavior and peer relations at all times

  • Maintain and uphold all policy and procedures laid out in the staff handbook

  • Participate in the unpacking of materials, inventory collection and packing up of all material at the end of the session

Bunk Responsibilities

In addition to the roles outlined below, each activities counselor of the staff will have a bunk responsibilities designation.

    • Live in assigned bunk with campers

    • Set up bunk in preparation for the campers arrival:

      • Make beds, prepare job wheel, make name tags, label cubbies

      • Prep for: cabin rules poster, ice-breakers and get to know you games

    • Provide daily care and supervision to campers in the bunk

      • Ensure that the campers get up by the warning bell

      • Ensure that the campers get dressed and ready for the day

      • Ensure that the campers who take meds get to the nurses station when meds need to be administered

      • Help the campers with inspection chores; teaching and giving support on how to correctly complete their assigned chores

      • Supervise campers during rest hour when scheduled

      • Attend and participate in the evening activity

      • Supervise your bunk of campers during milk line, make sure that campers who take night time meds get to the nurses station

      • Assist campers with night time routines for bed and supervise until asleep

      • If you are on bunk duty you are responsible to stay in the bunk the duration of the night even after campers are asleep

      • If you are on camp duty, you must stay in the bunk until campers are asleep, once they are asleep, you are then allowed to leave the bunk

    • Model and guide campers through conflicts and disruptions in the bunk

    • Supervise and mentor the junior staff assigned to your bunk

    • Attend all meals and participate in table talk with the campers

    • Report any maintenance issues to the office

    • Assist the Assistant Director in bunk assignments during pre-camp

    • Work with bunk staff on completing all job wheels and bed assignments prior to campers’ arrival

    • Be available in the off-season as needed while preparing for the upcoming session

    • Help Head of Junior Staff and Junior staff in completion of camp store during pre-camp

    • Mentor and support bunk counselors in meeting job expectations

    • Facilitate camper-related pre-camp trainings

    • Schedule meeting with bunks to discuss camper concerns

    • Report directly to the Director any maintenance concerns in regards to the bunks, the bathrooms, and the grove

    • Ensure that the bathrooms and shower house is cleaned daily by housekeeping staff. Report to the Director if bathrooms need to be pressure washed

    • Ensure that all bunks are kept in good, clean order. Do daily morning inspections to give feedback to bunk counselors and campers on what is looking good in the bunks and what needs improvement

    • Make sure that bunk staff and junior staff are accountable to their duty schedules

    • Go around at bedtime and make sure that all of the bunks are settled and staff have the support that they need

    • Ensure that inspection, rest hour and bedtime goes according to expectations

    • Help administration team with any jobs around camp that need completion

    • Ensure that all bunks stay in the arrangement that is in accordance with state law

    • Manage the laundry room. Be responsible for pee laundry and lice laundry.

    • Hold the laundry room key and ensure there is no trespassing

    • Attend daily administrative staff meetings

    • Provide exemplary role modeling of expected behaviors and peer relations during all on duty time

    • Attend all scheduled activities during the day

    • You are responsible for checking your schedule daily

    • Report to the office on your assigned Rest Hour duties

    • Report to all evening activities on the nights that you are not assigned off (2 nights off a session)

    • Set up milk line every night that you are not assigned off

    • Report to night duty when scheduled and follow night duty expectations

    • Support and guide campers during times of peer conflict

    • Engage with campers during all activity times, fostering a positive and appropriate counselor/camper relationship

    • Remain in public areas of camp at all times. Male staff are only allowed in the grove when accompanied by another female staff or in case of emergency

    • Maintain cleanliness of the male bunk house

Roles

    • Work as a team with department head and fellow activity instructors to create and present daily lesson plans

    • Supervise and mentor the junior staff assigned to your activity area

    • Check and follow your schedule prior to the start of the day

    • Show up to activities on time and ready to work

    • Participate in all activities and actively interact with the campers, modeling enthusiasm and engagement

    • Help keep activity area clean and organized

    • Report any maintenance concerns to Department Head

    • Model and guide campers through conflicts and disruptions during activities

    • Uphold standards of any certifications held for job requirement (department specific)

    • Help manage supplies at camp. Check in daily with the Assistant Director about what supplies are needed

    • Enter all purchases into the Main Idea purchase log

    • Be a resource for counselors and junior staff looking to decompress, process, and have informal conversations. Push any concerns to the Head Counselor or Head of Junior Staff.

    • Check in with the Director daily

    • Help with transportation as needed

    • Model appropriate behavior and peer relations at all times

    • Be available around camp and at activities

    • Manage lice checks during Camper Intake Day

    • Attend Pre-pre camp with administrative team

    • Responsible for being present throughout camp during activity times

    • 2 hour office duty daily

    • Mentor and support activity staff in meeting job expectations

    • Ensure that staff are being accountable to their schedules

    • Ensure that department heads are following the lesson plan schedule and that activities are being fully taught and all staff are participating in activities

    • Maintain communication with the scheduler to ensure that all scheduling needs are being met.

    • Facilitate driving tests during Pre-Camp

    • Report to the Director any serious conduct issues with staff during activity times

    • Responsible for the radios - labeling, assigning, and ensuring they are used and returned charged and not lost

    • Supervise the night duty staff

    • Assist head of trips as needed

    • Help administration team with any jobs around camp that need completion

    • Complete staff evaluations at the end of the session.

    • Facilitate relevant trainings during Pre-Camp

    • Facilitate daily staff meetings (after lunch)

    • Facilitate all announcements at each meal

    • Plan, organize, and facilitate counselor gatherings

    • Attend morning meetings with administrative staff (2nd period)

    • Model appropriate behavior and peer relations at all times in the presence of campers and staff

    • Responsible for all junior staff programming

    • Facilitate junior staff Pre-Camp trainings and activities

    • Commit to a maximum of 20 hours of individual preparation for the upcoming session during the off-season

    • Work directly with the Scheduler on any specific scheduling needs for junior staff

    • Work directly with junior staff in planning and facilitating all evening activities and the camp carnival.

    • Supervise all evening activities and ensure that they are run according to camp expectations

    • Responsible for working with the Assistant Director on acquiring any materials needed for all evening activities and carnival

    • Schedule and facilitate daily meetings with junior staff

    • Provide mentoring and support as the Junior staff learn and master their roles at camp

    • Maintain appropriate and non-biased mentor relationships with each junior staff member

    • Directly responsible for the unpacking and organizing of the camp store

    • Responsible for the supervision of daily upkeep and running of camp store

    • Responsible for consulting with appropriate department heads and bunk counselors and then filling out a brief junior staff evaluation on each junior staff member

    • Maintain accountability towards any scheduled times you are expected to be with junior staff

    • Fill in and help out with anything needed assistance up in the office

    • Responsible for ensuring all areas are clean and put back in order following all junior staff run activities including carnival

    • Must be available during activity times around camp to support and supervise members of the junior staff

    • Responsible for all programming related to the Leadership Program

    • Commit to a maximum of 20 hours of individual preparation for the upcoming session during the off-season

    • Work directly with the Scheduler on any specific scheduling needs for leadership campers

    • Work with Drama on facilitating the leadership play OR find appropriate alternative

    • Work with Trips on facilitating the L1 and L2 trips

    • Work directly with leadership in planning and facilitating occasional evening activities

    • Schedule and facilitate meetings with leadership campers

    • Provide mentoring and support as the leadership campers learn and master their roles at camp.

    • Responsible for consulting with appropriate department heads and then filling out a brief evaluation on each leadership camper

    • Maintain appropriate and non-biased mentor relationships with each leadership camper

    • Serve as the lead bunk counselor in a leadership bunk and follow expectations outlined for Bunk Counselors

    • Fill in and help out with anything needed assistance in the office or around camp

    • Check in daily with Assistant Director

    • Must be available during activity times around camp to support activities

    • Responsible for the planning, assembling, and implementation of a 2-day overnight trip and activities, including rain alternatives. 

    • Unpack Camp Craft at the beginning of Pre-Camp 

    • Support the Head of Leadership in making reservations for Leadership-specific activities during the trip

    • Supervise Trips staff, and communicate any concerns with the Head Counselor 

    • Manage the set up of the two lean-tos on Camp Walden’s property

    • Work with the Scheduler and communicate the schedule of bunk trips

    • Work with the Head of the Kitchen to prepare the menu and packing of food for the trips 

    • Ensure each trip has a fully stocked first aid kit for the van

    • Work with the Camp Nurse to create binder with medication list, emergency contacts, and other health information needed when leaving camp 

    • Manage the daily cleanliness of Camp Craft. Make sure that the space is clean before closing each day. 

    • Work with each bunk to prepare for their trip prior to departure. 

    • Work with the Assistant Director to make sure all supplies are purchased

    • Unpack, clean, and fuel vans for each bunk trip 

    • Work with the Head of Operations on van assignments for bunk trips

    • Return medications and MARs to the Health Center, and all receipts and cash to the Director after each trip 

    • Communicate with Maintenance any issues with the leantos 

    • Check in with each campsite between 8:30p-9:30p before the end of each night. 

    • Coordinate all payments with vendors. 

    • Wash all sleeping bags and clean leantos and tents after each trip. 

    • Make sure the vans return to van parking lot after each trip 

    • Make sure fires are safely put out

    • Facilitate Trips Skills training during Pre-Camp 

    • Commit to a maximum of 20 hours of individual preparation during the off season for the upcoming camp session

    • Take inventory and pack Camp Craft at the end of the session.

  • Primary qualifications include:

    • Current RN certification and license from the Maine State Board of Nursing or a license from compact state

    • Current CPR/AED certification

    • Valid driver’s license

    • 21+ years of age

    Primary responsibilities include:

    • Work as part of a team of 2-3 nurses to care for both campers, junior staff, and staff (around 135 minors and 45 adults)

    • Perform first aid, as necessary

    • Oversee and administer medication

    • Maintain health care log

    • Help educate activity and bunk counselors on their role in healthcare plan

    • Manage the health center

    • Prepare and maintain first aid kits in camp

    • Accompany injured or sick campers and junior staff to the hospital

    • Chaperone sick campers and junior staff back to their homes, if necessary

    • Ensure proper implementation of standing orders

    • Assist with the preseason set-up and the postseason closing of the Health Center, which includes performing an opening/closing inventory of all supplies and equipment and ordering supplies/equipment as needed and approved

    COVID-19: The safety of our staff and campers is our top priority. We have extensive plans and a multi-faceted policy to deal with the pandemic at The Main Idea. We are following the CDC, ACA and the State of Maine guidelines very carefully and keeping up to date with changes.

    • Review all camper paperwork and ensure 100% completion

    • Call camper families and fill in blanks for any missing information

    • Call all camper families and remind them of the transportation information for pick up and/or drop off times and locations

    • Review all staff paperwork and make sure that all items are filed in their employee file

    • Collect all missing paperwork for staff

    • Collect receipts from staff for travel reimbursement

    • Answer phones, return phone calls, manage messages, answer emails in the Director’s inbox as instructed, assist administrative staff with any other needs

    • Update Google calendar with camper and staff birthdays

    • Complete any paperwork filing

    • Manage credit and debit cards

    • Manage the bell schedule for camp

    • Work with the Director in collecting I-9/W-4’s

    • Work with the Director in collecting all paperwork needed for state health inspection (if applicable)

    • Work with the Director to record SFSP claims

    • Work closely with the Assistant Director on assembling camper transportation packets for chaperones to and from camp

    • Support the Assistant Director in assembling and organizing camper roster for check in day

    • Work with administrative staff on any additional office needs

    • Schedule all campers to a full day of activities

    • Coordinate with Head of Leadership on scheduling the Leadership Program (ie. Leadership play, meetings, etc.)

    • Coordinate with the Head of Trips in scheduling the bunks to do trip prep and to be out on trips

    • Model appropriate behavior and peer relations at all times in the presence of campers

    • Maintain and uphold all policy and procedures laid out in the staff handbook

    • Schedule all staff to activities

    • Schedule all staff one period off during the day

    • Schedule bunk staff

    • Schedule non-bunk staff

    • Print and distribute EAPs with bunk maps and fire location maps to all activities and bunks

    • Schedule all staff two evenings off during the 10 day session

    • Coordinate with the Head of Operations for all scheduling for transportation needs

  • Position Purpose

    The camp social worker / licensed counselor / licensed professional is responsible for monitoring the emotional wellbeing of all campers and support the staff in the camp community during the course of the camp session by assisting individuals to eliminate or replace ineffective (disruptive) or negative behaviors with appropriate and positive actions.

    Essential Job Functions

    • Participate in mandatory staff training and develop a thorough understanding of the behavioral challenges and expectations of the campers as it relates to camp

    • Assist in providing training to staff during pre-camp

    • Review every camper’s file for the purpose of assessing and anticipating specific individual needs. Identify individual needs of campers and discuss behavioral plans with camp counselors prior to the campers’ arrival

    • Observe and interact with campers and staff to promote a positive experience at camp

      • Work one-on-one with campers who are experiencing difficulty participating in the program

      • Intervene if campers are experiencing significant behavioral challenges

      • Help campers and staff resolve conflicts appropriately

      • Provide support and guidance to staff as they deal with camper’s behavior problems

      • Be available to debrief campers / staff in situations where emergency actions are needed or advised

      • Be available to step in situations that may arise during the camp and provide necessary assistance to the camper prior to allowing the camper to return to activities

    • Consult and guide staff to monitor the overall emotional and social wellbeing of the community

      • Provide emotional support to staff as they deal with camp-related personal challenges.

      • Provide assistance in mediating staff conflicts and monitor staff morale

    • Work as liaison with parents referencing camp behavior policy in communicating problem behaviors

      • Be available to contact parents with Camp Director to address observed problem behaviors and/or campers' failure to adapt to camp setting

      • Assist in communicating to parents along with camp Director regarding potential camp dismissal

    • Keep Director and appropriate supervisory staff informed of all situations and issues as they arise

      • Provide daily updates through informal conversation and formal documentation to Director and supervisory staff

      • Be proactive and keep the Camp Director informed regarding any potential issue that might question our ability to have a participant remain at camp

      • Make recommendations to the Camp Director in making sure that any necessary follow-up with families occur

    Other Job Duties

    Contribute to documentation of any verbal and written communication as requested

    Relationships

    Camp Social Worker / Licensed professionals have regular relationships with campers, staff, nurses, and parents/guardians.

    Qualifications (Minimum Education and Experience)

    Suitable candidate must have a licensure (at least Masters Degree) in Social Work / Counseling / or Psychology and have previous experience of working with children and/or young adults.

    Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

    • Working knowledge of working with children and youth with special emotional, behavioral, cognitive, communicative & or physical challenges

    • Comfortable working in an outdoor setting where campers and staff live and experience developing a positive community and active camp activities. Work hours may be beyond a typical eight hour day

    • Able to work in an informal manner without the typical clinical life-style

    • Willing and able to work as part of a team with both professionals and committed people

    • Able to identify and use opportunities in the daily life of camp termed “teachable moments”

    Physical and Emotional Aspects of the Job

    • Work hours may go beyond a typical eight hour day

    • Comfortable with extensive participation in active camp activities; such as, swimming, boating, archery, group games, crafts and art, singing, team building activities

    • Able to work in natural settings with heat and rain

    • Limited time off during the two week camp session

    • Able to share living quarters with other staff of the same gender

    • Physically and emotionally stable and healthy

    • Assemble the summer yearbook for campers and staff by the given due date

    • Organize pictures of campers and staff for the yearbook. At times, will need to take pictures necessary for the yearbook

    • Work with Director and Assistant Director to ensure all necessary components are included in the yearbook

    • Create the slideshow for the end of the year and manage its presentation on the last night of camp.

    • Utilize personal computer for purposes of organizing and assembling the yearbook and slideshow.

    • Be available to support the office and/or other departments as needed.