Job Descriptions

The success of any camp depends on a positive, enthusiastic, kind, caring and supportive counselor staff. Our staff, consisting of young women 18 years and older, has demonstrated a commitment to the well being of children.  The counselors have skills in one or more of the activities offered and serve as positive role models for our campers through their teaching and their love of camp.

Every staff applicant goes through a thorough application process which is designed to determine strength of character, competency for a particular activity, and the ability to work cooperatively as a member of our team.  Each counselor signs an employee agreement (commonly referred to as a contract) which states our expectations of the staff members, as well as our policies on and intolerance of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use.  Counselors are also expected to abide by the curfew rules, support the Alleghany traditions, communicate concerns and care for the campers in a loving, unselfish, and professional manner.

Tent Counselor Duties

Each counselor will live in a tent with four campers. It is the counselor's responsibility to ensure that each of these four campers is safe at all times, follows the camp rules, and follows her activity schedule daily. The counselor will also form close bonds with each camper, ensuring that she is safe, thriving, and enjoying her time at Alleghany. In addition to supervising these four campers, each counselor teaches one or two activities, which are described below. There are four activity periods per day, and every counselor is assigned to teach during each period.

Along with these basic duties and expectations, counselors are also expected to:

• supervise and facilitate at least one evening activity per term, which includes planning and executing the activity
• supervise a table of campers at each meal
• be on Patrol at least three times per term, which includes supervising a number of tents after taps
• communicate with campers' parents through weekly postcards
• keep track of campers' progress in activities, and chart awards or honors achieved
• maintain a professional and unselfish attitude
• uphold Alleghany's ideals and traditions throughout the term, especially at all times when campers are present

Job Descriptions

ACTIVITIES
Archery:  The staff teaches basic archery skills using American Archery Association rules and classifications.  Knowledge of the sport and prior experience are required.

Arts and Crafts:  A wide variety of crafts are taught, including:  tie-dying, pottery, painting, weaving, beadwork, basket weaving, woodwork, leather tooling, and simple sewing projects.  Some knowledge of these skills is required. 

Canoeing:  The canoe staff teaches basic strokes and advanced handling of a canoe on the river.  Must have prior canoe experience and Lifeguard training (Kayaking is not taught).

Dance:  Dance staff will separate campers in to small groups and help them choreograph a dance to be performed at the end of each term. Some modern dance training and experience is preferred.

Drama:  Basic theatre skills of sets, scenery, costuming, and simple makeup are taught through the production of one act plays.  Knowledge of theatre arts is required.

Land Sports:  Encompasses beginner and intermediate skills of all the games and sports played on land (except tennis).  Counselors need a working knowledge of all of the following sports, but should be able to specialize in at least two:  field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, kickball, volleyball, basketball, and general fitness.

Rifle:  Basic skills in the use and care of a .22 caliber rifle are taught using National Rifle Association standards and rules.  All of the rifle staff is trained by an NRA instructor during pre-camp at no charge to the counselor. Prior riflery experience at Camp Alleghany preferred.

Choir:  The choir staff will teach choral music and help with the Sunday choir.  Knowledge of camp songs and folk songs preferred.  Skill with a guitar or piano preferred but not required.

Swimming:  Skills-based instructional swim program.  Knowledge of strokes and swimming skills required. WSI required of department head and Lifeguard Training Certification required of all the staff. 

Tennis:  Tennis staff must have thorough knowledge of skills, rules, drills, and teaching techniques for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players.  Prior coaching or competitive play is preferred.

Wild World: Particular knowledge of overnight camping, fire building, day hiking, and all the safety these events encompass is required.  Also must focus on reducing the human effect on the environment.  Prior knowledge of the local camp trails not required, as these are taught during staff training.

DEPARTMENT HEADS
Each department is headed by a counselor who has advanced experience and/or skill in the activity.  She organizes the lessons and delegates the daily activities and lessons to her staff.  It is her job to identify the particular skills of each member of her staff such that they will add the most to that department.  Department heads also must write a report at the end of the summer summarizing the events of her department for that year in addition to evaluating each member of her staff.    

UNIT HEADS
Junior and Senior Camp are each divided into four units that are supervised by an experienced and mature counselor.  The purpose of the Unit Head is to supervise the counselors who live in that unit and to help them with their campers.  She mediates issues and sees that the campers and counselors follow camp rules on tent row.  She also facilitates activities for Unit Nights on specifics nights of camp.

HEAD COUNSELORS
Heads of Camp, Assistant Heads of Camp, JC Mom

Heads of Camp
Each camp has a Head Counselor who supervises her respective camp (Junior or Senior), sees that the Unit Heads and counselors are doing their jobs correctly, and keeps in constant communication with the directors regarding the well-being of the campers and staff. The Head Counselors must be organized, energetic, and mature. All Head and Assistant Head Counselors should be 21 years of age or older.

Assistant Heads of Camp
The Assistant Head of Senior Camp is in charge of our Upstarts, who are the oldest campers in camp. The purpose of the Upstart program is to help the older campers begin to understand the duties and responsibilities of a counselor. It is important that the Assistant Head of Senior Camp be someone who has been a camper and an Upstart at Alleghany.

The Assistant Head of Junior Camp helps the Head of Junior Camp in any way she needs it.  Additionally, she is also aids the Program Director in planning the evening activities and the two carnivals.  The Assistant Head of Junior Camp should be organized and creative, and love junior campers!

JC Mom
The JC Mom is in charge of the Junior Counselors, who are Alleghany’s counselors-in-training. The JC Mom supervises the Junior Counselors in their daily activities, and facilitates a JC class every morning to discuss and review counseling duties and techniques.

Camp Staff

1. Doctors and Nurses
   Alleghany has a medical doctor and registered nurse on staff at all times during the summer, residing on camp grounds.
2. Store and Post Office Managers
   These important staff members organize and delegate the duties and responsibilities of managing the camp store and post office.
3. Head Hopper
   The Head Hopper is responsible for the camp wait staff. She organizes and supervises the Hoppers and is present with them for each meal of the day.

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