Unit & Program Staff
Fostering a Vibrant Camp Environment
What makes Wyonegonic so special is the spirit instilled by the staff. They are the heart and soul of our program and community.
About Their Responsibilities
Unit and Program Staff
Are assigned to live and work in one of the three units at Wyonegonic; Junior, Intermediate, and Senior. Cabin Counselors, Unit Staff, Trip Leaders, Unit Directors, and Program Directors work together as a team to provide a safe, caring, and energetic atmosphere for the campers.
Cabin Counselors
Are responsible for the care and well-being of their campers.
Camp life is simple. Counselors must have a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Counselors live with campers in rustic cabins along the lake shore. Your cabin is home for the campers. This is where feelings of comfort, belonging, and creativity are fostered. As a counselor, you aim to create an environment with your cabin group that is like a family within the larger camp community.
Inspiring counselor leadership is the key to a happy summer and it’s important to be actively involved in your campers’ daily lives. Campers come to Wyonegonic to gain values and life skills that will help them grow. As a cabin counselor, you play one of the most important roles in your campers’ growth. You will be assisting each camper with establishing relationships with others, program decisions, and setting goals for the summer.
Counselors are also activity instructors and teach in at least two different program areas. A willingness to work hard, to strive for excellence, and to learn and pay particular attention to each camper will help you be an effective teacher. Counselors are responsible, under the direction of their respective activity supervisors, for planning and executing daily and weekly lesson plans.
Our campers progress through different levels in each activity area. We hope that each child improves upon their skill level while having fun! We also want to entice the campers to try new things and to take safe risks. We do this in a non-competitive and nurturing atmosphere with good attention to individual needs and quality instruction. It is amazing how much our campers learn about themselves and their abilities over the course of the summer.
In addition to your role in the cabin and teaching in activity areas, all unit and program counselors will have additional duties in their respective units. These duties include:
- Planning a weekly evening program
- Taking a turn “on duty” in the evenings
- Supporting the Unit Director
- Other tasks necessary for the functioning of the camp
We are a community that works together for the common good.
Unit Staff
Each unit has additional staff that do not live in cabins with campers and act as support for the whole unit. They are present for all activities, unit events, evening programs, on duty coverage, and meals.
As activity instructors, they teach five activity periods each day. Unit Staff often are assigned to collateral duties that help the Unit Directors complete day-to-day needs. They also fill in for cabin counselors who are on time off, so there is adult supervision during rest hour, free time, and bedtime.
Trip Leaders
They are often planning, packing, or leading groups on out-of-camp hiking and canoe trips. Trip Leaders act as additional Unit Staff when they are in camp and teach activities, attend EPs, and eat meals with their units.
Pooh Corner
Pooh Corner is the unit for our staff children who are younger than camper age, typically 4-7 years old. Staff schedules are dictated by the needs of the young staff children they supervise and the schedules of their parents who are staff members. Morning, afternoon, and evening shifts are all needed. Schedules are very similar to those of the cabin counselors, but Pooh Corner staff do not live with their campers and support the Units when available.
Horseback Riding Staff
Schedules revolve around the daily program of the five activity periods and the caring for the horses and stables. The day starts by feeding the horses and prepping them for the daily lessons.
Riding staff have a break for lunch, rest hour, and dinner. Riding staff often use evenings to plan lessons or special events like the horse show or gymkhana or are encouraged to get involved with camp evening programs.