How to Apply
Are you ready to say “YES!” to joining a talented team of men and women who are serious about having fun and helping kids learn how to be successful in the journey of growing up? Are you ready to be a part of a team that delivers award-winning programming designed to create fun memories where children and youth experience God’s love?
If your answer is a resounding “YES!” go ahead and get started on the online employment application.
If you are applying to be an Assistant Counselor (AC), please complete a work permit
Still have questions about our employment opportunities? Review our Employment FAQs at the bottom of the page or contact Parent Services by calling (301) 989-CAMP (2267).
Here’s the truth—working at Camp Sonshine Maryland is tough. It’s not a vacation, nor is it just a job. It’s a mission; a life-changing experience that engages every part of your body, soul, and spirit. Most of our summer counselors will tell you that spending a summer here is one of the most challenging things they’ve ever done. However, they’ll also tell you that every moment was completely worth it. Through serving others, they were able to discover God’s purpose for their lives.
When you say “YES!” to Camp Sonshine, you are not only saying “yes” to making a positive impact on the lives of youth in and around Howard and Montgomery counties, you are also saying “YES!” to…
Practical Ministry Training
During training week, you learn more about Camp Sonshine as an organization and our mission to reach children and youth with God’s love. You learn how to work with children, set expectations, and team building skills.
Counselor training (Required): June 8-16
Nine Weeks Summer Camp: June 17-Aug 17
2 Optional Camp Weeks: Aug 19-Aug 30
Paid Missions
The summer camp season at Camp Sonshine runs for a total of 12 weeks from June 8th– August 30st, which includes one week of required training (June 8th-June16th), nine weeks of summer camp (June 17th– August 17th), and two optional summer camp weeks (August 19th– August 30st).
AVAILABLE POSITIONS
- Group Counselor: Group Counselors (must be 18+ years old) work with a specific group of campers throughout the summer. This position can often vary because of our campers’ range of ages, which starts at age three to 16 years old.
- Program Counselor: Program Counselors (must be 18+ years old) are our resident “creative experts” and an integral part of our team. Program Counselors specialize in one area of activity; they provide campers with the opportunity to try new things, enjoy new challenges, and of course, have fun!
- Support Staff: Our Support Staff are people who make things happen! They’re always ready at a moment’s notice. Behind the scenes or in front, Camp Sonshine couldn’t run without our Support Staff.
- Specialty Camp Staff: Specialty Camp group counselors work with campers who are interested in our specialty camps. This position can often vary because our campers’ range of ages, which starts at 6-16 years old. They are passionate counselors who are interested in STEM, Arts, Wilderness, & Coding! They bring the program to life by creating opportunities for campers to dive into their specialty. This position varies between age groups from 6 year olds to 17 year olds.
- Assistant Counselor (AC): Our Assistant Counselors (Ages 15-17) serve alongside a counselor to help lead groups and activities at our Silver Spring and Germantown Locations. These roles are volunteer-based accompanied by a possible stipend and the AC’s can also receive Student Service Learning hours. This program is designed to create an environment where the AC’s learn independence, develop future skills for staff positions, and gain valuable experience in a professional work environment. The AC’s are exposed to staff evaluations, specialized training, group communication, and leadership skills. While the program is designed to simulate a work environment these roles are not staff positions and are developmentally focused. (If you are between the ages of 15-17 please complete a work permit, per MCPS guidelines).
Want to learn more about what makes a GREAT camp counselor at CampSonshine? Read “You’re Hired! 3 Qualities That Will Make You an Amazing Camp Counselor.”
Intentional Leadership Development
Once placed, you are assigned a Head Counselor (oversees your work and a couple other staff in your program) and a Programmer (in charge of the entire program).
Monday and Tuesday night program meetings are used to discuss areas for improvement and highlight achievements of the week. These meetings give counselors opportunities to develop leadership skills and grow into the person they are called to be.
Additionally, each housing area is assigned an RA who provide mentorship and support outside of the camp day.
Life Changing Community
Although working at Camp is hard work, there are moments to connect and build lasting relationships with fellow counselors and Camp leaders. For example…
- You’ll get to attend planned staff trips throughout the summer, which gives you opportunities to make fun memories!
- We have an AMAZING all staff worship service every Wednesday evening where counselors get to REFUEL as they spend time worshipping our Lord.
- House meetings are also great opportunities to connect more with the people you live, and serve, with.
“I experienced God’s purpose at camp by growing in patience & confidence.” – Nate E.
“I experienced God’s purpose at camp by knowing I couldn’t do camp without Him. He showed me more of Him and how I would see His purposes filled.” – Kisha A.
“Camp put me in a new situation I never thought I’d go through and I’m beyond grateful to have even the smallest impact on kids’ lives.” -Rachel M.
“Camp taught me that God desires for each person to live joyful, knowing that He is faithful to provide what each person needs.” -Shaylee S.
Activity Area Descriptions:
The pond is notorious for being camps most beloved activity! Our pond counselors need to be comfortable in the water, full of life, passionate about campers being safe, and patient with their time.
Whether it is swinging between trees, climbing up our crazy rock wall, or zip lining across the skies, campers love the thrill and excitement exploring our ropes courses. We are looking for staff members who are open to being challenged, very present and aware of their surroundings, great at focusing, passionate about safety, filled with energy, and flexible and with their time.
This one is for all drama enthusiasts! We are searching for funny, entertaining, passionate people who will encourage campers to be themselves and explore brand new ways of expressing themselves in a godly and fun way!
This activity requires someone with creativity, stamina, and great cleaning and organizational skills. We also desire someone who is great at prepping and preparing and enjoys having conversations with campers, assistant counselors, and staff alike.
Here at Camp Sonshine, we are searching for people with a flair for organizing, taking initiative and ensuring that all camp staff and campers have all resources they need to experience camp to the fullest. We need staff members who are patient, great with time management, and comfortable working behind the scenes.
With all the challenging opportunities at camp, Tomahawk toss presents an exciting chance for a counselor that is flexible and full of energy. This person also needs to be very safety conscious and passionate about being an excellent instructor.
As fun as this activity is, we are searching for someone who is serious about caution/safety, is constantly aware of their surroundings, and is always present an in the moments. Our paintball staff should always be prepared for their day, responsible for handling equipment, full of energy, and always paying attention to detail.
Our on and off roads go kart counselors should be detail oriented and extremely safety conscious. We are also searching for someone who shows a great amount of common sense when handling groups and go-kart materials. They should also be great conversationalists who are passionate about building bonds with campers while being fun and safe.
Whether it’s building forts or exploring the woods, we are looking for a counselor who is passionate about helping campers get dirty and build forts.
For this activity, we are in search of staff members who are very aware of their surroundings, passionate about safety, great at delegating, and a quick thinker. Our Archery counselor needs to be creative with their activity, patient with campers, and passionate about encouraging campers to be their best.
Discovery time is an important activity as it is an opportunity for campers to get to know God more through storytelling and games. That being said, we are in search of a counselor who is fun, organized, passionate about storytelling, flexible with their time, full of life, great at conversations, exciting in their mannerisms, creative in their thought processing, and willing to invest in the stories and characters involved in their activity.
This activity is all about getting dirty. We are searching for a counselor that is passionate about helping campers discover nature while being safe and attentive.
We are looking for a person who is passionate about food and cooking; someone who can make a hotdog exciting while being cautious of the open flame and allergy sensitive.
At sports, we need someone who can be patient with kindergarteners yet energetic with middle schoolers. Our counselor needs to be able to strike a balance between fun and safety, model the behavior of a team player, and encourage camper growth and relationships.
Our snack shack counselor needs to be able to take the mundane and make it lively and exciting. We are searching for a staff member with tons of fire, a fantastic attitude, good work ethic, and a great sense of integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you offer housing for summer staff?
Our summer staff is housed in host homes and camp houses. All our domestic staff will be placed in camp housing according to the needs of Camp.
What are summer staff work dates?
We have three (3) options:
- 10 weeks (June 8-August 17)
- 11 weeks (June 8-August 24)
- 12 weeks (June 8-August 31)
What are the minimum requirements to be a counselor?
Only three things:
- be over the age of 18
- be a professing Christian
- able to commit to work at camp for the necessary dates
How much do I get paid?
Your pay is based off your position as well as the number of weeks you work. Ask your interviewer.
What does the Assistant Counselor (AC) program involve?
As well as having fun, impacting the lives of children and developing a huge variety of skills, this program also offers guidance for AC’s personal growth and the ability to serve others and build lasting memories and relationships.
Responsibilities:
- Assist group/activities counselors.
- Take kids to the bathroom, nurse, etc…
- Handle up to 5 campers by themselves.
- Help come up with/lead activities and devotionals.
- Aid staff members with rainy day tasks.
Benefits:
- Intentional mentorship & Leadership training.
- Hands-on work experience working with children.
- Free extended care (if required)
- For compensation information please contact our recruiting office.
What if I can't work every required work day?
“You never know if you don’t ask”. Go ahead and call a recruiter (301-989-2267) and see what we have available for your specific situation.
What is the hiring process?
First apply and then an interviewer will call to schedule an interview over the phone. We will let you know within 5 days of the interview what the decision is.
When will I know where I'll be working during the summer?
We will let all our staff know their placement on June 11 once everyone is here.
Where is Camp Sonshine?
Visit Our Grounds page to learn more about our locations in Maryland.
Who do you serve?
We serve children from the ages of 3-17 in our very diverse area. A lot of culture, religions, and financial backgrounds are represented in the 3,000 kids that we serve each summer.
