Jamestown 4-H Educational Center – Summer 2026 Program Staff

Position Overview 

Program Staff members bring camp to life. You will specialize in a primary program area based on your interests, experience, and certifications, and teach that activity for about 4 hours each day. The rest of your time is spent fully immersed in camp life: leading recreation activities, assisting with free swim, participating in meals, supporting teen counselors, and facilitating high-energy all-camp programs. This is a demanding role with long hours and significant responsibility, but it is one of the most rewarding jobs you can have. You will gain real leadership, teamwork, and problem solving skills that transfer to any future career. 

Program Areas 

As Program Staff, you’ll be trained and assigned to a primary program area such as: Boating (kayaking, canoeing, SUP), Aquatics, Archery & Riflery, Nature & Outdoor Skills, Creative Arts, Athletics, or Teambuilding/Low Ropes. Our staff are often cross trained in multiple areas to improve their skill set. Throughout the summer, you may support a variety of initiatives, including: 

• 4-H Junior Camp (Overnight, Ages 9–13): 160 campers/week, full camp days (7 AM–11 PM), mentoring teen counselors, with program staff typically housed separately. Occasional paid cabin coverage may be assigned.
• 4-H Military Teen Adventure Camp - Water, Wheels & Wildlife: A high-adventure week featuring water sports, biking, survival skills, and ropes courses. Staff live in cabins and serve as traditional camp counselors.
• Jimmy James Adventure Day Camp (Ages 6–12): Lead a group through multiple activity areas each day; transition to resident-camp programming once day camp ends.
• Teen Adventure Day Camp (Ages 13–15): Longer program blocks and offsite trips such as biking and boating.
• Operation Purple Camp (Military Families): A 6-day/5-night overnight camp serving military connected youth. Staff live with campers. This is one of the most impactful weeks of the summer!
• Weekend Groups (Rotating): Occasional family camps, bereavement camps, or special events with opportunities to teach archery, boating, lifeguard, or support group hosting. 

What the Job Is Really Like 

• Working at camp is uniquely rewarding, as well uniquely challenging. You will:
• Work long days
• Put campers first, always
• Mentor teen counselors
• Handle unexpected situations
• Help shape meaningful, unforgettable experiences for campers and for you 

Campers may remember the first time they hit an archery target or conquered the low ropes course - but they will remember you even more. Many staff return year after year, and friendships formed at Jamestown 4-H Educational Center last decades. Several board members and even our full-time staff began as program staff or were campers themselves.