Summer Staff
Spend Your Summer Making an Impact!
Join the summer staff team at Camp Tilikum! Whether you're a college student seeking deeper community and ministry experience or a high school student looking to step into leadership, working at camp will push you toward deeper communion with God and others while building skills that last a lifetime.
College Staff
Each year, Camp Tilikum hires 20 dedicated young adults to serve at camp throughout the summer. As Summer Staff, you will spend each day showing the love of Jesus to kids and teaching them about their Creator as you hike the hills, swim in the lake, and play (you might even say frolic) in the fields alongside your peers. A summer at Tilikum offers an incredible experience that will push you toward deeper communion with God and others, and also add some valuable skills to your repertoire such as goat herding, canoe rescue, and group management… just to name a few.
Explore Staff
Explore is a Day Camp program for children entering 1st – 6th grades. Each week, Explore Staff are responsible for teaching and supervising a variety of program activities such as archery, Bible discussions, canoeing, swimming, the Big Swing, hikes, crafts, and more!
Applicants must be 18 years or older and at least one year out of High School to work as Explore staff.
Quest Staff
Adventure Program staff are responsible for facilitating for Quest (grades 6-8) and Journey (grades 9-12) Each Adventure Program Staff member will be trained as a Challenge Course Facilitator and have an opportunity to lead Bible discussions, games, and other activities.
Applicants must be 20 years of age and at least two years out of high school to work as Adventure Program staff.
Important dates
- Application opens December 1, 2026 and close March 31, 2027.
- Lifeguard training is May 22 – 25, 2027
- Summer Staff program June 1 – August 8, 2027 (2 weeks training, 8 weeks counseling)
Summer Salary and Housing
- First Year Staff – $5,000
- Returning staff – $5,200
- Lifeguards earn an additional $200
- Housing is also provided by Camp Tilikum (additional $2,000 value)
Summer salaries are distributed over 3 monthly payments during the summer program. Tilikum Summer Staff are generally expected to be present for the entire program, but important life events (weddings, family reunions, etc.) are accommodated on a case-by-case basis and will be negotiated before hire.
High School Staff
Tilikum’s High School Summer Staff work alongside College Summer Staff as Day Camp counselors during the busiest weeks of the summer. Guys and girls between the ages of 16 to 18 are trained in May and then work 5-8 weeks during the summer. High School Summer Staff are essential in providing support to the college staff with a small group of campers.
The first step into Ministry.
As a Highschool staff, you’ll work alongside our college staff to support small groups of campers, ensuring they have an unforgettable, faith-filled adventure. Ready to spend your summer being part of something bigger?
- Application opens March 1, 2026
- Applications due by April 29th, 2026
- High School Summer Staff training is May 16 & June 4th, 2026
- Lifeguard training is May 22 – 25, 2026
- Summer Camp Camp – Monday to Friday, June 8th until July 31st, 2026.
High School Summer Staff are expected to commit to at least 5 weeks of camp throughout the summer for a stipend of $300 per week. The High School Lifeguard salary is $400 week. Day Camp work days are Monday – Friday 7:30AM-5:00PM. Weeks working Overnight Camps start Monday at 7:30am and conclude Thursday at 6:00pm. All staff members must have consistent, reliable transportation to and from Camp.