Join our Staff
Work here! Explore year-round careers and seasonal summer positions.
A summer at a Cohen Camp can be as fulfilling and spirited for our counselors and staff as it is for our campers. You’ll gain enormous satisfaction every day, developing children’s self-confidence, improving their self-esteem, instilling a sense of Jewish values and appreciation for others, building community, and nurturing transformative, lifelong friendships.
Are you enthusiastic and caring? Do you enjoy collaborating with highly energetic and motivated people from around the world? Are you determined to build your marketable leadership skills? Are you up for a summer that’s intense, demanding… and tons of fun? We are always eager to get to know great prospective staff looking for specialty, leadership, bunk, nursing, and operations staff positions.
Our highly-qualified, mature staff set the Cohen Camps organization apart. We are intent on building and cultivating the best camp staff possible for each of our three camps, and we are proud that so many staff return each summer to stay part of our camp communities.
Apply now:
SUMMER JOBS:
The Cohen Camps' Staff Experience
Year-Round Careers
Based in Wellesley, MA, our team of year-round professionals work collaboratively to advance the mission of our three camps and related Israel travel and teen leadership programs.
Assistant Director, Camp Tel Noar
A year-round Jewish camp leadership position based in MA and NH
Office Administrator, The Cohen Camps
A year-round position based in Wellesley, MA
Summer Jobs
Each camp may be hiring for different roles. You’ll see which positions are currently open when you start the Apply Now process for each camp.
We appreciate that nursing skills are in short supply nationwide. While we prefer to hire nurses who can stay the whole summer, we are open to discussing shorter stays with you.
Camp Nurse(s) are responsible for:
- Providing quality care for the health and well-being of our campers and staff throughout the camp season;
- Maintaining accurate, up-to-date medical records in compliance with American Camp Association (ACA) standards;
- Following protocols for health calls and any emergencies;
- Ensuring 24/7 Health Center coverage on a rotating basis;
- Opening and closing the Health Center, including maintaining inventories;
- Other duties as assigned.
Senior Staff (Department Heads, Head Counselors and Programming leadership) typically do not live in the bunks with campers.
Head Counselor
Oversee all areas of bunk life in a specific age group of 40-60 campers and 12-16 bunk/specialty counselors. Includes creating and providing a culture that promotes the positive social and emotional growth of its campers while supervising and mentoring the counselors that care for them.
Department Head
Department Head is responsible for opening the program area, including inventories, in-service staff training during orientation week, supervising staff including daily schedules, days-off, and performance evaluation. Some pre-camp preparation and meetings may be required. Other responsibilities as assigned by the Program Director.
Live and build relationships with a bunk of campers!
Responsibilities include:
- Overall responsibility and accountability to maintain the welfare, safety and security of campers.
- Serve as role models for campers by exhibiting responsible behavior including good camp spirit, positive attitude, maintaining a high morale, and respect for our camp's mission.
- Each bunk counselor is also assigned to a specialty area based on their skills, experiences, and certifications.
Dor L'Dor Israel Program Group Leaders
Lead the group of 11th graders from all three Cohen Camps on a 4.5-week experience of Israel discovery and during their 10 days back at camp. Israel travel is contingent upon travel conditions and COVID-19 related restrictions. We currently believe the program will operate as planned!
Kadima Teen Leadership Team
The Kadima Team (Coordinator and Leaders) help to shape the learning moments as the mentors and trainers of the Kadima Teen Leadership cohort. The Kadima Team communicates with one another and with the Director of Leadership Development to plan, organize, teach, reflect, evaluate, support, and mentor teens throughout the Kadima experience. This team also works directly with the Senior Leadership to ensure integration of Kadima teens as Counselor Assistant (CA) Interns in the daily life of camp.
You will find each camp's available positions listed in their Staff Application page.
Office
Office staff responsibilities include answering phones, making all-camp announcements, maintaining camper and staff files, scheduling tours, preparing camp during orientation, keeping track of campers getting picked up and returning to camp, coordinating camper birthday phone calls, coordinating transportation and housing for international staff days off, and other duties as assigned.
Kitchen
Under the direction of the Chef Manager, the kitchen staff is responsible for preparing meals for all of camp, setting meals in the service area, working in the dish room, setting up and replenishing the salad bar, food preparation, keeping storage areas organized, and other duties as assigned.
Maintenance
The maintenance staff is responsible for general care of camp's facilities including painting and carpentry, landscaping, moving bunk furniture, setting up waterfront docks, setting up for Shabbat services, evening and special activities, and other duties as assigned.
Housekeeping
The housekeeping staff is responsible for the overall cleanliness of camp's facilities, including bathrooms in public and bunk areas, sweeping and washing floors, dusting and washing windows, emptying trash, and other duties as assigned.
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a community of inclusion.
Staff Life + FAQ
Counselors at our camp are responsible for the health and welfare of the campers, especially those with whom they live, and also teach in a specialty area (like tennis or arts + crafts) during the regular camp day schedule.
Each counselor spends the bulk of their time during the day in their activity area, but has responsibility for bunk supervision and dining hall duty throughout the rest of the day. Staff receive one period off duty during the day. Counselors usually live in cabins with their campers, although we do have some opportunities for day staff who can offer specialized skills. Staff are expected to participate in, and often lead, evening activities. Our more senior staff members, many of whom have families of their own, provide specific activity skills, manage departments and supervise teaching staff.
Staff members come from all over the world, though mostly from the northeast United States. We also have staff from Canada, the UK, Eastern Europe, and Australia. Each summer we host a delegation of counselors from Israel. Many of our counselors were campers with us for many years, while others are new to camping. Our communities are very welcoming!
Campers range in age from 7 to 15. Most campers come from the Northeast portion of the United States. Our campers are passionate about camp, the day and evening activities, their bunkmates and friends, and the camaraderie they share. If you will live in a bunk, we will assign you to an age group we think will be a great match based on your skills.
The American Camp Association standards guide our camper:counselor bunk ratios. The number of counselors varies from 2 to 4, depending on the number of campers in the bunk and the age group. Each bunk typically has 10-18 campers.
Each of our camps is easy to reach with a car. If you fly into Boston, we can make arrangements to pick you up.
Camp is open to campers for 7 weeks. Counselors are at camp for about 8 weeks, which includes one week of pre-camp team training in camper care and safety and a little assistance at the end with closing up camp. The Operations staff season runs about 10 weeks.
If you would like to work at camp but your school year schedule or other commitments limit your availability, please contact our hiring manager to discuss the possibilities.
Camp is intense, and we recognize the importance of rest and relaxation to sustain your energy. Counselor staff get six days off during the summer. These days-off begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at curfew (12:30am) on the following night. While counselors work every day of the week, you’ll get one free period on most days. You’ll also have free time from lights-out (9-10pm, depending on age group) to curfew (12:30am) if you are not scheduled for “on duty” cabin supervision, and we provide spaces to hang out with peers. Curfew for all staff members is 12:30am and must be observed.
COVID safety restrictions may alter what’s possible, in order to maintain a safe “camp bubble.” We will have more information on this as we get closer to summer.
There’s lots to do nearby: Camp Pembroke is just 40 minutes from Boston, MA, 20 minutes from Plymouth MA, and 30 minutes from Cape Cod. Camp Tel Noar and Camp Tevya are just 1 hour from Boston, and short drives to beaches, hiking, and New England towns that offer charm, activities, and nightlife. Sometimes, camp families offer to host staff so that you have a place to stay on your adventures.
COVID safety restrictions may alter what’s possible, in order to maintain a safe “camp bubble.” We will have more information on this as we get closer to summer.
We want you to refresh and have fun! Camp will provide transportation to the train or the bus or to other local places for your day off. You’ll have to plan ahead and be a bit flexible: you’ll get one drop-off and one-pick-up per day off, and if the Director determines that other driving and camp needs must take priority at a given time, you may have to make other arrangements.
Yes! You may use it out of sight of campers during your off-time. We maintain a technology-free experience for campers, which is something that parents especially appreciate. Therefore, to maintain and model our technology-free cabins, your phone and/or laptop may not come into the cabin with your campers, and you may not carry your phone during the day. We provide a designated place for you to keep and charge your electronics.
In the case of an emergency, you can receive messages and phone calls via the camp office. You can take or make personal calls only during your daily time off.
Lockers with locks are provided for staff members to store personal belongings of value. We also have an office safe and will be happy to lock up your valuables. We will be available to open the safe at reasonable times.
For the children’s safety, most medications must stay at the camp Health Center. Medications will be available to you to take when prescribed or necessary. Inhalers, EpiPens, and certain creams may be kept in the cabin.
Most days of New England summers are warm, with daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit (20s Celsius). Evening temperatures cool to a comfortable 60°F (16°C). Weather is typically cooler at the beginning of camp (during staff orientation) and at the end of the summer, especially in the evenings. Short periods of higher heat and humidity can be expected, and it does rain during the summer.
Most of the time you will be wearing lightweight clothing, but bring a sweater or sweatshirt, a light jacket and a raincoat, too. Laundry is sent out and returned the next day once per week.
Camp policy is that footwear must be appropriate for the activity being conducted or taught.
Camp staff wear camp “Staff” shirts during the program day. A number of shirts will be provided to you and more are available for purchase.
U.S.- and Canada-based staff members are expected to bring their own linens. International staff traveling to camp from outside North America are provided with sheets, blankets, a pillow and towels.
Each camp kitchen serves healthy, Kosher food with a salad bar at many meals, snacks twice daily, and fresh fruit always available.
Our kitchens can accommodate most food allergies or dietary preferences. Please discuss your dietary needs with the Camp Director during your application and hiring process.
Questions?
Please email the Cohen Camps Hiring Manager or call 781.489.2070. If you are looking at several of our job postings and would like help deciding which one might be the best fit for you, we will be happy to talk with you.
