Thank you for your interest in joining our camp staff!

For more than 75 years Mohawk has been proud to offer an exciting and enriching camp experience for boys and girls ages 3 to 13. We attribute our success over the years to several factors:

  • A philosophy and set of goals that focus on the personal growth and development of each camper.
  • The depth and breadth of our athletic and creative facilities.
  • Our unique 40-acre site with outstanding facilities.

Most significantly, we have been fortunate, year after year, to attract a truly exceptional group of mature, caring, hard-working staff members to serve as Head Counselors, General Counselors, Activity Specialists, Lifeguards and Swim Instructors.

Please read further for additional details about Camp Mohawk. If you have any questions, you may contact us via phone or e-mail. You may apply for a position by completing our on-line application form. After we review your application you will be e-mailed as to any further action.

Camp Philosophy

Camp is a special place that can have an enormous positive impact upon children. Our philosophy is to provide each camper with a unique opportunity for growth. We strive to create an exciting, fun-filled environment where children feel physically and emotionally safe, and where they can develop socially, physically and creatively. The result is children who are eager to participate, have fun, and learn. We teach skills in a gentle, supportive way, and emphasize values such as concern for others, cooperation, and sportsmanship. Our staff members are leaders, mentors, and friends, and are selected for their patience, understanding, energy, and willingness to put the needs of children first.

Programs and Facilities

Mohawk's rich blend of creative and athletic programming takes place on a beautiful and truly remarkable campsite. Originally a farm, Mohawk still holds much of its historic charm with stone walls, an apple orchard, a grape arbor, and vintage buildings. The youngest camp groups each have their own headquarters in one of our many buildings, while older groups use platform tents situated around the campus.

Our facilities include eight heated swimming pools, seven craft centers, a year-round animal farm, and extensive field space for a multitude of field sports and games.

Sports facilities include:

  • 4 full-sized tennis courts
  • 10 'mini' tennis courts
  • 2 basketball facilities, with backboards that adjust from 5-10 feet in height
  • 2 field hockey rinks
  • An archery range
  • A challenge course with zip lines, climbing walls, cargo nets, and more
  • 2 whiffle ball fields
  • 2 miniature golf courses
  • 10 soft ball fields
  • 10 soccer fields
  • A walled soccer arena
  • 2 bocce courts
  • 3 Ga Ga (walled dodge ball) courts
  • 2 biking centers
  • 2 sand volley ball courts
  • A gymnastics center

Mohawk also has:

  • Dance platforms
  • Drama facilities
  • 2 woodshops
  • A computer room
  • A model-building and rocketry shop
  • A ceramics area, complete with kilns
  • 3 arts and crafts areas

In addition, campers learn about nature in either of our 2 nature centers, at our environmental pond, and at our animal farm and stable (where campers 3-6 years old enjoy pony and hay rides).

Group Structure and Counselor Responsibilities

Camp groups range in size from 16 to 36 campers, depending on the age of the children. Each group is led by a Head Counselor (typically, a teacher) who functions almost like a camp director for that group. Head Counselors help their campers adjust to their groups, act as liaisons with parents, organize and implement some activities, and train and supervise their general counselors.

Each group is divided into 4 - 5 subgroups of 4 - 10 campers each, again depending on age. A General Counselor carefully supervises one of these subgroups, but works with the overall group, as well. These counselors lead and coach some activities, assist specialists at others, serve lunch to their campers, and help campers evolve into a cohesive unit.

Specialists

Activity specialists (tennis, crafts, dance, etc.) work alone or in teams led by a Head Specialist. Specialists organize and teach their particular area of expertise, enlisting the assistance of General Counselors in managing the activity.

Staff Activities

Mohawk offers a wonderful opportunity for staff members to meet, work, and socialize with fellow staff. A hot lunch and salad bar are provided every day, where employees may eat and socialize away from the campers. After hours, recreational activities include coed inter-camp softball, and with sufficient interest, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, etc. A weekend day during the season is designated for staff to participate in some of the activities our campers enjoy.

Time Commitment

Camp is in session Monday through Friday from 8:40 AM to 4:40 PM beginning Monday, June 28th and ending Friday, August 13th; there will not be camp on Monday, July 5th.

In addition, we have a series of mandatory pre-season orientation meetings, including two full-day, staff orientations prior to camp opening. Bus drivers, bus monitors, swim staff, and certain activity program staff members will have added orientations on afternoons or evenings in June.

Transportation

Many staff members earn additional salary by acting as transportation counselors, supervising campers on vehicles that bring them to and from camp. Westchester and Connecticut vehicles pick up and drop off campers door to door; New York City counselors generally meet campers in their lobbies and escort them to a designated stop where the bus will pick them up. All transportation counselors are required to arrange visits to the home of campers on their route prior to the first day of camp.

Salary

Salary offers are quoted on a full-camp season basis that includes pre-season orientation, etc. Salary payments (and reimbursements for transportation expenses, if applicable) are made several times during the summer. All staff will be paid only for days worked; this includes the full-day orientations. There is also a bonus for perfect attendance. We insist that any tips received are handled discreetly, and no solicitation of tips will be tolerated.

Mohawk offers an incentive for referring prospective counselors. All counselors who complete the season, old and new, are eligible for a $100 bonus for each applicant they direct to us who is hired and also completes the full season. The name of the staff member who sends us an applicant must appear on the new member's application. If the new staff member writes in more than one name, the bonus will be divided equally among those listed.