Camp Starfish -

Always means always. We're one-to-one, all the time, always. That doesn't mean including maintenance staff and directors, either. We have one specialist (campers call them "counselors") for every camper, plus a team of 16+ leadership and supervisory staff (called administrators or "admin" for short), plus our directors, plus our nurse and support staff. Why?

It's not because every single one of our campers needs that amount of supervision or support minute-to-minute. But many of them do need the flexibility it provides - such as the ability to have a counselor and an administrator be able to stay back with a camper having a hard time making the transition to the next activity...while allowing the rest of the group to move on. Why not just ask everyone to wait? Well, perhaps that camper might need a few minutes to talk things through. Maybe another member of the group gets anxious waiting around when he's been assured that the group is leaving to get to swimming and worries about being late or missing out. Most importantly, for the safety of campers and staff, we're never alone with kids. There's always a second set of eyes and ears around to offer a helping hand.

And, while not every camper needs one-to-one, they all benefit from it in many ways. We believe that being able to give each camper positive attention and engagement at all times eliminates the need for behaviors based on negative attention-seeking, and allows us to quickly and effectively get to work on other behavior and goals. We also realize and capitalize on the fact that campers make solid, fast bonds with staff (and vice versa!) which opens their minds to hearing feedback and making changes - because the suggestions and assistance comes from someone they're working hard to impress! We're not one-on-one, so campers aren't assigned one staff member that's "theirs" for the session. In fact, they have a different staff member as their free-play buddy every day, staff they eat with, bunk staff, activity staff, etc. But they know no matter what, there's an ear to listen to them, and a hand to hold. That's why we're 1:1.

 

The Tools are the values of Camp Starfish. They outline coping skills and personal intentions, and by teaching them, staff are able to help campers put behaviors and feelings into context. All camp rules are based on a tool, for example, and you will often hear staff using the tools to help calm escalated campers: "I think your painting looks great! You put so much effort into it and that really shows. Remember here we don't have to be the best...just try our best. Hey, I bet that would look great hanging up in the bunk next to your goals chart." There are both community tools (those values that affect interactions with others) and individual tools (those values which are based on internal coping mechanisms). Tools are integrated all over camp - from the Tool of the Day (which is used at each activity and acted out by the Tools Team at morning Gathering), to the Garden of Tools where campers can relax, smell the flowers, and just think for a while about the small signs around you.

Download the Starfish Tools to hang up at home or bring  to school!

 

The Keys are a set of social skills which we aim for every child to learn and work on during his/her time at camp, and then continue developing after camp. Difficulty relating to peers is one of the top factors that affect a child’s self-esteem and identity. While Starfish campers come to camp from wide variety of backgrounds with many different challenges that they face, one thing that most of them have in common is that they have a hard time making or keeping friends.The Keys include concepts such as using manners and positive interaction with others, approaching others in social acceptable ways, asking for permission rather than acting, sharing toys/materials, maintaining eye contact during introductions, and more. Our daily "Key of the Day" is presented by our camper-led Keys Club, which acts out the Key in a skit and then shows good ways to use the Key at camp. Staff diligently capitalize on teachable moments to show when social skills are "caught" in action.

In these ways and more, the Starfish Way makes camp a positive, safe place where campers are actively participating in things they enjoy. We help children learn what it means to be accountable for their choices through positive feedback and without embarrassment, enabling them make more productive choices in the future. The Starfish way is all about making Camp Starfish is a place to "learn, grow and have fun."

Certifications
By the completion of staff training, you will have amassed enough experience and learning hours to become certified as a Level I Care Specialist. As you work through the summer you may also choose to gain your Level II Care Specialist certification, which comes with a bonus and opens up opportunity for potential leadership roles on the team.

Opportunities are also available before camp (arrival a few days prior to staff training is required) for additional certifications such as lifeguarding, boating safety, first aid and CPR. Depending on your role, we may also send you to a certification course for wilderness first aid, emergency response, or other camp skills.Please note that in 2021, Covid-19 restrictions may necessitate obtaining these certifications prior to your arrival at camp. We will work with you to find an appropriate course, paid for by camp.

We promise that you'll leave camp in August with new and enhanced skills that will easily transfer to future jobs & schoolwork. Your certifications go with you and many staff find great additional work opportunities lifeguarding or teaching swim lessons back home during the school year.

 

Internships 
Whether you are looking to grow personally or develop marketable skills for the corporate or professional world, work at Camp Starfish will prepare you for almost anything! The internship program is available to each employee at Camp Starfish, either for personal experience or college credit. In previous years, staff members studying Social Work, Recreation, Sports Science, Wilderness Leadership, Psychology, Education, Business Management and many other subjects were able to spend the summer having fun at camp while still working towards their degree!

If you join our team as an intern, you will automatically be placed in our Intern Seminar that meets weekly at camp and focuses on professional development. Our leadership staff and directors are committed to helping make sure you get the most out of your internship opportunity.

If you are planning to use your time at camp to gain course credit, we strongly recommend that you speak with your advisor, etc. to determine the necessary steps to apply for credit at your particular institution. We will work with you and your school to make sure the right forms are filled out, but as every school is different we rely on you to guide the process. We also recommend you apply as early as possible to give both you and us enough time to get everything organized.

Note: Participation in the Intern Program is in addition to job responsibilities and is not required for employment.

 

Fellowships
Individuals who participate in the Internship program at Camp Starfish are eligible to apply, mid-summer, to participate in the Camp Starfish Fellowship. The year-round team of directors will select up to five individuals to participate in the Fellowship Cohort, led by the Director of Staff Experience through the academic year and following summer season. If selected for the Fellowship, individuals will be placed in a cohort that regularly converses and grows together through an online platform that is available from anywhere you call home. During the course of the academic year between Summer 1 and Summer 2, Fellows will receive both guidance and funding for a self-directed Community Contribution Project (CCP) that enhances the collective work of Camp Starfish. While preparing and executing their project, each Fellow will also participate in a guided discussion series in the online classroom as well as volunteer 20 hours of service to camp. During Summer 2, Fellows will be responsible for helping to teach the Camp Starfish Intern Seminar as well as mentoring those individuals selected to be Fellows for the following year.

Camp Starfish Fellows will be given preference for seasonal leadership positions during summer 2 (at the discretion of the Camp Starfish Directors) and will receive a stipend for their continued dedication to Starfish. Additional course credit for fieldwork and independent study may be available depending on your school’s requirements.

Starfish cabins are comfortable and rustic, with electricity. Cabin groups are intentionally small - so campers can feel comfortable building social skills without becoming overwhelmed. In all cabins, campers sleep on the bottom bunk with a staff member occupying the top bunk above them. That means even at night, there is an adult just a reach away. The cabins are arranged in a circular "village" which includes a washhouse with toilets, sinks and showers. Campers can easily access bathrooms at night. Staff-on-duty in the bunk will either accompany the camper or watch from the doorway of the cabin (depending on the camper's preference and age), then tuck the camper back in to bed. Cabins have a central floor space for nightly cabin meetings, playing cards and games, dance parties or reading. 

Everyone makes their bed daily as part of cabin clean-up. Each camper and staff member also has an underbed bin and a cubby with shelves to help them organize their clothing and personal belongings. Staff help campers unpack on the first day into their cubbies, and then baggage is stored elsewhere on camp. On the boys side of camp (Fish Village), cabins have 5 bunk beds, and usually five campers. Five staff live in the cabin on top bunks. Additionally, all Fish cabins have at least one female staff member who has housing in a nearby staff-only cabin. On the girls side of camp (Star Village), cabins have 6-7 bunk beds, and usually 5-7 campers. 6-8 staff members live in the cabin on top bunks.

Click to see the layout of Star Village (Girls) cabins or Fish Village (Boys) cabins. A new window will open. 

The tradition of staff Torchgroups began at Starfish in 2006 and has quickly become one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of our annual staff training. Torchgroups offer an opportunity for every staff member to participate in a small mentoring group during their introduction to Starfish. The specific “torch” concept was born out of the idea that each group leader is passing on his/her knowledge and love of Camp Starfish to new staff (carrying the torch forward each summer). 

 

 

 

The names of the torch groups were meticulously chosen to represent attributes that we, as a camp, value in our staff team and camp community. Every summer the current Administrators (our "torchbearers") choose which torch they think best suits their passions and strengths. The Torchgroups include: Leadership, Enthusiasm, Honor and Integrity, Belief and Empowerment, Respect, Community, Patience, Compassion, Fun and Safety, Dedication, Friendship, and Acceptance.

Every staff member is randomly placed into one of the Torchgroups at the beginning of staff training. Led by your Torchbearer, your small group of 6-8 staff will get to know each other through additional teambuilders and small-group discussions. Your Torchbearer is a returning staff member, so they'll be able to answer your questions. Torchgroups meet again during Intersession trainings, and your Torchbearer will check in with you regularly during the summer to see how everything is going.

The Torchgroup Games, a friendly competition amongst Torchgroups, lasts throughout staff training; trophies include the "Barrel of Monkeys," the "Photo Finish," and the "Light it Up" amongst others. Many staff proudly display their trophies during the summer. Throughout training, there are plenty of opportunities for your Torchgroup to earn points, including trivia challenges, relays, spirit, and role play participation. Opening Ceremony for the Games is held on the first night of training. 

 

 

 

 

Our front-line staff are Specialists (campers will know you as “counselors”) who live in a cabin with children and help campers have the best possible experience, which includes the basic functions of providing behavior management support, working with goals, and guiding campers through their stay. All Specialists live in cabins with children, helping ensure their time at camp is beneficial and growth-oriented. During the day, campers participate in activities and staff are spread out in several roles across camp which facilitate this. Other roles at Starfish include Leadership Roles and Support Staff Roles.

During your application and interview process, you will be asked what role(s) you are interested in, and have the opportunity to share your skills and relevant experience with our directors. Regardless of role, all first year staff receive the training, hands-on work, mentoring, and experience that can result in their Level I Care Specialist Certification.

Front-Line Roles

Group Specialists live in cabins alongside youth campers and accompany groups of campers through all daily camp activities. Responsibilities include encouraging camper participation, helping campers who may require additional time or explanation, supporting campers who may require extra attention, and implementation/monitoring of individualized behavioral plans. The group specialist role is a perfect fit for individuals wanting to work directly with campers in a broad range of camp areas and age groups.

Lead Specialists are experienced staff who are comfortable taking on additional responsibility in the cabin. In addition to the responsibilities of a Group Specialist, Leads are also responsible for nightly check-ins with staff and oversight of bunk structure. During daily activities, Leads work with their Group Specialists to provide support and structure to the activity group as their campers participate in different program areas.

Program Specialists live in cabins alongside youth campers and are responsible for the curriculum and teaching of a specific program/activity area on camp. Program Specialists plan lessons and teach a variety of activities within a specific program area (please see list below) and may also be responsible for special events and experiences that make camp such a special place. In a typical day at camp, Program Specialists lead approximately 2-3 activity periods; the rest of the day is spent with campers in other camp activities. Like all Starfish staff, Program Specialists will assist campers who may need extra help and will implement and monitor individualized camper behavioral plans.

Specific Specialists are hired to teach: Activate! (sensory gym), Arts & Crafts, Athletics, Boating (canoeing and kayaking), Challenge (teambuilding and ropes course), Dance, Discovery (wood working, raft building, etc.), Drama/Theatre, Learning Center (STEAM activities), Martial Arts, Music, Outdoor Cooking, Outdoor Exploration, and Small Animals.

Waterfront Specialists teach swim lessons and boating (canoes and kayaks) as well as supervise water safety at our waterfronts on Lake Monomonac. Waterfront Specialists will obtain lifeguard certification and serve as lifeguards during camp activity periods, free swims and camper reward time. Every camper receives a 1:1 swim lesson each day and Waterfront Specialists may teach anything from first-time swimmers to junior lifeguard levels. Camp Starfish will provide waterfront skills training to all Waterfront Specialists. Strong swimming skills and the ability to pass applicable training curricula tests are required.

While Waterfront Specialists do spend much time at the lake, they also live in cabins alongside youth campers and participate in other aspects of camp life, including assisting campers who may need extra help and implementing and monitoring individualized camper behavioral plans.

Camper Services Team (CST) Specialists work out on camp as Group Specialists as well as behind the scenes, providing support by contacting parents about campers' successes, tracking and awarding TagUp (Starfish merit badges) achievements, monitoring and coordinating campers’ goal progress and rewards, taking pictures, making sure campers return home with documentation of their skills growth, and more.

TIDES Advisors provide day-to-day guidance and mentorship to a small group of teens (Trainees) in the TIDES (Transitional Independence & Directed Experiential Summer) program. The TIDES program seeks to help trainees focus on both interpersonal interactions and self-advocacy. Responsibilities include ensuring trainees create and follow personal daily schedules, encouraging independence and self-sufficiency, role modeling appropriate professional and social skills, and assisting in preparing and delivering life skill lessons to the trainees (subjects include nutrition, cooking, healthy lifestyle choices, professional working skills, money management, college life, and much more). Unlike other positions on main camp, TIDES advisors live and work in the TIDES dormitory-style house and function as a member of the TIDES community.

Note: TIDES Advisors must be 21 years of age or older.

Leadership Roles

Administrators (“Admin”) are a team of leadership staff whose responsibilities include behavior management, program direction, staff and camper supervision and logistics management. We have a variety of administrator roles on our team, including: Village Administrators, Program Administrators, Waterfront Administrators, Camper Services Team Administrators, a TIDES Administrator, and a Staff Services Administrator. Please inquire for more information.

Support Staff Roles

Support Staff work to support the running of camp in the areas of health care, food service, maintenance, housekeeping and site safety.

Health Assistants work under the supervision of our Camp Nurses as integral members of our Healthy House team, which is responsible for providing health care and medications for campers and staff, monitoring overall health and cleanliness standards, organizing health paperwork and maintaining camper and staff health records. Health Assistants provide first aid, triage, and ongoing care for children and adults. Our Healthy House team allows children and staff to succeed at camp by ensuring that their health needs are met in a safe, efficient, caring, and nurturing manner.

Note: To qualify for this role, we look for professionals working in the healthcare field OR students who have completed at least 2 years in a health-care field of study and have had hands-on experience.

Camp Nurses are key members of our Healthy House team. Camp Nurses are responsible for providing health care for campers and staff, overseeing the administration of medications for campers and staff, coordinating visits to a doctor when needed, monitoring overall health and cleanliness standards, organizing health paperwork, maintaining camper and staff health records, and maintaining the medication administration records (MAR). Our Healthy House team allows children and staff to succeed at camp by ensuring that their health needs are met in a safe, efficient, caring, and nurturing manner.

Note: Nurses must have a current RN, LPN, or NP license valid in the state of New Hampshire. Compact state licenses allowed!

Kitchen and Cleaning Support Staff are vital to camp’s operations. Members of the support staff team work with the camp chef to prepare and serve three meals a day to our camp community. In addition, support staff help maintain and ensure healthy and safe camp facilities, cleaning and sanitizing camp spaces on a daily basis.

The Summer Camp Chef / Kitchen Manager is responsible for the food service operation at camp. Please inquire for more information.

The Summer Office Assistant is crucial to the operation of Starfish’s onsite camp office and is responsible for administrative duties including but not limited to: monitoring camp’s phone line, filing and managing camper and staff paperwork, assisting with opening and closing day operations, preparing and delivering camper mail, and assisting in the camp store as needed.

There are a lot of pieces that go into making Starfish's program so unique. You can find out much more about our programs in the "Camps and Programs" section of the website. A few of the most important things to know about are:

Structure

"Structure" is something we believe in very strongly at Camp Starfish, because we know children thrive on it! They need routines to help them feel safe in a stable, predictable environment. Plus, our campers learn through repetition. When the campers know what to expect, then they know what to do, and then they can do the right thing and enjoy success. Anxieties are minimized, and so are the resulting behaviors. You can learn more about the Starfish Structure here.

 

 

Individual Camper Goals

By the time campers arrive at camp, our year-round staff and directors have already received a great deal of background information about goals campers are working on at home, in school, in therapy, and in various other areas. Using this information and one-on-one conversations with campers, cabin staff and the Camper Services Specialists help each child create a set of goals they would like to work towards during the session. Each night, campers go over their goals individually with staff from their cabin. Together, they discuss efforts and specific examples made during the day towards goals, and agree on what number of points should be awarded as campers work towards individual rewards, group Milestones. Read more about Individual Goals here.

 

Activity Areas

Activities at Starfish are fun - and help children to build individual life skills, stay active, practice the Tools, and improve their social pragmatics. Depending on their enrolled program, campers attend between 3 and 6 activity periods a day, including swim lessons. Specialists travel with campers to assist them in these activities, while Program Instructors run each area. Check out the Activities here. At each activity, campers are able to earn Tags (our version of Merit Badges) in several different levels, across all the years they attend camp. Collecting TagUp Tags is a favorite pasttime of many campers!

 

 

 

Starfish has always used the phrase "life in the bubble" to refer to the close community we create each summer. With COVID-19, a "bubble" has come to mean any closed area/campus and a way to minimize exposure. It still fits for Starfish, since we are literally AND figuratively creating a bubble at camp for 2021. Find literal COVID bubble information here (a new window will open). Read on below for figurative bubble information. :)

 

Whenever you join a new community there are always periods of adjustment. Camp life - at any camp - is no different. Starfish offers a distinctive summer camp experience for staff. Because of camp’s unique nature, staff frequently phrase working/living at camp as “life in the bubble.” There are realities and expectations of a job with Camp Starfish that are integral to the success of the community. So what does it mean to live "life in the bubble?" The idea encompasses many different things, including:

Living and Working in the same place with the same people
At the end of the day, instead of going home to your dorm room or apartment, you go...back to a cabin full of campers and staff. When you go hang out in "staff only" areas on your downtime, you might see the same staff member with whom you just led activities all day. There are opporutnities to get off camp during your time off, of course, but when you are on camp, your work colleagues are also your social group. That can be incredibly supportive and positive, and may also take some getting used to. 

 

Privacy comes at a premium
The cabins are beautiful, wooden and rustic, and hold 4-6 staff and 4-6 campers. The bathhouse has showers with private changing areas, and private toilet stalls. However, truly finding "time to yourself" has to be something you intentionally do. That's great news if you like being around people. It can be disconcerting if you need several hours just for you evey day to feel healthy. Taking a walk or run during your time off, or finding a quiet place by the lake to read, are all very viable options. You just might have to prioritize that some days over heading off camp for a coffee on your downtime. 
 

You're not making your own meals
Camp offers a variety of meals and food options. Just as most camps in the United States, the menu operates on a rotation, meaning that meals will repeat throughout the course of a summer. Chicken is a camp staple. A salad bar, pasta bar and sandwich choice are offered at both lunch and dinner in addition to the main meal that's on the table. Cereal and oatmeal are always available for breakfast. Camp is able to meet reasonable, specific dietary needs (gluten free, vegetarian, lactose free, etc), but in "group style." That means all vegetarians will be offered the "vegetarian option" for a particular meal. Flexibility with food is a must. 
 

The bubble is dry, drug-free and smoke-free
Yep, the people in this photo are stone cold sober and having fun at camp. Starfish is a non-smoking environment - there is one designated smoking area for staff which can be used only when no children are awake. Otherwise you need to leave camp property to smoke, such as on your downtime. At no time may you be under the influence of alcohol at camp, and staff are expected to adhere to policies surrounding alcohol - including that if you are underage, you will not drink during your employment with us. The safety and security of the kiddos, as well as of your colleagues, comes first in the bubble. Staff joining our team need to be prepared that their social time might be different than it is back home. 

The bubble has wi-fi, but not a lot of time to use it
Technology is awesome, but at camp it doesn’t really exist. Ipods, cell phones, tablets, computers, and other modern technological conveniences don't see the light of day near campers. Staff use these during their period off, evenings when not on duty, and on days off. That means that for the majority of your day, you're not Instagramming or messaging, updating your status or even seeing a minute-by-minute live feed of world news. It can take some getting used to - but most staff find it ultimately to be a very liberating, eye-opening experience to disconnect a little bit and reconnect at your leisure. 

 

The bubble is the best place in the world
Okay, so, there are some things that take getting used to. But the good news is that inside the bubble, there is also a respect for diversity of all kinds, for good work ethic and for putting the needs of kids who really need you first. There are supportive coworkers and friends, supervisors who've got your back, fun at every turn, water balloons, and carnivals. There are multiple opportunities every day to make an actual difference - something that outside the bubble can take a lot longer and be a lot harder. At the end of the summer, many staff feel a sense of loss as they leave the bubble and return to their off-camp lives (which is why they come back to volunteer on Weekends with the kids)!