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HIDDEN VALLEY CAMP
Freedom, Maine 04941
Peter & Meg Kassen - Directors

An International Children's
Community for 60 Years

Email:
summer@hiddenvalleycamp.com

Phone: 800-922-6737
From Overseas: 207-342-5177
Fax: 207-342-5685

Staff

About Our Staff

COUNSELORS:About 15% of our staff hail from countries such as Australia, Holland, Britain, and New Zealand. Others come from throughout the U.S. The average age is 24 and many staff return year after year, ensuring the continuity of programs, traditions, and the Hidden Valley Philosophy. Key staff and instructors are professionals in their fields. Hidden Valley's staff also includes four Registered Nurses. Our camper:staff ratio is 3:1.

We seek warm, bright, responsive, energetic, child-centeredindividuals for our staff of 100 people. Apply Here

In anticipation of an important professional relationship, we intervieweach candidate, looking for significant personal resources andaccomplishments, talents in camp areas, self-awareness, solid judgment,and a capacity to participate productively in a child-centeredenvironment. Reference and background checks are part of this extensiveoff-season process.

We offer a wide range of job opportunities.

Counselors join us two weeks prior to camper arrival for a professional training session. We talk about child development issues and relationship building, safety and first aid, and the many ways in which we can support children's emerging sense of independence. Cabin Staff prepare to create a family atmosphere in the cabin, and instructors practice classes in their program areas. We can't wait for campers to arrive!

Ask Peter and Meg about their hiring, training and ongoing
support of Hidden Valley's counseling and teaching staff.

"Our daughter chose Hidden Valley from the several camps she saw in videos. But videos cannot guarantee that there will be a caring person who takes time to notice that a child who is generally sunny may need some attention from time to time... I cannot tell you how comforting it was for us to know that you were there for her when she most needed a friend... Counselors like yourself make all the difference in a child's life and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. "

-Letter from a Parent to a Counselor

Dear Potential Staff Member,

Thank you for your interest in Hidden Valley's international summer camp for boys and girls ages 8 to 13. Hidden Valley is a special place for young people, and over the years the camp has attracted unique, dynamic, creative staff people from throughout the U. S. and around the world. We hope that you consider joining us this summer.

Not only is a summer at HVC filled with growth for children, it also represents a growth opportunity for all staff members. Please complete this application form and return it to us as soon as possible.. Please feel free to contact us at (207) 342-5177 or summer@hiddenvalleycamp.com with any questions you may have about Hidden Valley.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

"Thank you for being for being so supportive, sensitive and caring to the staff as well as the campers... I have personally grown this summer and this would never have happened were it not for the two of you... Peter - I shake my head in amazement watching you jump from meeting to meeting and still take the time to really be there for everyone on a personal level... Meg - thanks for being the universal "Mom" for campers and staff...with such compassion, fairness and true wisdom."

- Letter from a Counselor to Meg and Peter

Imagine the possibilities... Staff life at... Hidden Valley Camp
Teaching Seeing your dance class on stage Recording a song for the camp tape Helping a child explore, take risks make choices, have fun Teaching a child to throw a mug Hanging a child's first stained glass piece Watching a child's first dive Sending the Camp Newspaper to press Greeting a camper at the top of the Climbing Wall for the first time Peeking from backstage at the Camp Play or Musical you directed Llama trekking to a picnic Mentoring a counselor-in-training Travelling to nearby camps with the soccer team Hiking up Tipi Hill to paint wildflowers Handing a newborn duckling to a child	Campers Giving campers a voice Hiking Tom's Trail with your cabin Helping a homesick camper feel comfortable Lillian's Tofu Pot Pie Blueberry pancakes on a cool August day The Candy Drop Saunas at the Lake Lobster Banquet Making a Dunking Booth for Fair Day Sunset at the Frye Mountain Fire Tower Meeting Families Harmonizing with your cabin at Pinegrove Eating smores on cabin night Lillian's sausage on a stick on Fair Day Making a difference Greeting the Breakfast Sheriff Cabin Night at the Pool
Staff Training Challenging yourself Doing the Zip Line on the High Ropes Course Working with returning counselors Driver training with Wes Discussing counselor techniques Exploring camp with a returning counselor Hanging out in the shade of the Grape Arbor Training with staff in your program area Role playing a homesick camper Picnic by the ocean Sharing summer goals with your co-counselors Planning for the first day and night Figuring out the daily schedule	Off Time Sunset views at Ledge Mountain Canoeing at sunrise Sundaes at the Superscoop Climbing Mount Katahdin L.L. Bean and outlet shopping in Freeport Portland Sea Dog baseball games Evenings in the stained glass studio Moose sightings Movies at the Railroad Square Cinema Browsing in the Fertile Mind Bookstore Jazz at Bell the Cat Making friends from all over the world Checking out the shops in coastal Camden
Camp Life Organizing the HVC Olympics...Playing Condiment Twister on Gross Day...Dressing up as an alien to promote the WhoDunit mystery...Making a kid laugh, smile...MC'ing at the Valley Fest Outdoor Talent Show...Hog Calling at Meg's Rodeo...Wheel of Misfortune...Sleeping under the stars...Orbiting at Meg's Organic garden...Contra Dancing...Hay rides in the Green Pig with Peter...Jamming with Inca Son...Laughing with Willie Claflin and Maynard the Moose...Sir Laundrybag Oliver...the Bangor State Fair...Elvis Day..Ice Sledding down Tipi Hill at Interest Groups ...and more!

HVC TV

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Video of Our Two Week Staff Orientation

Staff Facts

Population: 275 campers (boys and girls ages 8 to 13) and 100 staff people from throughout the U.S. and the world.

Location: South-coastal Maine, about 80 miles northeast of Portland near the harbor towns of Camden and Belfast. Accessible to many beaches. Acadia National Park, hiking, rafting, etc.

Salaries: Competitive. Bonuses for certain experience and credentials. Free room and board.

Time Off: Generous off-time includes one of two teaching periods per day and every other night from dinner time until the following morning. Also, once weekly, staff have one 36-hour period off.

Use of Facilities: Staff have access to our waterfront (canoes, etc.), pottery, stained glass, and other crafts buildings, sports equipment, 300 acres of fields and forest, sauna, staff cabin, and other facilities during their off time.

Pre-camp Training: Our specialized training includes professional workshops in counseling techniques and a range of leadership and counseling issues. We enjoy our 12-day orientation, setting up program areas and visiting coastal Maine as we build a community among the staff. All staff spend a day of staff training enjoying our ropes course. Pre-camp training may include Red Cross lifeguard and ropes training for those with previous experience.

CLICK HERE FOR ON-LINE STAFF APPLICATION

About Our Staff

Imagine the possibilities... Staff life at...

Teaching

Campers

Staff Training

Off Time

Camp Life

Video of Our Two Week Staff Orientation

Staff Facts