Work at Wawenock

Build the skills to support, guide, and understand how young people grow – through real, hands-on experience.

At Wawenock, you’ll step into the role of a youth development practitioner, working closely with campers in both everyday moments and structured settings. Through your internship, you’ll support social, emotional, and cognitive growth while developing professional skills grounded in practice, reflection, and mentorship.

What you’ll gain:

• 55+ hours of structured training in youth development principles 
• Hands-on experience supporting children’s social, emotional, and cognitive growth 
• Skills in behavior guidance, conflict resolution, and group facilitation 
• Training in health, safety, and risk management (including CPR/First Aid) 
• Daily practice in leadership, communication, and teamwork 
• Ongoing mentorship, feedback, and formal evaluation 

Why it matters for your future:
You’ll leave with real examples of leadership, problem-solving, and youth development work that translate directly to careers in education, psychology, social work, and beyond.

Ready to build experience that truly stands out?

Step into the role of a teacher – before you have your own classroom.

At Wawenock, you won’t just observe – you’ll actively teach, mentor, and guide children every day. Living and working closely with students, you’ll design lessons, support individual learning needs, and build meaningful relationships that allow you to see real growth over time.

What you’ll gain:

• Daily, hands-on teaching experience in activity areas you lead 
• Practice lesson planning, classroom management, and differentiated instruction 
• Skills in giving feedback, goal-setting, and tracking individual progress 
• Experience building relationships with students across multiple settings 
• Training in social-emotional learning and inclusive teaching practices 
• Mentorship from experienced educators, grounded in established educational principles and ongoing feedback 

Why it matters for your future:
You won’t be observing from the back of the room – you’ll be leading, adapting, and teaching in real time. You’ll leave with concrete examples of lesson planning, classroom management, and student growth to carry into student teaching and beyond.

Ready to build confidence as a teacher?

Support children in real moments and learn how development unfolds.

At Wawenock, you’ll work closely with campers in both structured and everyday settings, gaining hands-on experience in social, emotional, and behavioral development. Through your internships, you’ll build relationships, navigate challenges, and learn how to support children with care, consistency, and intention.

What you’ll gain:

• Direct experience supporting children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development 
• Practical skills in behavior management, communication, and emotional support 
• Exposure to group dynamics, belonging, and identity development 
• Experience responding to challenges and supporting growth opportunities like building resilience, navigating peer conflict, and developing emotional regulation 
• Training in developmentally appropriate and inclusive support strategies from research-backed sources and professionals in the field
• Mentorship, reflection, and ongoing professional feedback 

Why it matters for your future:
You won’t just study development – you’ll see it in action. You’ll leave with real examples of supporting children through challenges and growth, preparing you for careers in psychology, counseling, social work, and related fields.

Ready to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in child development?

Develop the skills to lead, collaborate, and contribute within a dynamic organization. 

At Wawenock, leadership is practiced every day. Through your internship, you’ll work closely with peers, communicate across teams, and take ownership of responsibilities that directly impact the camp community – gaining real experience in how effective organizations function.

What you’ll gain:

• Experience leading peers and mentoring others 
• Skills in communication, teamwork, and professional collaboration 
• Practice giving and receiving feedback in a professional setting 
• Opportunities to problem-solve in dynamic, real-time situations 
• Exposure to how a mission-driven organization operates day-to-day 
• Increased confidence in decision-making, responsibility, and accountability 
• Mentorship and evaluation focused on leadership growth 

Why it matters for your future:
You’ll leave with real examples of leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving in action – experience that translates directly to careers in business, management, nonprofit work, and organizational leadership.

Ready to grow as a leader in a real-world setting?
Eligibility Requirement: Must be hired as an Activity Head or Unit Head

Support the well-being of children – physically, emotionally, and socially.

At Wawenock, you’ll help create an environment where campers feel safe, cared for, and supported each day. Through your internship, you’ll respond to everyday health needs, promote healthy routines, and build the awareness and confidence to care for others in meaningful ways.

What you’ll gain:

• Experience supporting children’s daily health and wellness needs
• Training in CPR/First Aid and basic health care practices 
• Skills in recognizing and responding to physical and emotional needs 
• Experience promoting healthy habits, routines, and self-care 
• Understanding of risk management and safety in a youth setting 
• Practice communicating with peers and supervisors around health concerns 
• Mentorship and guidance in youth care and support practices 

Why it matters for your future:
You’ll gain real-world experience caring for others in a dynamic environment – building skills that translate directly to healthcare, nursing, public health, and other helping professions.

Teach, lead, and inspire learning through connection to the natural world.

At Wawenock, the outdoors becomes your classroom. You’ll guide campers through hands-on, nature-based experiences – helping them build confidence, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the environment through daily exploration and activity.

What you’ll gain:

• Experience leading and designing outdoor and nature-based learning activities 
• Skills in experiential and environmental education practices 
• Confidence facilitating groups in dynamic outdoor settings 
• Opportunities to teach environmental awareness and stewardship 
• Training in safety, risk management, and decision-making outdoors 
• Experience fostering resilience, independence, and teamwork in campers 
• Mentorship and feedback on your teaching and leadership style 

Why it matters for your future:
You’ll gain real experience teaching and leading in an outdoor setting- building skills that translate to careers in environmental education, sustainability, outdoor leadership, and recreation.

Ready to teach and lead in the outdoors?

Develop hands-on experience in horse care, stable management, and riding instruction.

At Wawenock, you’ll be an active member of the riding program – caring for horses, supporting daily barn operations, and helping teach riders of varying skill levels. Through consistent responsibility and mentorship, you’ll build both technical horsemanship skills and the ability to instruct with confidence.

What you’ll gain:

• Daily, hands-on experience in horse care, grooming, and stable management 
• Exposure to feeding routines, tack care, and overall barn operations 
• Experience assisting with or leading riding instruction for campers 
• Skills in teaching, communication, and rider support across ability levels 
• Practice managing safety and responsibility in an equestrian setting 
• Increased confidence working independently and as part of a team 
• Mentorship and feedback from experienced riding staff 

Why it matters for your future:
You’ll leave with real, applied experience – not just time in the saddle. Whether you’re pursuing equine studies, veterinary pathways, or riding instruction, this internship builds both skill and confidence in a professional barn environment.

Ready to deepen your horsemanship while gaining professional experience?

Capture, create, and tell the story of camp through visual media.

At Wawenock, you’ll document daily life through photography, video, and design – capturing the moments that define a camper’s experience. You’ll create content used for families, storytelling, and outreach while developing your creative voice in a dynamic, real-world setting.

What you’ll gain:

• Hands-on experience in photography, videography, and/or graphic design 
• Opportunities to build a professional portfolio with real-world content 
• Experience capturing candid moments, events, and community life 
• Skills in visual storytelling, editing, and content creation 
• Exposure to brand voice, audience, and communication strategy 
• Experience managing creative projects and working on deadlines 
• Mentorship and feedback on your creative work 

Why it matters for your future:
You won’t just create for practice – you’ll produce meaningful work with a real audience. You’ll leave with portfolio pieces and experience that translate directly to careers in media, marketing, design, and communications.

Ready to create work that tells a story and builds your portfolio?