Join Our Team

Camp is a unique working environment as staff live on site, are outside most of the day, work with youth in various program areas, and help those youth with interpersonal situations. This may be new to camp staff. With that being said, we take the training of our camp staff extremely seriously.

We understand the importance of having a positive and proactive support system for our staff, just like what our counselors provide for our campers. In addition to extensive training, we provide ongoing support via our Administrative team. Our Camp Director, Program Director, Assistant Summer Camp Director, Healthcare Coordinator, Program Coordinator, and Logistics Coordinator all have duties aimed at making camp run smoothly and seamlessly for our counselors AND campers. Our Administrative team practices open-door policies with all staff. Whether you need advice, an added break on an extra-long day, or someone to bounce ideas off of, etc., our administrative team is always available. Frequent check-ins, debriefing meetings, and growth-focused evaluations ensure that your time at camp is enjoyable and rewarding.

In addition to support from our admin team, employees can take advantage of mental health services through our parent organization, NC State University, for confidential meetings and services. Millstone staff are additionally prepared to connect you to resources on mental health matters by request.

It cannot go without saying that the final tier of our counselor support system is the counselors themselves. Since you will be spending your entire summer with your co-counselors, you will all get to know one another on a very deep level. It is through laughter and games, encouragement and struggles, and supporting one another’s wins that a very strong bond forms. The camp environment is conducive to community building like no other and lifelong friendships are one of the most common outcomes of a summer spent as a counselor.

One of the benefits of working at a residential summer camp is that meals and lodging are provided for all seasonal staff for the duration of employment. Counselors will receive 3 home-cooked meals and 2 snacks a day. Our kitchen staff prepare a variety of meals that are best suited for youth (think pizza, hamburgers, spaghetti, chicken tenders, tacos, etc.) A fruit and yogurt bar is available during breakfast and a salad bar is available at lunch and dinner. All dietary restrictions will be accommodated upon request.

Junior Counselors (17 years old) start @ $290/week. 

Counselors (18+) with no experience start @ $300/week.

Counselors (18+) with experience start @ $310/week.

Applicants who show proof of applicable certifications like lifeguarding and wilderness first aid will receive an additional $10/week per certification.

Returning counselors will receive a raise of $25/week each summer that they return. 

Promotion opportunities; We believe that the people who have worked as counselors at Millstone themselves are the best people to lead counselors and so, given the right candidates, we will always choose to promote from within. Our best counselors often get promoted to the Administrative team after a summer or two of work. This is a great opportunity for those looking to gain experience in management or dip their toes into the camping industry.

You will start your day by waking the campers and arriving at the flag by 8 am. Following our flag ceremony, you will lead your cabin to the dining hall for breakfast. At each meal, except breakfast, we will sing camp songs before entering the dining hall. After breakfast, you will follow your cabin’s activity schedule. Two programs will precede lunch. After lunch, you will take your group back to the cabin for a rest hour. Following the rest period, you will go to two more activities with a snack period in between. Dinner will then be served, flags will be lowered, and our “all camp” evening activity will start. The final snack will be handed out and cabin groups will return to cabins to get ready for bed. Lights out is enforced at 10 pm.

During the work week, counselors have a program period off each day and one extended evening off. We understand that camp can be busy, and after a long week of playing, your time must be YOUR time. For staff, the camp week runs from Sunday at noon until Friday around noon. Around noon on Friday until noon on Sunday, counselors will not be contacted about work unless absolutely necessary.

Counselors have a lounge area onsite that contains a TV, couch, large table with plenty of seating, fridge, microwave, snacks, and ice machine. We also have our staff house with plenty of couches that are perfect for midday nappers. These areas can be utilized during break periods and weekends off. Pro tip- our site is on a beautiful 250-acre plot of NC Gamelands which are perfect for exploring and making into your own “personal lounge” with enos, benches, or chairs!

As our site is deep in the Gamelands, cell phone service is not readily available. Campers are not allowed to bring devices to camp, and counselors are discouraged from using them unless playing music or taking photos for the camp slideshow. We provide each cabin, program area, and Administrative member with a walkie-talkie. These walkies are turned on at all times while campers are on site to communicate as needed and for important information and emergency calls to be made. Personal cell phones may be used during time off.

Millstone 4-H Camp is American Camp Association (ACA) accredited. We adhere strictly to the ACA’s nationally recognized camper-to-staff ratio of 1:8. Cabin groups can have a maximum of 9 campers and 2 counselors. While we often place 2 counselors with a group of 8, sometimes more experienced counselors may spend a week as a single counselor. Please note that the ratio requirement is 1:8 and placing 2 counselors per cabin is a benefit achieved only by having a full staff present (invite your friends!). Camper cabin assignments are organized first by gender and then by age. Counselors are placed in cabins in alignment with their gender, then by age preferences, scheduling considerations, and cabinmate requests. Likely, you will not be placed in the same cabin each week- allowing you to work with a range of campers and staff alike. In addition to your core cabin group, your cabin will be paired with a cabin group of the same age but opposite gender. The counselors from both of these cabins will participate in activities and supervise these combined groups together.