Junior Counselor

Med-o-lark’s Junior Counselor Program (JCs) is designed for outstanding LITs (now called CITs) to return to camp and expand upon their learned leadership skills. This program is by application, and the camp waives tuition. JCs will live in cabins with younger campers and will continue to develop their leadership skills. JCs will attend staff meetings, assist in teaching classes, assist with on-campus events, and have the opportunity to take exciting classes of their own during each session. JCs participate in a workshop on ethical leadership, which will be beneficial in their senior year in high school, on college applications, and beyond.

New for 2025, we are introducing a paid stipend for qualified JCs in addition to a tuition waiver.

Purpose:

The Junior Counselor (JC) program at Camp Med-o-lark is intended to provide:

  • The privilege to help create, guide, and contribute to a welcoming artistic community

  • An opportunity to practice, enhance, and hone skills related to leadership development, motivation, planning and execution, cultural sensitivity, teaching and conflict resolution

  • A chance to develop skills including active listening, non-verbal communication, organization, patience, and imaginative thinking that are necessary to teach effectively

  • The ability to guide the development of campers successfully in a residential cabin environment, including learning about practical issues that arise when working with young people

  • The freedom to take activities of interest to continue developing the JC’s creative talents

  • A possible pathway to working on staff the following summer

The Daily Schedule of a JC at Med-o-lark:

  • One activity period in a seminar on skills related to working with young people.

  • One activity period in an advanced seminar on ethical leadership where JCs will be challenged to carefully consider what kind of person they want to become and what values are central to them.

  • Two activity periods where the JC will serve as a co-teacher. These two activity periods must be in the same program area.

  • Two activity periods where the JC may select and participate in activities alongside campers.

Mentoring:

JCs will be assigned two separate mentors during their time at Med-o-lark.

  • First, they will be assigned a cabin mentor. This person will be a cabin counselor in their cabin and will work with the JC as they develop their skills working with campers.

  • Second, they will be assigned a teaching mentor in the program area where the JC will assistant teach. This will develop the JC’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the instruction in a particular program area. JCs will receive specific feedback from their staff mentor.

JCs will receive periodic feedback—both formally and informally—from their cabin and teaching mentors. This feedback will become part of their file that will be considered if the JC decides to apply for a staff position for a future summer.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • JCs will take turns managing the serving lines in the kitchen, the camper phones, and the mailroom.

  • JCs will assist periodically in the planning, running, and cleanup of Evening Activities.

  • JCs will assist CITs in the weekly review show.

Off Time:

  • JCs will enjoy time off with the CITs, including a few supervised trips out of camp. Med-o-lark will provide the transportation for these excursions, but JCs will be responsible for any meals, activities, or other items purchased.

Stipend:

  • Upon completion of a four-week session at Med-o-lark, JCs will earn a stipend of $400. A minimum of four weeks of attendance is required to receive a stipend. 

  • Upon completing an additional two-week term at Med-o-lark, JCs will earn an additional stipend of $200.

Community Service/Service-Learning Hours:

  • JCs will earn a minimum of 75 hours of CS/SL during a four-week session at Med-o-lark and 150 hours of CS/SL during an eight-week term at Med-o-lark.

  • Med-o-lark will provide the necessary documentation or certification.

Recommendation Letters:

Spending a summer successfully working with younger campers, completing a college-level class, and developing one’s leadership, teaching, and conflict-resolution skills often provides the basis for a strong letter of recommendation for college admissions. Med-o-lark’s Director of Programming and Culture, Dr. Joseph D. Moser Jr., Associate Professor of Humanities and Ethics at Maine Maritime Academy, writes many such letters each fall for former JCs.

Expectations of Behavior:

JCs are legally campers. They are not employees. That means the Camper Agreement applies to all JCs in full, especially with respect to the camp rules about smoking, drugs, alcohol, inappropriate behavior, inappropriate clothing, and/or verbal/physical abuse of any sort. If an issue arises, JCs will be seen legally as older campers by parents, by the insurance carrier, and by the camp administration. The highest standards are expected of JCs, who are expected to emulate and demonstrate the best of the Med-o-lark community and its values. However, because of their leadership role, JCs must abide by the rules in both the Camper Agreement and the Staff Handbook. JCs may not enter the Staff Cabin for any reason.

Next Steps:

Acceptance to the JC program at Med-o-lark is not guaranteed. If you are interested in becoming a JC for the Summer of 2025 at Camp Med-o-lark, please first consider the following questions:

  • Am I prepared to work in an intensive residential environment?

  • Have I demonstrated my work ethic and good decision-making through clear actions as an LIT?

  • Am I ready to be challenged to grow and strengthen my skills?

  • Am I ready to serve as a role model for campers?

  • Am I ready to put the needs of campers ahead of my own?

  • What can I contribute to creating a welcoming and artistic community?

  • Am I ready to collaborate with others to provide the best experience possible for our campers?

Then, please complete a JC application! We are excited to take this next step with you!