Volunteering at Camp

Volunteering at Camp

Ready for the Best Week of Your Life?

Seriously—we’re not exaggerating!

Volunteering at Camp Quest is joyful, exhausting, hilarious, meaningful, and deeply human. You’ll probably make lifelong friends, learn a lot about yourself, laugh more than you expected, and fall into bed each night completely wiped (the good kind of tired).

Ask around and you’ll hear the same thing over and over: camp is the best week of the year. Some volunteers have been coming back annually since 1997. Many former campers grow up and return as staff. Once Camp Quest gets you, it kind of sticks.

Below is the rundown of how volunteering works. If you have questions, we’d love to answer them. When you’re ready, head over to your local camp’s website to apply.

Volunteering

Our core roles—cabin leaders, activity leaders, support staff—are filled by people who simply believe in what we do. (Facilities managers, kitchen staff, and lifeguards are usually provided by our host camps.)

We’ll house you and feed you for the week, and many camps have funds available to help cover travel costs if needed. If getting to camp might be a challenge, talk with the Camp Director.

Roles: What You’ll Be Doing

Most first-time volunteers start as Cabin Leaders.

Cabin Leaders work as a team to make sure campers are safe, supported, and where they’re supposed to be. Campers move between activities led by different staff, but cabin leaders always know who’s with their campers and what they’re up to.

You won’t be with your campers every single minute—but we do ask you to be present. One of the most important parts of the role is talking with campers about their day: what they learned, what surprised them, what made them laugh, and what made them think. Those conversations are where the magic really happens!

Requirements (a.k.a. Can I Do This?)

  • You must be 18 or older on the first day of camp.
    If you’re 16 or 17, check out our LT / CIT / Firefly / Phoenix programs instead!
  • Think you’re “too old” for camp? Nope. We regularly have counselors in their 40s, 50s, and beyond.
  • All volunteers complete a criminal background check. Having a record doesn’t automatically disqualify you—we just ask that you talk it through with the Camp Director.
  • No prior camp experience required. First-timers welcome!

Time Commitment

Most camps follow a similar schedule:

  • Arrive Saturday afternoon before campers arrive
  • Campers arrive Sunday afternoon
  • Depart the following Saturday after lunch and a staff debrief

While camp is in session, you’re pretty much “on.” Leadership staff work hard to schedule breaks and make sure everyone gets rest—we care about your wellbeing, too.

Camp is immersive, so plan on having no more than about an hour a day for outside obligations. If you’re taking an online course or have something that needs daily attention, let the Camp Director know ahead of time.

We ask volunteers to stay on-site all week. Emergencies happen—just get permission from the Camp Director. If you know in advance that you’ll need to leave briefly (an exam, for example), talk it through before committing.

Accommodations & Accessibility

Some camp buildings are ADA-compliant, but getting around camp often involves hills, stairs, and trails. We’re committed to making reasonable, and sometimes extraordinary accommodations whenever possible, especially with advance notice.

An inclusive camp starts with an inclusive staff. If you need accommodations, talk with the Camp Director early in the application process.

Dietary needs? Kitchen staff are usually happy to help. Just make sure we know ahead of time and include details in your application.

Technology at Camp

We encourage campers to unplug a bit, and we ask staff to model that, too.

You’re absolutely welcome to bring your phone and devices. We just ask that you limit use in front of campers to official camp business. Most camps have a staff-only space where you can scroll, message, or check in with the outside world.

Training

Before camp:

  • About 5 hours of online training focused on youth development

At camp:

  • Staff usually arrive a day early for on-site training and team bonding

Some camps can help cover the cost of Red Cross or American Camp Association training, just ask your Camp Director.

Why Camp Quest Rocks (Seriously)

Volunteer-run camps like this are rare. You’ll be surrounded by people who genuinely want to invest their time and energy into kids, curiosity, and a better future.

At Camp Quest, we encourage campers and staff to be authentic. We take pride in being authority figures who teach kids how to question authority! And our campers? They’re incredible. Thoughtful, funny, curious, playful, and often wiser than you’d expect.

You’ll teach them a lot—but don’t be surprised if they teach you, too!