Summer Camp Outdoor Adventure Guide

Take campers on the adventure of a lifetime.

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Summer Camp Adventure Jobs

Overview

As a Adventure Guide (OPT), your role at summer camp is one of the most adventurous ways to spend a summer. OPT are responsible for taking campers and staff on pre-planned trips off of camp as well as running activities on camp that support the off camp adventures. Many involve hiking, camping, rock-climbing, canoeing down rivers, visiting different states and discovering the nature that surrounds us.
Why Work at Summer Camp?

At Camp IHC we have one of the most progressive outdoor adventure programs in the camp world. Every week at camp we run dozens of off-camp trips for all our different camper divisions.
We run a vast amount of: day trips, overnight camping trips, to the Adirondacks, Catskills, and the Poconos . As a trip leader your responsibility will be to organize and facilitate these trips while providing the campers with memories that will last a lifetime.
The role provides great experience for anyone seeking future employment in the travel industry.

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5 things we look for in our adventure team

Outdoor Survival and Technical Skills: An in-depth understanding of outdoor survival techniques, such as navigation, shelter-building, fire-starting, and first aid, is crucial. Proficiency in activities like hiking, rock climbing, and orienteering ensures that the instructor can safely guide and teach campers in various outdoor adventures.
Risk Management and Safety Awareness: Ensuring the safety of campers in outdoor environments is the top priority. An outdoor adventure instructor must be skilled in assessing risks, managing group safety, and responding effectively to emergencies or unexpected challenges in nature.
Leadership and Confidence-Building: The ability to lead groups confidently and instill a sense of courage and adventure in campers is key. A good instructor can encourage children to step out of their comfort zones, face new challenges, and develop confidence in their abilities.
Environmental Stewardship and Education: Teaching campers about the importance of respecting and preserving nature is an essential part of outdoor education. The instructor should be knowledgeable about the environment and passionate about fostering a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the natural world.
Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Outdoor adventures often come with unpredictable elements, such as weather changes or unexpected obstacles. An effective instructor needs to be resourceful, quick-thinking, and adaptable, able to solve problems on the fly and adjust plans as needed to ensure a positive experience for all campers.

Mark Tjaden

"As the Outdoor Adventure Director, I believe that our adventure staff are the heart of every camper's journey into the wild. Their expertise, passion, and commitment to safety help campers to push their limits, explore new challenges, and connect with nature in meaningful ways. They don’t just guide; they empower each child to discover their own strength and sense of adventure."

FAQs

We run a selection of day trips, over-night camping trips, 4 day excursions and for the older campers we run a 5 day Saranac trip.
We run trips with around 8-16 campers and 3-4 staff members. Trip Leaders will never run trips by themselves and will also carry emergency phones and kits.
Yes. The IHC outdoor adventure program requires you to have a wide range of skills and experience to make you eligible. We hire staff from around the world, so when you apply please let us know what qualifications and experience you have.
Our camp season runs from early June to mid-August. For this position you would need to be available for this period.
Trip Leaders are a part of our Outdoor Adventure team, when you’re not leading trips you will either be planning or organizing future trips alongside our Outdoor Adventure Directors or assisting other Outdoor Adventure staff in their respective areas.
You will live in staff housing with the rest of the Outdoor Adventure team and will not be asked to live in a bunk with campers during the summer.
Yes. You will typically have one full day and night off each week. This is your chance to rest, recover and try some new things on camp and explore new places off camp with other staff.
However, as a Trip Leader is often on overnight trips and longer adventures, the time-off might look slightly different to regular camp positions.