Summer Camp Wilderness Specialist

Fiver is seeking a wilderness specialist for our unique, overnight summer camp that serves 450 children ages 8 to 18 from systemically under-resourced communities in New York. The Wilderness Specialist is responsible for leading and organizing off site wilderness trips for 15 and 16 year old participants. This role ensures that all outdoor excursions are safe, educational, and fun, while promoting teamwork, outdoor skills, and environmentalism.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate wilderness trips, including preparing meals, and ensuring that all necessary equipment (tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear, etc.) is ready.
• Prepare campers for and Supervise overnight campouts, ensuring safety, comfort, and well-being
• Lead group campfire activities, including storytelling, songs, games, and stargazing, while fostering a sense of camaraderie among campers.
• Adhere to all safety protocols related to outdoor activities and campouts, including emergency procedures, weather monitoring, and first aid.
• Educate campers on outdoor safety, including proper gear, hydration, weather awareness, and wildlife precautions.

Qualifications

• At least one year post high school by June 2026
• One year post high school experience working with children preferred
• Wilderness First Aid Certification required
• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification strongly preferred

During their experience at Camp Fiver, the wilderness and camp outs specialist will gain many transferable skills such as leadership, effective communication, time management, strategic thinking, behavior management and youth development best practices.

Fiver offers a $100 referral bonus in the first paycheck for every counselor/staff member that you refer, is hired, & arrives at camp for staff training.

Located in beautiful Upstate New York, Camp Fiver is a four-hour trip from New York City and is 45 minutes southeast of Syracuse. Camp Fiver’s 129-acre property includes a lake, a river, woodlands, a learning center, dining hall, horse barn and more. Counselors live at Camp Fiver for all 4, 12-day sessions (off days will be discussed thoroughly during staff training) including one and a half weeks of training prior to camp.

Click Here to Apply for Camp Fiver 2026!

The Fiver Children’s Foundation believes that historically marginalized communities must be centered in the work that we do, and are actively taking steps to make sure our processes and practices promote equity for all, including people of color, people from working-class backgrounds, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We encourage applications from people with these identities or members of other marginalized groups.

• $100 Referral Bonus for any staff you refer, are hired and arrive for staff training
• Travel Reimbursement determined by distance traveled to Camp Fiver

Spanish Proficiency is a plus!