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Staff Home
Why C4K?
What isC4K all about?
Our Camps
Our Campers
Intern
@ C4K
Openings
FAQ
Forms
& News
Our staff come from all over the USA and the world. Some of our staff drive their cars to camp and others come to Boston via plane, trains and buses. We will arrange to pick you up at Boston’s Logan Airport, South Station bus and train terminal, or at the Braintree stop on the Red Line.
Detailed packing lists will be sent out prior to the summer, the general idea is to bring stuff you don’t mind getting dirty in. Clothing should be comfortable and appropriate for camp and other gear should be functional but not valuable. We will provide the equipment you need to run your activity area.
Yes! Working with children is rewarding, but also can be intense and tiring. You need time off to recharge your batteries and come back ready to work hard. Over the course of the summer, you will have one day off each week as well as free time each day and every second evening.
Both campsites have a staff lounge with a TV and video, refrigerator, ping pong and other game tables. Transportation is often available to get you to local attractions and the Boston public transportation system. Popular destinations include Cape Cod, Boston, Red Sox games, trips to the beach and hiking in the New Hampshire mountains.
Our camp chef creates a kid-friendly menu that includes all the important food groups for each meal. There are choices available at each meal including vegetarian and if you have any special dietary needs, we will try hard to accommodate you. Staff on heavily restricted diets (such as kosher, diabetic, vegan) may need to supply and prepare some of their own food.
Our campers have three age groups: Juniors (7-10 years), Seniors (11-13 years) and Teens (14 to 16 years). You will have an opportunity to express a preference for one of these age groups. If you don’t have a preference, we will assign you according to your age and experience.
Most of our staff live in cabins with the campers. Cabins are wooden structures with screened windows and you will have your own bed and storage area. Bathrooms and showers are located in central wash houses not far from each village of cabins. Each cabin housed 8-12 campers and 2-3 staff members. Support staff live in cabins with other staff.
Phones, Mail, Email, Laundry…
There is a pay phone just for staff and a staff computer for email. Our mail arrives at camp six days a week and is given out to staff daily. Laundry can be done on camp once a week.
Do I have to do anything different to apply to Crossroads for Kids if I am not a U.S. Citizen?
Yes. At the very least, if you are not U.S. citizen and do not have permission to work in the U.S., you must obtain a J-1 visa. First year international participants usually come through an international staffing agency, which means that you apply to that agency and ask to have them send your application to Crossroads for Kids. Returning staff are able to save money by applying for a direct placement J-1 visa. Because of the proximity to the U.S., first time Canadian applicants may apply for a direct placement visa. Because of the visa process, it is critical that international applicants apply several months before the start of camp. Contact us at staff@crossroads4kids.org for more details.
What is the weather like?
The summer weather is sunny and warm (between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit; 25-30 Celsius), although in the late afternoon it can become humid and rainy. In the evening it can get very cool (45-60 degrees F; 7-15 degrees C).
A health form is essential to have this filled out by your physician prior to camp and is available by to print by clicking here, and will also be mailed to you as part of the spring Welcome Packet. You can either send your physical form to camp, or present it to the health center staff when you arrive, along with any medications. It is a requirement of the State Board of Health & the American Camping Association that you have a complete physical within the 24 months prior to the start of camp. If you have already had a physical within this time frame, you need only have your doctor complete and sign the form, you do not need to schedule a new exam.
What are the rest of the staff like? Who will I be working with?
As with our camper population, our staff come from very diverse backgrounds. The average age of a staff member ranges from 18 to 30 years, and they come from all parts of the USA and from all over the world. All staff are chosen for their interest in working to create an environment in which youth can learn, grow, and achieve success. In your cabin, you will work with 1-2 other staff members and supervise between 8-12 campers. In your activity area, you will work with other staff, though each of you will probably be teaching something a little different (i.e., in Creative Arts, you might teach dance, another staff might be running arts and crafts and a third might be organizing the journalism group). Camp Wing has approximately 70 staff members, and at camp Lapham, there are about 30. We are counting on this great team of individuals who are mature, enthusiastic, and excited to come together and create a powerful team to “make a difference” this summer!
What will counselors be doing each day?
In general, you will be teaching in an activity area (e.g. swim instruction or soccer) for approximately 3-4 hours each day. You also have cabin responsibilities and you will be joining in our fun evening programs and special events.
Got More Questions?
If you have questions that aren’t answered above, type your question here and click submit. One of our staff will get back to you with an answer!