Adventure Camp’s mission is to provide everyone a safe, equitable, and exciting journey that builds lasting community and empowers personal growth under the skilled leadership of stellar mentors.
Camp might be right for you if
- You enjoy working with young people between the ages of 5 and 13
- You want to have fun, earn a paycheck, and make a difference all at the same time
- You do your best work in fresh air and sunshine
- You prefer paddling a canoe or riding a mountain bike to running a register or stocking shelves
- You’re majoring in education, communication, psychology, nursing, kinesiology/exercise science, social work, management, or any other field where working with people is important
What's in it for you?
- A sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from spending your summer changing the world for the better
- A consistent schedule of 40 hours each week without any nights or weekends and a predictable paycheck, starting at $13/hr
- Free Conner Prairie plus-level membership and other perks like concert tickets
- Value experience working with young people, with some options for college credit (internships and practicums)
- Where every counselor is an inclusive leader and every story matters.
- Lead with Heart, Mind, and Will
- Grow, Belong, and Make an Impact
At Conner Prairie Adventure Camp, our staff are more than employees—they’re mentors, role models, and creators of meaningful moments. Every counselor and recreation leader plays a vital role in shaping a camp community where curiosity thrives, belonging is built daily, and every camper feels seen, supported, and celebrated. Adventure Camp is a place where your story is worth knowing—and every moment is a chance to make a difference.
Adventure Camp staff embody the belief that every counselor is an inclusive leader. Our team sets the tone for connection, kindness, and curiosity, creating a safe and welcoming environment where campers can explore who they are and discover what they’re capable of. Counselors guide campers through both high-energy adventures and quiet reflective moments, helping them build confidence, courage, and empathy along the way. Working at Adventure Camp means being part of something larger than yourself. Whether you’re leading a hike through the prairie, encouraging a camper on the zipline, facilitating process art, or joining in on a canoeing trip, you’re not just supervising—you’re modeling curiosity, compassion, and leadership in action. Every activity becomes a chance to help campers see their own potential and to grow alongside them.
Our staff experience the same sense of belonging and discovery that we cultivate for campers. Adventure Camp is a community built on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose—where colleagues become friends and every day brings new opportunities to learn and lead. We believe that when counselors feel empowered, supported, and valued, that energy radiates throughout the entire camp. Joining the Adventure Camp team means stepping into a role that’s both meaningful and joyful—where you can make a lasting impact on campers’ lives while deepening your own understanding of leadership, empathy, and self-discovery.
Roles at camp
Qualifications for all roles
- Age 18+ or a high school graduate by the first day of camp
- Experience in childcare is required. Experience working with youth at a camp or school is preferred.
- See individual job descriptions for position-specific qualifications
- Lifeguard (training provided)
- Camp Counselor
- Zipline Leader
- Mountain Bike Leader
- First Aid Specialist
- Summer Camp Inclusion
- Camp Coordinator
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This isn’t your normal “sit in a guard chair and scan the pool” lifeguard job. Campers swim, fish, and canoe on our 1.5 acre pond, all while wearing a lifejacket. Campers age 8+ canoe on the White River, accompanied by their counselors and a lifeguard. You’ll be surveilling the pond, helping campers catch their first fish, loading and trailering canoes, and getting paid to paddle! On-site lifeguard certification and CPR Pro Rescuer training courses are provided for applicants without a current credential.
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Counselors are the lifeblood of the camp experience. At Adventure Camp, you’re paired with a co-counselor and assigned to a group of 14-16 young people for the entire week. Get to know these campers while you lead them through activities like swimming, canoeing, fishing, zipline, mountain biking, arts and crafts, and more. Don’t worry about planning your own activities or crafts- that part is done for you so you can focus on delivering an excellent program.
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One of the highlights of camp is our 265 foot long zipline that takes off from a platform 15 feet up in the air. You’ll receive specific training before camp starts to ensure that every camper has a safe and enjoyable experience. You’re the expert on harnesses, helmets, trolleys, slings, and more! You’ll complete daily pre-use inspections of the zipline and low ropes course to ensure safety. You’re in a unique position to meet every camper that comes to camp, and will live out our “Challenge by Choice” philosophy to help campers overcome hesitations and fears.
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With a fleet of Trek mountain bikes, you’ve got an eye for safety first, and also a need for speed! You’ll adjust bikes and helmets to fit campers, perform basic preventive maintenance and repairs, and ensure the mountain bike course is in tip-top shape. For our younger campers, you’ll supervise their use of pedal go karts on a paved track. While basic repair skills are preferred, a high degree of expertise is not required.
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From cuts and scrapes to bumps and bruises, you’re the first call for camper and staff injuries. At an outdoor adventure camp, risk is mitigated but minor injuries still occur. You’ll render basic first aid in line with your skill set and our standing orders, properly control and dispense medication, and escalate an issue to an EMT or other medical professional when necessary. You lend a listening ear to campers experiencing homesickness or uneasiness being at camp. In this role, calm professional communication with parents and guardians is a must, as is detailed record keeping. First Aid/CPR certification and experience is required. This position is eligible for an internship.
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The Camp Inclusion Specialist provides specialized support and guidance to children with behavioral, cognitive or physical needs/challenges. This role is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and enriching camp environment, enabling campers to develop essential social and emotional skills while participating in camp activities. Works as part of a team to deliver a safe, exciting, and educational experience to a group of campers age 5, 6 & 7, 8 & 9, 10 & 11, or 12 & 13.
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The Camp Coordinator provides support to handling the daily camp experience. This role is dedicated to planning, preparing, organizing, and communicating with camp staff. Works as part of a team to deliver a safe, exciting, and educational experience to a group of campers aged 5, 6 & 7, 8 & 9, 10 & 11, or 12 & 13.
SKILLS YOU’LL BUILD WORKING AT CAMP
(adapted from the American Camp Association)
- Oral Communication Skills
- You will be required to communicate effectively with people at every level of the organization – campers, fellow staff, and parents/guardians
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- You will be challenged to think on your feet to resolve a myriad of issues around behavior choices, social dynamics, health and safety, and more
- Interpersonal and Leadership Skills
- You will model professionalism and compassion by managing a group of campers, while contributing to the growth and development of each camper and colleague
- Collaborative Skills
- You will receive on-the-ground, practical, real life training in how to work with a team and help build the culture of our camp community
- Creativity
- You will develop innovative and fun ways to engage an audience of two to 200 and implement alternate plans when faced with unexpected changes to the daily routine
2025 Camp Staff Schedule and pay scale
Staff training week begins on May 18 and ends on May 22, 2026
Camp is in session from May 27–August 1
Staff are expected to attend training week and at least 8 of the 10 weeks of camp
Camp staff work Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily, typically working 40 hours/week in these full time, seasonal positions. Benefits are not provided. Overtime, when available, is optional.
| Role | Pay |
| First-year Counselors | $13.25/hr |
| First-year Lifeguards | $13.50/hr |
| Returning Counselors | $13.50+/hr |
| Returning Lifeguards | $14.00/hr |
| Specialist | $14.00+/hr |
Camp Staff Training
Over the course of a paid week of staff training, you will:
- Learn the “hard skills” of camp, like how to facilitate each camp activity, where things are located across our expansive grounds, First Aid and CPR, and our youth protection barriers
- Learn the “soft skills” of camp, like positive behavior supports, working with campers with special needs, conflict resolution, and effective communication
- Begin building relationships with the other camp staff members that you’ll collaborate with to deliver an excellent camp experience
A Day in the life
8 a.m.: Arrive at Conner Prairie, grab your clipboard and radio. Review the day’s schedule with your co-counselor. Attend camp staff briefing, led by camp Director and Manager, where you will review weather and any special updates for the day ahead to set you up for a successful camp day.
8:30 a.m.: Campers arrive! Greet them with a smile, get them checked in, and answer any parent/guardian questions
9 a.m.: Head on over to the archery range! Give a safety briefing, then help your campers dial in their aim
10 a.m.: Time for a hike in the North Woods! Keep an eye out for squirrels, groundhogs, and white tailed deer
11 a.m.: Another group is ready to play a game of Capture the Flag with you!
Noon: Lunch! Each camper brought a lunch and so did you- head to your picnic pavilion to refuel together
1 p.m.: Hot weather and sunshine makes for perfect swimming! Get your campers down to the pond, and back-up the lifeguards as an extra set of eyes on the docks
2 p.m.: Many campers wear their camp shirts on Friday, so take your group to the tie-dye station and flex those creative skills
3 p.m.: The day isn’t complete without a Flavor-Ice! Head back to your pickup location and debrief the day with our campers.
3:30 p.m.: Ensure each camper is properly signed out by an authorized pickup person, and fill parents/guardians in on the highlights of their camper’s day
4 p.m.: Head home for some rest and relaxation so you come back ready for a different set of activities tomorrow!
This information provided on this page is for general illustrative purposes and is not a guarantee of job components, outcomes, nor available work hours.
Apply Today!
Be part of something extraordinary. Apply now to join the 2026 Adventure Camp team at Conner Prairie—where every counselor is an inclusive leader, every camper is a story worth knowing, and every moment is a chance to build belonging.