Work with Camp Fire

Camp Fire Central Texas helps young people build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong connection to the natural world through outdoor experiences and environmental education. Our programs use nature, outdoor skills, and hands-on exploration as a way for young people to discover their strengths and develop a sense of belonging.

Summer Outdoor Camp Counselor – Youth Leadership & Adventure Programs

📄View the full job description.

Location: Austin, Texas — Lake Austin / Emma Long Metropolitan Park area

Camp Fire Central Texas is hiring Summer Camp Counselors to lead outdoor adventure and youth leadership activities at our nature-based day camp on the shores of Lake Austin. This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy working with children and are excited to take on the responsibility of helping create a safe, supportive, and fun camp community.

While technically within Austin city limits, our camp operates in a wooded waterfront park setting within Emma Long Metropolitan Park on the west side of Austin, about 30 minutes from downtown. Staff spend their days outdoors leading activities such as kayaking, archery, nature exploration, and outdoor games.

Learn more about Camp Balcones here.

What You’ll Do

Counselors lead small groups of campers (ages 6–14) through hands-on outdoor activities, including:

Kayaking and waterfront exploration on Lake Austin
Archery instruction
Nature hikes and environmental discovery
Outdoor games and team challenges
Camp traditions and community building

Counselors help create a positive, supportive environment where campers feel welcomed, encouraged to try new things, and supported in building friendships.

Why This Is a Great Summer Job

Spend your summer outdoors on Lake Austin
Gain leadership and youth mentorship experience
Build skills relevant to careers in education, recreation, and environmental programs
Work with a small, supportive team creating meaningful experiences for kids

Camp Culture

At Camp Fire Central Texas, counselors are more than activity leaders—they are mentors who help young people discover who they are and how they belong in the world around them. Through outdoor experiences and supportive relationships, our staff help campers build confidence, develop leadership skills, and form meaningful connections with nature and one another.
We strive to create an environment where every child feels welcomed, included, and encouraged to try new things. Our counselors play an important role in fostering a camp community built on respect, curiosity, teamwork, and a shared sense of adventure.

Schedule

Seasonal summer position
Monday–Friday daytime schedule
Camp runs from early June through July 3 (approximately five weeks)

Flexible Summer Opportunity

Our five-week camp season makes this position a great fit for students or seasonal workers who may also want to:

work another camp or seasonal job later in the summer
travel or take vacation time in July or August
complete summer classes or internships

Qualifications

We’re looking for team members who:

enjoy working with children
love being outdoors
bring a positive attitude and strong teamwork skills
are dependable and responsible

Experience with camps, recreation programs, youth activities, or outdoor programs is helpful but not required. College students and individuals interested in education, youth development, outdoor recreation, or environmental programs are especially encouraged to apply.

Leadership Opportunity

One counselor may be selected for an additional Lead Counselor role supporting our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) pilot program, which includes a small leadership stipend.

Mission Connection

Many of our staff join Camp Fire because they believe in the power of outdoor experiences to shape young people’s confidence, curiosity, and sense of belonging. If you enjoyed camp growing up, value time in nature, or are passionate about helping kids discover their strengths and interests, you’ll likely find this work especially meaningful.

How to Apply for a Position at Camp Fire

If you enjoy working with kids, being outdoors, and helping young people build confidence and discover who they are through nature, we’d love to hear from you.

📝 Complete our intake application.

If your experience and availability are a good fit for this role, we’ll be in touch to schedule an interview.

For questions, please email info@camp-fire.org.

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