If you’re filling out your summer staff application and curious about what you’d be signing up for, you’re in the right place. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been talking with the staff community to get the inside scoop on each position, so that you can hear about the work from those who’ve been there and done that.
This is your role-by-role guide to some of the jobs that keep the Lair running. Find detailed descriptions of the roles, and read everything to get a full picture of how it all fits together. By the end, you’ll see how every part—every instrument—comes together to create the Lair’s special song.
Program Director (PD)
The PD is the role that holds it all together, the person juggling all the brightly colored balls, making sure none of them drop.
“I was responsible for supporting the overall execution of camp programming,” Yoav Hessler told me. That means everything: directing the Saturday Night Show, teaming up with the Camp Manager to make sure things are going as planned, being the go-to person when staffers need something, and, yep, being there for campers too.
Being PD is managing and solving all problems at once, while also being the face of the whole operation. It’s chaos, sure, but it’s the kind of chaos that makes everything work smoothly for staff and campers.
The best part? You get to watch your impact in real time. “Seeing guests and staff light up during activities—whether it was campfires, talent shows, or those random, spontaneous moments of laughter—was incredibly rewarding,” Yoav said.
Assistant Program Director (APD)
“The APD role is notoriously ambiguous,” Julia Slane said. It isn’t focused on one specific area, which makes people think it’s pointless or a cushy gig. It’s not. When done well, it’s a job that’s as impactful as it is fun. “I like to think of the APDs as having two main jobs,” Julia told me, “running adult programming and being the camp’s universal substitute.”
First, adult programming. APDs are in charge of making sure the grown-ups at camp have a good time. Think Adult Dance, softball games, and guest speakers, complete with refreshments and intellectual chat.
Then, there’s the “universal substitute” role. APDs are trained in every single job at camp so they can jump in whenever, wherever. Most staffers work with this mindset, but APDs take it to a new level. Coverages, crisis management, picking up shifts—you name it, they handle it.
Beyond that, they help with scheduling, enforce the rules, keep things moving, and act as the bridge between management and staff. “I genuinely loved it,” Julia said.
Athletic Director (AD)
“Arguably the best job in camp,” Elle Van Giesen said. Being AD is all about play. Softball is the main event, so the softball field is where you’ll spend most of your time, but you’ll lead basketball, pickleball, volleyball, and inner tube water polo too.”
Your mission? Facilitate all the camper sports throughout the week. ADs are organizing the games, keeping the tournaments running smoothly, keeping the courts clean, and making sure everyone feels like an all-star. Whether it’s cheering on an underdog team or helping a camper perfect their jump shot, the AD is at the heart of the Lair’s athletic energy.
At night, you’ve got a little more room in your schedule, which means you’ll get to mix it up—helping with age group activities, pitching in with the Leadership Team, or just stirring up something fun for the staff.
Music Director (MD)
The Lair has a song in its heart and the Music Director’s job is to lead the singing.
Summer kicks off with the sweet chaos of nightly show practices. Music Directors take the lead along with the Program Director to produce the Hootenanny, the Friday Night Show, and the Saturday Night Show. The Music Director oversees song selection and skit writing, coordinating rehearsals and fine-tuning everything until it’s smooth, polished, and ready for the big stage by the time campers roll in.
The rest of the summer is spent hosting sing-alongs, jam sessions, and music lessons. You’ll jump into other day-to-day Lair duties and make sure the music stays in the mountains all summer long. “What a glorious life!” Eli Baker said.
Nature Director
The Nature Director gets to explore the Sierra Nevadas like it’s their own backyard—because, for a summer, it is.
Each week, the Nature Director picks a new hike to keep things fresh, combining towering pines, sweeping vistas, and new snacks. They organize kayaking on Pinecrest Lake, and serve wine and cheese while the sun sets.
“Spending a whole day hiking with campers means you get to talk to them,” Josh Gallo said. “It’s not just leading a hike; it’s making connections, one step at a time.”
“The best part of my job was how it pushed me to be physically active and healthy, along with being able to connect with campers personally on the long hikes,” Viv Wallis said.
Cal Bears Director
The Cal Bears Director is the cool older sibling to the ten to thirteen-year-olds.
Cal Bears Directors light campfires that crackle, just like the laughter that follows when they remind that one young Cal Bears camper (again) that jokes need to be family-friendly to be funny. They lead their group to the lake, the night filled with mosquitoes and stars, watch movies on a big screen under the open sky, and throw a pool party that pulls in all the camps and leaves everyone soaked.
It’s a lot. Wrangling up to forty middle schoolers at once is no joke. It’s equal parts crowd control, quick thinking, and sheer nerve. But it’s worth it. The advice you’ll give? Surprisingly meaningful. The gossip they’ll share? So good. The questions they’ll ask? Oh, they’ll keep you on your toes: “No, Jack, I didn’t kiss him last night, but thanks for asking so loudly in front of everyone.”
Your Cal Bears aren’t just your campers—they’re your partners in crime. Together, you’ll prank other staffers, set up programs, and cook up new twists on a classic camp game like Mafia.
Golden Bears Director
Golden Bears Directors wrangle energetic eight and nine-year-olds through days so jam-packed with fun, other staffers might try to sneak in. Activities include paddle boating on the lake, throwing pool parties, making s’mores, horseback riding, and creating masterpieces ready for the fridge door.
The relationships you’ll build with these Golden Bears and their families? “They’ll go beyond the Lair,” Melanie Voss told me.
So, if you’re up for steering adventures and creating memories that stick like marshmallow goo, grab a paddle, a paintbrush, and a pool noodle. Your Golden Bears are waiting!
Teddy Bears Director
Teddy Bears Directors are in charge of some of the cutest, and most energetic, campers—the six and seven-year-olds. Teddy Bears Directors keep the Teddy Bears safe, happy, and from sticking their fingers in places they shouldn’t.
“The best part of working with the little ones was seeing their joy and wonder each day,” Lane Weigel said. “Being a part of their early camp experience and connecting with their parents to ensure a memorable week for everyone was truly special and meaningful to me.”
You with Teddy Bears campers in boundless laughter over butterflies or ice cream: Exhausting. Heartwarming. Adorable. And deeply fulfilling.
Cub Corral Director
“As Cub Corral Director I was in charge of keeping all the little ones busy, happy, and eating Cheez-Its,” Olivia Kienzle said.
In the Cub Corral, every day brings different themed activities. Liv’s favorite was Dino Day, where they painted “dinosaur eggs” and went on a “dinosaur hunt.” The week at large is a mix of scheduled programs and improvised magic, depending on the vibe.
The Cub Corral Director works alongside the Cub Corral Crew to manage sign-in, sign-out, music, and a rotating lineup of to-dos. They also collaborate with the Teddy Bears Directors to put on joint programs and organize babysitting for parents who want some me-time.
“This job was super fulfilling and I loved all of the little kids,” Liv said. Newer parents were always really grateful, and I even ended up babysitting for a family I met at camp,” she told me. “It is a very high-energy job, but was definitely some of the most Lair fun I’ve had.”
Cub Corral Crew
“The Cub Corral is awesome,” Alex Sterling said. Simple as that. The Cub Corral Crew are magic-makers for the Lair’s smallest campers, from kindergarten down to diaper grads. This is your chance to spread the joy of the Lair to babies brimming with wonder and energy. From face painting to parading in the Dining Hall, your creativity and enthusiasm set the tone.
“When working in the Cub Corral, you are also a point person for babysitting and this is a great opportunity to earn some extra money,” Sterling added.
Dining Hall (DH) Crew
“The food is good, but it’s not why people come to the Lair. They come for the service, the hospitality, and the energy,” Julia Sandman said. That’s where the DH Crew comes in, the heart of the dining experience at camp.
Here’s how it works. Before the first bell rings, it’s all hands on deck. Set the tables and add any sauces or appetizers required for the meal. Five minutes before the second bell, the Host/Hostess gives a quick rundown on allergies and options for those with dietary restrictions.
At breakfast and lunch, servers keep the Hot Bar and Cold Bar or Salad Bar sparkling and stocked. At dinner, they line up with their carts, head into the kitchen to load up with food, and get ready for showtime when the second bell rings. Floaters jump in wherever needed, keeping the Salad Bar fresh and helping with cleanup.
The serve is “hugely important,” Sandy said. It’s your chance to show off your customer service skills. When you’re not serving, you’ll be helping out with other camp programs.
Head of Maintenance (HoM)
The Head of Maintenance leads the Maintenance Crew in a daily battle against dirt, debris, and the wear and tear of living in the woods. From dawn to midnight, the HoM makes sure that Lair facilities keep the magic alive for campers by tackling the less glamorous, but absolutely essential, tasks that make it all possible.
Killian Ridder put it like this: “I created daily schedules for my team, assigning jobs like pulling trash from dozens of bins across camp, sanitizing and restocking bathrooms twice a day, and putting away over 500 dishes after every meal.”
That’s just the start. Weekly deep-cleans of community spaces? Check. Driving trucks full of cardboard? Absolutely. Saturdays? They’re for rolling up sleeves and setting up tents, mattresses, bed frames, the works. The role doesn’t end when the sun dips behind the pines. From 6 AM to midnight, the HoM is on-call for when a toilet backs up, a tent top rips, or an electric box needs resetting. Fixing wooden tables, patching up stairs, troubleshooting showers—you name it, the HOM does it.
Guiding a team through challenges like these takes more than just a notepad and a work ethic. It’s about cultivating camaraderie, inspiring dedication, and turning “dirty work” into a badge of honor.
“I worked to create a positive environment,” Killian said. “I wanted my team to feel like we were all in this together.” That meant team bonding over dinners, gift exchanges, and planning activities to keep spirits high.
The payoff? A tight-knit crew that laughed through the muck and always had each other’s backs, both on the job and off.
Maintenance Crew
“Being a part of the Maintenance Crew is, in my opinion, the best job you could ask for at the Lair,” Ruby Farrens told me. When working with a crew, something funny is always just around the corner.
Maintenance handles “odd jobs” as they come up, hauls trash to the compactor, moves and assembles beds for campers, and tackles “head run” twice a day (that’s code for cleaning bathrooms). Oh, and dishes. So many dishes.
“By far the best part is riding in the trucks with your best friends from job to job,” Ruby said. It’s messy, it’s loud, it’s a little chaotic. It’s not glamorous, but somehow, it’s perfect.
“The food is good, but it’s not why people come to the Lair. They come for the service, the hospitality, and the energy.”
Julia Sandman
Head Cook
Being Head Cook is all about three daily deadlines: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. How you meet those deadlines, that’s your call. “Just make sure it gets done,” TJ Peck said.
The Head Cook isn’t just flipping pancakes or grilling tri-tip—no, they’re orchestrating a culinary symphony. Leading the kitchen means making sure every crew member knows their role, does their part, and has fun along the way.
The menu might not change, but the days never stay the same. Sometimes there are surprise allergies to work around. Or improvising because an important ingredient isn’t on the shelf. And then there’s the equipment: “You always have to be ready when something goes wrong,” TJ said.
There are days when everything runs smoothly and days when it’s a storm. But if you love a challenge, you’ll thrive here. This job is demanding, and oh-so-satisfying when you see it all come together.
If you’re ready to whip up unforgettable meals, garnish the tough moments with some humor and a hug, step into the kitchen. This gig’s got all the right ingredients for an unforgettable summer.
Baker
The Baker is in charge of filling the air with the smells that make camp feel like home, from the very first batch of “greet cookies,” to the coffee cake (a classic), to the key-lime bars that get people talking.
The Baker pitches in with meal preparation, scrubs, chops, stirs, and laughs. And when the Third Cook takes their day off, you’ll slide in to take the reins. It’s a team effort, after all.
The best part of the job is being on the best crew in camp, Callista Beros told me. Whether you’re panning bread pudding, mixing up frosting, or just being part of the day-to-day excitement, you’re with people who love food and have fun making it.
Programs Cook
The Programs Cook is responsible for all the events that bring people together outside the dining hall. The Program Cook prepares food for gatherings that range from Adult Art Hour to the Golden Bears pool party. They create bag lunches for kids heading to the lake, cheese plates for adults watching the sunset at Therapy, and food for camper cocktail parties, Lily Hallenbeck said. Every morning, you’ll put out the Hiker Bar at breakfast.
“I love the Kitchen!” Lily told me. “Working with a crew is so much fun and you truly become a family unit. In terms of my individual role, I liked the variety of what I cooked.”
Burgers Cook
The Burger Shack is the go-to spot for light-night bites and good conversations.
The Burgers Cook’s mission is simple: “keep the patties flipping, the fries frying, and the Burger Shack stocked and clean,” Liam Smith said. The Burger Cook serves up friendly chit-chat and maybe a secret menu masterpiece. They turn a snack into a memory.
Each night, you’ll team up with three other staffers to feed hungry campers, becoming their late-night heroes in the process. By day, when the Shack is quiet, you’re in the kitchen, working with the rest of the team.
Pots
Pots is the kitchen’s superhero. Pots washes the dishes, scrubs the pots and pans, and makes sure everything is cleaned thoroughly and meets health and safety standards.
When you’re not scrubbing, you’ll jump in to help with food prep.
What will you learn? How to stay determined, manage your time, and find pride in simple work done well, Corey Drevno said. “The faster I got my job done, the more time I had for fun.”
Pool Director
The Pool Director, leads the Pool Crew and is the go-to person for swim lesson logistics, talking with campers about their needs and making sure the schedule works for everyone. Twice a week, the Pool Director teams up with a fellow crew member to direct water aerobics, bringing the fun while keeping the workout flowing.
The best part? The people. “The small conversations curious campers would bring up while they were swimming by the lifeguard stand would make my day,” CJ Weigel told me. It’s the joy of providing a safe space for campers while forming strong bonds with your crew. If you love a high-energy, community-centered environment where every day brings something new, the Pool Director role is made for you.
Store Director and Store Crew
The Store Director is the one with the answers—or at least the one who knows exactly where to find them, fast.
What time is dinner again? How can I sign up to horseback ride at Aspen Meadows? Can I get a hat for my Revue skit, a sticker for my water bottle, and a candy bar to power through the walk back to my tent? The Store Director has the solution, and rings it up with a smile.
This job is so much more than selling snacks and swag. It’s about being the camp’s steady hand. You’ll keep the shelves stocked, the store looking sharp. You don’t just react—you anticipate, staying three steps ahead of every need and whim.
The Store Crew is a friendly face for campers, helping with whatever they might need. You’ll weigh in on which Lair shirt looks best, man the soft-serve machine, and sign campers up for special programs like Archery.
“My favorite thing about working in the store was getting to know the campers who would come in frequently,” Natalie Brouhard said. “I also loved spending time with the kids who would sit behind the desk with us and help us check people out. It was a great job to get to know camp well and make meaningful connections with campers.”
Art Director
The Art Director has their tie-dyed hands in everything that makes art at the Lair so welcoming and inspiring. The Art Director orders all the supplies and materials needed to bring the creative visions of campers to life. They oversee the Art Crew, collaborating with their r team to keep the space clean and colorful.
The Art Director turns the Art Arbor or Art Grove into an imaginative playground where campers can unwind and dive into projects that make their imaginings come to life.
“It’s an important space for people, and it’s our job to facilitate that,” Ella Villar said. Whether you’re starting a lanyard, shaping a vase, or just helping someone find the right shade of blue to match the sky, you’ll be the one in charge of keeping things running smoothly and looking beautiful.
Art Crew
A camper eating cereal out of a bowl you helped them make? Priceless.
The Art Crew helps campers throw pottery on the wheel, stitch lanyards, and work on projects that stay with them long after they leave camp.
“It’s a people job—85% of it,” Paloma Raffle said. You’ll learn the ropes alongside the campers of all ages, helping them tap into their creativity while keeping the Art Arbor, as it’s called at Camp Gold, or Art Grove, as Camp Blue puts it, buzzing with creative energy. You’ll guide campers, manage tasks, and stay patient as they ask questions and bring their artistic visions to life.
Make something of your own while you’re at it and you’ll have a cool souvenir too, Nikhil Patel advised me.
No matter what your role, you’ll slip into the current of camp life before you know it. Whether you’re drumming at the Hootenanny, scrubbing pots, or discussing the ethical implications of AI over pesto tortellini, you’ll make your mark.
You’ll connect with campers, learn from them, and share stories. It’s all about the people and that special Lair song that you’ll create and campers will remember.
