Nestled atop a white-sandy beach surrounded by tall, fragrant pine trees, Camp Birchwood enjoys scenic vistas of Steamboat Lake from morning to night. Rarely visited by outside anglers or boaters—Steamboat is a pristine, quiet lake known for its peaceful surroundings and sparkling clean waters. Its shallow, gradual slope to the center allows its waters warm up quickly in May, offering a full summer’s worth of fun and comfortable aquatic amusement.
Recruitment
In-camp counselor positions
The duties of a Birchwood staff member include living in a cabin of eight to twelve girls (with the help of one or two co-counselors) and teaching a camp activity five periods a day.
As a cabin counselor, you are responsible for the safety and happiness of every camper in your cabin. Your job is to promote fun, friendship, and teamwork. As an activity instructor, you must teach your designated activity with enthusiasm each day. Whether covering the basics over and over, or teaching higher-level skills, it is crucial to be engaging, positive, and encouraging. Some larger activities like sailing or horseback riding offer multiple positions, whereas smaller activities like dance and drama are traditionally taught by only one individual.
Wilderness counselors & outdoor adventure trip leaders
Counselors hired as “wilderness counselors” teach a variety of outdoor adventure skills in camp - including canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, low ropes-course activities, campfire cooking, orienteering, and hiking. While teaching in camp, they also act as a cabin counselor.
With advanced skills and training, wilderness counselors can qualify to take out-of-camp trips for girls of all ages. These adventures involve canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking trips, hiking, and extended adventures in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. These staff members live in a separate cabin in camp whenever they come and go from camp.
