Welcome to our Parents of Junior Counselors!
Being a Junior Counselor at Outpost is a great way for your teen to spend two (or more) weeks of summer.
We hope they learn and grow. We hope they add value to their campers and camp groups. And we hope they have fun and develop their own new friendships.
By enrolling in the Junior Counselor Leader in Training Program, your high schooler will be the provider and recipient of the benefits of Outpost’s three values: 
- Community:
- Learning & practicing leadership skills in order to form a positive community and sense of belonging for campers
- Connection:
- Cultivating & enhancing people skills to connect with campers and help campers connect with each other
- Outdoors:
- Helping children enjoy being active and outside with their peers (and off of screens and devices!)
Our goal is that your teen will improve in both their people skills and professionalism. Therefore, we prefer that your child call or email our office themselves. You are also welcome to call or email with any questions. Our hope is that part of the JC experience is getting practice doing awkward things like contacting a supervisor or asking a clarifying question to build that “muscle” and as practice for future professional roles.
We know that you, as a parent, have a large role in helping coordinate your JC’s schedule and commitments. This webpage is designed for you to understand your JC’s role, schedule, and other necessary information. We want the three of us – you, your JC, our director team – to be on the same page. Below are links to helpful resources and other pages that will aide their summer.
Important Things to Know
| Session | Dates | Training |
|---|---|---|
| ALL SESSIONS | Sat, June 6: 10:00 AM-4:30 PM | |
| Session 1 | June 15 to 26 | Sat, June 13: 1:00-4:00 PM |
| Session 2 | June 29 to July 10 | Sat, June 27: 1:00-4:00 PM |
| Session 3 | July 13 to 24 | Sat, July 11: 1:00-4:00 PM |
| Session 4 | July 27 to August 7 | Sat, July 25: 1:00-4:00 PM |
The Application Process
Starting in January, students entering 10th grade and above may apply. You can learn more about the program, steps (also below), and benefits on our main JC page here.
- Application
- Group Interview
- Enrollment – followed by enrollment confirmation phone call
- Training (dates above)
- Camp session(s)
Junior Counselor Responsibilities During the Summer
Junior Counselors learn and practice many skills during their time at Outpost. Below is a brief list of some of the daily responsibilities of JCs. Note: Most JCs – about 80% – will be placed with our Day Camp program (K-5th grade). About 20% – usually returning and/or older JCs – are placed with our Senior Outpost program (6th-9th grade). 
- Fostering group community and connections:
- Learning camper names & playing with campers
- Facilitating friendships & forming connections with each camper
- Collaborating with their Senior Counselor (and partner Junior Counselor, if applicable)
- Creating a positive group culture
- Ensuring the emotional and physical safety of all campers
- Accepting and seeking feedback
- Communicating effectively with Senior Counselors and Directors
- Maintaining group systems
- Refilling water bottles and helping promote hydration
- Sunscreen refills and reminders
- Following safety policies and protocols
- Being a positive role model
- Recognizing and responding to opportunities for problem solving
- Showing enthusiasm on a daily basis
- Accountability to campers, parents, staff and directors
- Arriving on time; Demonstrating good self-care: Being well-rested, hydrated, and prepared
- Maintaining professional relationships and boundaries
- Demonstrating the ability to work in a group setting
- Maintaining the integrity, quality, and reputation of Outpost Summer Camps
Screen-Free Policy
At Outpost, we are fully committed to an “Outside and Unplugged” camp experience. Our campers and Junior Counselors become completely immersed in our program and benefit most when they are away from screens. As per our JC Terms and Conditions and in alignment with our philosophy, all campers and Junior Counselors are prohibited from bringing phones. *If necessary, JCs may check their phone into our JC phone lock box for the duration of the camp day upon arriving at camp.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
1) When and where is training?
JCs have at east 2 trainings, more if multiple sessions. JC Training for all JCs is Saturday, June 6th* (10-4:30). Session-specific trainings are on the Saturday afternoon (1 to 4 PM) before each specific session. All trainings are at Canyonside Park (12350 Black Mountain Rd). For training, JCs should bring a backpack and water bottle and wear close-toed shoes and comfortable clothing. Outpost will provide sunscreen & water refills. *For the June 6th training, JCs should bring a lunch.
2) What if my JC needs to miss a day?
When a student commits to the two week session, we expect them to attend all ten days of their session. Because each JC is paired with a specific group of children, absences are disruptive. Their campers, Senior Counselor, and directors are counting on them. We do understand that there are extraordinary circumstances (including sickness symptoms) that require JCs to miss camp. If that occurs, we expect your teen to call or email – jc@outpostsummercamps.com – and let us know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.
3) How do you choose which age group they are assigned?
We assign Junior Counselors to specific groups based on goodness of fit. We look at a variety of factors based on their application, interview, and training day, including age, skills, personality traits and experience. Most importantly, we assess who we think they will work with best. All of our JCs are paired with Senior Counselors – and most also have a partner Junior Counselor – and we intentionally place everyone where we believe they will be most successful and contribute to camp most effectively.
4) What should my Junior Counselor bring to camp each day?
Junior Counselors should bring a backpack with a lunch, water bottle, swim suit, and optional towel. Hats and non-smart watches are recommended. Outpost provides sunscreen, water refill stations, and a daily snack.
5) My teen cannot commit to the entire two weeks. Can they be a JC for just a few days?
Unfortunately, no. We need students to commit to the entire two-week program. While this is often difficult, we have many high school students who can commit to the entire two-week session. We do not make exceptions (unless Session 4 is not filled, and a returning JC can commit to at least one week).
6) Will they receive volunteer hours?
Upon completion, your teen will receive a certificate of service leadership hours. This will serve to show their successful completion of the Junior Counselor Program. As a participant in the Junior Counselor Leadership in Training program, your teen is not officially a “volunteer.” They are a camper in leadership training. However, most schools do accept the certificate as documentation of service/community hours. Our directors are also happy to provide letters of recommendation in the future, and JCs often seek these for college applications, scholarships, and/or applications to school clubs and societies such as National Honor Society.
More Questions? Email the office at jc@outpostsummercamps.com or give us a call at 858-842-4900.