Think outside the Office
Working at camp is the hardest job you’ll ever love. You’re in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, surrounded by awesome people, doing amazing, fun, things. You will learn skills such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking, strategic planning, and teamwork, all while playing capture the flag, becoming a Miss Universe contestant, choreographing a dance to the latest hip-hop, even enjoying rest hour and evening milk and cookies! We invite you to experience the reward of high-fiving a camper who gets a bulls-eye in archery, hugging a camper who misses home, encouraging a camper as she pushes off the zipline, and sharing a smile with a camper, just because. An Illahee summer is a season for broadening your horizons and for being part of a team of caring individuals. We invite you to explore, and perhaps, share our “heavenly world.”
I think your generation, different from my generation, has always been so focused on goals and sometimes forget to breathe and be in the moment. Being at camp reminds us to be present and can be a wonderful step towards your career.
-Lee, Human Resources Executive (Camper: 1979-1986, Counselor: 1990-1994)
We interviewed former counselors about their experience and why they think you should work at Illahee!
alumnae Testimonials: camp…
Working at camp gave me good life skills that made me a human that I’m proud to be. -Zoe, Tech Entrepreneur (Camper: 2005-2013, Counselor: 2014-2019)
Camp taught me how to have fun and enjoy life, and that it’s ok if things don’t go to plan. It actually makes it even better.
-Madi, Teacher (Counselor: 2008-2012)
When you’re a camp counselor, you have your own little business. You’re in charge of eight girls, and you’re making sure they get to their places. You’re watching over all of that. If I saw a camp job on resumes (which I have over the years) those are the things that I asked them about. -Lee, HR Executive (Camper: 1979-1986, Counselor: 1990-1994)
Camp gave me people skills. Kids are people, and anytime you’re working with kids, you’re developing these skills for how to work with different personalities and how to prioritize people’s needs. You know how to listen, how to compromise, how to build up people’s enthusiasm. -Kelly, Magazine Editor (Camper: 1999-2005, Staff: 2006-2011)
When people are interns, you’re often taught that you’re the bottom of the totem pole. As a camp counselor, I was a leader. I was proactive. I was in charge and I think some of my friends who experienced internships were more along the lines of coffee running. -Ann, Admissions Director (Camper: 2003-2010, Counselor: 2011-2016)
I needed a mental health break, and I just wanted to be happy and enjoy life because I knew the grind was coming. It’s hard work to be a counselor, but you get so much out of it, and you enjoy it so much, and you’re surrounded by such wonderful, loving people. -Sarah, Plastic Surgeon (Camper: 2001-2007, Counselor: 2011-2013)
There was not a day that went by that I didn’t think about camp and a lesson that I learned being a counselor, and just being so grateful with the skills that camp taught me. -Collier, Social Worker (Camper: 2000-2007, Staff: 2008-2011)
This is the only time in your life that you can be a camp counselor. The time is not forever, and you’re gonna work your whole life. So why not? At camp you can go be with your friends and be outside and be silly and remember what it’s like to be a human instead of just a cog in the wheel of work. -Ansley, Elementary Teacher (Camper: 2009-2014, Counselor: 2018-2023)
Special thanks to former camper and staff member Harper Fosgate for interviewing dozens of alumni and compiling the quotes for this page!
The Illahee Family
It’s not just the campers that make Illahee such a special summer camp for girls. With great love, spirit, and generosity, the counselors and staff at Camp Illahee have endowed our community with dedicated service and positive mentoring. There’s hardly an aspect of the Illahee lifestyle that has not been touched by the generations of truly remarkable people (click here to meet our directors) who have spent their summers (and some year-rounds) making Illahee the extraordinary place that it is.
In many circumstances, a job is just a job. But at Illahee, our summer staff positions are so much more than that. When you join our Illahee family, you share in our “heavenly world” by encouraging, inspiring, and participating in the fun and discovery of a summer well spent. Ready to find out more?
Learn More & Inquire Apply Now
If you would like to speak personally with a former or current counselor, we will be happy to provide you with a contact list.
Send us an email or contact our office at (828) 883-2181.