Special Needs Camps
Camp Thorpe
Approximate Start Date
Approximate End Date
Camp Type
Location
Staff
Campers
Camp Overview
Camp Thorpe is a 92 year old residential summer camp deep in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains. With a very small 3-counselor-to-1-camper ratio we serve campers with a wide variety of physical, mental and developmental disabilities between the ages of 12 and 80 years old. While our programs are inter generational, we do have a separate side of camp for younger and one for older campers. Camp is separated into three two-week sessions and two one-week sessions with weekends off in between. Every day at camp is themed, and activities range from traditional “summer camp” programs like fishing, swimming, nature, singing, campfires, and arts and crafts to things our campers and counselors expect like dances, karaoke, Olympic, theme parties, parades, carnivals, and other events.
Limited Roles Available:
Join our summer camp team! Limited roles still available as we near the end of the application season. Open positions include:
- General Counselor
- Lifeguard
Do you have the skills they're looking for?
We asked the camp what positions they are looking to fill at the recruitment fair. Look out for the big thumbs up!
Are you looking to hire counsellors for Special Needs care?
Are you looking to hire counsellors with Creative & Performing Arts skills at the fair?
Are you looking to hire counsellors with Outdoor Adventure & Nature Skills at the fair?
Are you looking to hire Waterfront staff and Lifeguards at the fair?
Counsellor Roles:
Here's a list of all the positions this camp commonly hires for!
Hmm... What's your role?
Staff Time Off
We begin the summer with a one-week orientation to help everyone get to know camp and each other. This includes hard work and lots of fun so that everyone is comfortable with their skills heading into camp.
Our first three sessions are two week sessions, followed by two, one week sessions.
Counselors receive a mid-day break of at least an hour each day. There is also an evening break after camper lights out of about 90 minutes each night.
We offer a longer, 6 hour break for staff every other week. Weekends off begin after lunch on Fridays when campers leave until noon on Sunday.
Camp Thorpe offers organized activities as an option on these weekends off, including hiking, kayaking, drive in movies, trips to Burlington or Stowe for shopping and dinner out, alpine adventure trips and inner tubing on the river. Staff pay for meals on weekends and admission to any entertainment venues. Staff are always paid prior to weekends off.
WiFi is available at camp for staff on breaks and during time off for personal use.
Staff Qualities
Many of our staff have experience working with children and adults with special needs, but what it really takes is a willingness to learn. Our training and support at Camp Thorpe is excellent, and orientation provides all of the skills you need to be successful.
Our staff who return each year love camp because it offers them a place to be themselves and to love our campers for who they are. We see past what others may not and help people have a truly magical summer camp experience, whatever their ability is.
If you are able to find joy in little things, reserve judgement, draw on your patience when needed, roll up your sleeves and do whatever needs to be done, and have an incredibly fun time doing it all, this is the right place for you!