An adult and a child, both smiling, sit on the floor next to a table in a recreational indoor setting.

Lessans Camp JCC Staff

At Lessans Camp JCC we pride ourselves on our staff-to-camper ratio, welcoming over 200 individuals to share their knowledge, experience, and love of camp with our campers. 

Thinking about joining the Lessans Camp JCC staff family?

Lessans Camp JCC hires enthusiastic and dedicated people to join our team. We are committed to providing the best camp experience to our campers, families, and staff. Click here to see our “Why Work at Lessans Camp JCC” presentation with a variety of frequently asked questions and details about spending your summer at camp. 

Summer 2027 Staff Application Dates
Returning Staff: Monday, November 16
New Staff: Monday, November 23

Lessans Camp JCC At A Glance

Get a snapshot of our camp with ‘Lessans Camp JCC At a Glance’! Learn about our units, camper demographics, commonly asked questions, and our inclusive mission. Click below to explore what makes our camp unique!

Three young men stand together smiling; one wears a Lakers jersey, the others wear casual shirts. They gesture with peace signs in front of a metal fence and brick wall.
Two women in sunglasses wear a split holiday sweater—one side featuring a blue Hanukkah menorah and stars, the other side featuring a red Christmas tree—standing in a gymnasium.
A smiling adult and a smiling boy in matching purple shirts sit on a gym floor, clasping hands, with other children seated in the background.

Staff Positions

Looking for more detailed information? View our “Find The Right Role.” If you’re still not sure, take this quick questionnaire to see where your skillset would be best used at camp.

Junior Counselors (16+) assist with activities, help supervise a bunk of campers, build meaningful connections, and support campers as they move between activities, bringing enthusiasm and teamwork to every part of camp life.

Senior Counselors (18+) lead games, activities, and daily routines while supervising a bunk of campers, building strong relationships, guiding them to activities throughout the day, and modeling positive behavior while supporting Junior Counselors.

Inclusion Counselors (16+) support campers with disabilities within their bunk, helping them participate in activities, assisting with personal needs, collaborating with staff, and ensuring each camper’s unique strengths and challenges are understood and met.

Kochavim Counselors (16+) work one-on-one or two-on-one with teens, building strong relationships, supporting their unique needs, and making sure every camper enjoys a fun, exciting, and meaningful camp experience.

Swim Instructors (16+) guide campers through lessons that build confidence and technique, maintain strong supervision, and make time in the pool fun and engaging for everyone.

Specialists (18+) use their expertise in a specific area (arts, sports, music, STEM) to plan and lead engaging activities, manage materials, and collaborate with counselors to keep campers inspired, focused, and immersed in fun camp programming.

General Specialists:

  • Studio Art
  • Arts and Crafts
  • STEM
  • Drama
  • Teva (Nature)
  • Music
  • Israel
  • Dance
  • Rockwall Climbing
  • Sports

Specialized Areas

  • Ceramics
  • Mixed Media
  • Theater Director 
  • Woodworking
  • Gymnastics
  • Social Emotional Learning
  • Cooking
  • Coding

Sports Specialists

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Football
  • Hockey

Our Head Nurse oversees daily medications, manages camper and staff health needs, and responds to everything from minor bumps to more complex medical situations. They document and evaluate daily incidents, communicate with families when needed, and provide attentive, compassionate care so campers can fully participate in camp life. With strong systems and a steady presence, this role is central to keeping camp safe, supported, and running smoothly all summer long.

Our EMT helps create a culture of safety and confidence across camp by providing responsive, compassionate care when it’s needed most. From evaluating injuries to supporting health room operations, they work closely with the Head Nurse to ensure every camper can participate fully and safely. It’s a fast-paced role for someone who thrives on being proactive, capable, and dependable.

Our Health Room Admin keeps the health center running smoothly by managing records, tracking documentation, and supporting daily health operations. They ensure medications, incident reports, and communication are accurately recorded and organized. This detail-driven role is essential to maintaining a safe and efficient camp environment.

Our Jewish Content Coordinator brings our camp’s values to life through meaningful programming, Shabbat experiences, and everyday moments of connection. They thoughtfully weave middot and Jewish traditions into the rhythm of camp in ways that feel authentic, joyful, and accessible to all. This role shapes the spiritual and cultural heartbeat of our community.

Head Counselors (20+) have strong experience working with school-aged campers and guide daily group flow, support behavior management, mentor counselors, and adapt plans on the fly to ensure a safe, structured, and fun day.

Unit Heads (21+) bring significant childcare or education experience and oversee the entire unit by supervising staff, managing logistics (transitions, schedules, field trips), communicating with families, and keeping camp running smoothly from start to finish.

What are the benefits of working at Lessans Camp JCC?

During the summer, all Lessans Camp JCC staff members receive a free JCC membership. This grants them full access to our facilities, including our pools, basketball courts, and fitness center.

If you refer a person, you might be eligible for a $100 referral bonus (per person referred).  You and the referred person must apply and work all the dates stated in your hiring paperwork for YOU to receive the bonus. The person referred must also mark you by name as the referrer on their application or you will not receive a bonus. 

Staff must apply, be interviewed, and have completed hiring documents by February 14 to receive a $50 bonus. You must fulfill the terms in your contract to receive your bonus. Bonus is available to New and Returning Staff.

Staff FAQs

The hours of Lessans Camp JCC are 8:30 AM – 4:15 PM. On Tuesday, we have staff meetings right after camp until 5:15 PM. Inclusion Staff also meet Fridays at 8:00 AM

Each day starts with camper arrival and Opening, when the whole camp comes together to celebrate the start of the day with music, energy, and camp spirit. From there, staff spend the day alongside their campers as they rotate through activities like swimming, sports, arts and crafts, nature, music, and more. Campers in specialty programs, like Sports Camp and Theater Camp, also spend part of their day focused on their specialty areas, while some units may head off-site for field trips throughout the summer. At the end of the day, groups come back together for snack and reflection before getting ready for dismissal and heading home!

We prefer staff to work all 8 weeks, but understand if there are preplanned conflicts. Please add your unavailable dates to your application.

We are rooted in Jewish values, and we ask that everyone is respectful of the Jewish culture, but we pride ourselves on being a camp for everyone. A sizeable percentage of our staff and campers are not Jewish.

Staff must be at least 16 years old by the last day of camp, August 6, 2027, and about to enter 11th grade, in order to work at Lessans Camp JCC. Some leadership and specialist roles may have additional age or experience requirements, which are listed in each job description.

No prior experience is required to work at Lessans Camp JCC. We’re looking for enthusiastic, dependable, and flexible staff who love working with children and bring a positive attitude to every day.

Before camp begins, all staff participate in a mandatory orientation the week before camp, covering camper engagement, safety, communication, and teamwork. Staff working with campers with disabilities also attend additional Inclusion and Kochavim training focused on understanding individual needs and creating success for every camper.

A small number of part-time positions are available, primarily for specialists who lead specific program areas such as art, sports, or music. Most counselor and leadership roles are full–time for the full camp season to ensure consistency for campers and staff teams.

Yes! High school students can earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for training and some pre-camp events, and college students may be able to arrange internship or credit opportunities through their schools. Let us know your needs — we’re happy to help you make it count.

Follow Our Socials

A young woman with braided hair and sunglasses makes a peace sign while sticking out her tongue on an amusement park ride.
A young woman poses and smiles with two young girls, all facing the camera. The girls wear casual clothes, and other people are visible in the background.
Three young people sit in a circle on a blue mat, talking and smiling, with a wheelchair and greenery visible in the background.

For me camp JCC isn’t just an amazing place it’s also a second home that I always feel welcomed at. As a camper I got to go to the best place ever and now as I counselor I get to keep going, while giving other campers the same experience I had.

– Abby M

Camp JCC is a place that everybody feels welcome, no matter where they’re from or who they identify as. All of the staff genuinely wants to be there and has a wonderful time making sure everybody has a great day! I personally love working with kids and giving them a space where they can be authentically themselves.

– Celia H