WHEN WAS SKYLAND FOUNDED?

Skyland has been operating as a summer camp since 1917. The main building at Skyland Camp & Retreats is The Lodge, a building that originally opened as a grand hotel in the late 1800s.

Skyland’s founder Susan Courtney “Granny” Harris had become devoted to the hotel where she and her children vacationed each summer in the early 1900s. While vacationing here in 1916, Granny Harris learned that the failing hotel was on the auction block and the property was being sold in pieces. Still years before she could legally vote in the United States, Granny Harris marched on to the front porch, stood behind the auctioneer and boldly called out the winning bid: “I’ll give you three thousand dollars for the whole kit and caboodle!” And with that, she was named the highest bidder and had just acquired a hotel and its surrounding land. Soon after, she founded Skyland Camp for Girls and we are still here, using her beloved hotel, today.

WHAT MAKES SKYLAND UNIQUE?

Skyland’s small size and multigenerational community sets us apart. With no more than 60 campers, Skyland is one of the smallest camps of its kind. It is an environment in which each individual is an important member, and even the youngest and newest campers have opportunities to grow, lead, and contribute.

As a staff member, you will get to know each camper in our community, and they will know you! You will have a big impact on the lives of campers and fellow staff. Staff members provide individualized attention that helps campers find mentors in all types of incredible girls and women. It is not uncommon for someone to leave Skyland feeling like she has gained a few grandmothers, lots of cool moms, aunts, older cousins, and scores of sisters.

WHAT IS SKYLAND’S MISSION?

Skyland’s mission is to inspire wonder, joy, connection, and growth. As a staff member, you will be at the core of creating the magical experiences that facilitate our mission, and you will experience those things too! When you go home from camp, the passion and growth you have experienced will go with you, too. 

WHY JUST GIRLS?

In a camp environment, where campers create their own identities and self-concept, an all-girls setting can be especially beneficial. As girls move into adolescence, it becomes more and more critical for them to retain their voice and begin to develop the leadership skills and strengths that will carry them forward in life.

In Skyland’s all-girls environment, campers discover enormous amounts of inner strength, pride, power, potential and flexibility. They learn to take risks and manage consequences without the pressures of the outside world. They gain confidence, cultivate grit, and explore their authentic selves, and they have positive role models surrounding them in the form of older campers, counselors, and Skyland staff (you!).

IS SKYLAND ACCREDITED?

Yes. Skyland is fully accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). This accreditation is a voluntary process, and to become accredited by the ACA, camps must meet up to 280 health and safety standards. Accredited camps are responsible not only for meeting state and local laws, but also for meeting ACA standards in the areas of food service and safety, transportation, health and wellness, operational management, human resources and programing.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY AT SKYLAND?

Each program looks a little bit different, so definitely check out the webpages dedicated to Girls Camp, Mother-Daughter Camp, Grown-Up Girls Camp, Golf Camp, and our other programs to learn more specifics about camper daily schedules and activities for each program.

Most days at Skyland include a structured activity schedule that starts with reveille in the morning, activity periods, free time and lunch, rest hour, afternoon activity periods, supper, and evening programs. Counselors lead activities and care for campers each day. On days when campers are not on camp, staff will be busy preparing for the next program by making beds, cleaning cabins, and organizing activity areas.

WHERE WILL I SLEEP?

During retreats and Adult Camps (Mother-Daughter Camp, Grown-Up Girls Camp, Golf Camp, and Soul Camp), counselors live together in a staff cabin. Typically about 10 counselors live in the cabin, sleeping on the screened-in sleeping porch.

During Girls Camp, counselors are assigned an age group to live with and care for. You will share a counselor room with your co-counselors and will sleep on the sleeping porch with campers or in the counselor room, depending on the cabin you are assigned to.

Non-counselor staff might live in a cabin, a Lodge room, or one of the houses on camp.

IF I APPLY FOR MULTIPLE PROGRAMS, DO I HAVE TO LEAVE CAMP BETWEEN SESSIONS?

No, staff who are working multiple consecutive programs will stay in staff housing between sessions. On days when campers are not on camp, all staff are responsible for preparing camp for the next program, which typically includes cleaning cabins, making beds, and preparing your activity area.

HOW DO DAYS OFF WORK?

Staff have one day off per week, given in either two 12 hour shifts or one 24 hour shift. During Adult Camp, the entire camp is typically off on Monday. During Girls Camp, days off are assigned based on the needs of camp program staffing.

Additionally, staff will have at least one hour off per day to spend on camp. During Adult Camps, this is during Rest Hour. During Girls Camp, counselors rotate Rest Hour and evenings off with their co’s.

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING WILL I RECEIVE?

Staff Development takes place the week before Girls Camp. All Girls Camp counselors are required to attend Staff Development. If Adult Camp counselors would like to attend, they are also welcome but it is not required.

During Staff Development, we will dive deep into what it means to be a Skyland counselor. You will learn about camper ages and stages, how to handle mental health needs (for campers and yourself), behavior management tools, leadership and communication techniques, how to plan and teach your activity, and much more. You will bond with the staff team, get to know camp, and become immersed in Skyland culture and traditions.

WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE?

During Adult Camps, we wear Skyland staff shirts or tank tops each day that campers are on camp to make us easily identifiable. New staff will be given Skyland shirts upon arrival. Returning staff should bring their staff shirts and will receive one new shirt each year.

During Girls Camp, staff should wear anything that is appropriate for their activity. All graphic tees should contain imagery and words that are appropriate for camp. We recommend clothes, shoes, and swimsuits that are sturdy and can get dirty.

CAN I HAVE MY PHONE/ SMART WATCH/ TABLET/ LAPTOP?

Yes and no. While you may bring technology for time off purposes, you may not use technology while campers are present. Your phone must not be on your person while campers are at camp and must be stored out of sight. Smartwatches are not allowed on camp (we recommend an old-school watch or a fitness tracker that does not connect to text messages or phone calls).

You will be given a bluetooth speaker and mp3 player connected to a camp Spotify account to play music in your cabin or activity area.

Our campers deserve our full attention and you deserve the greatest camp experience possible! Removing phones and technology can be difficult, but it’s at the core of our beliefs that when we unplug from online distractions, we connect more deeply to the present and to the people around us. 

CAN SKYLAND ACCOMMODATE MY DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?

Skyland can accommodate most dietary restrictions with advance notice. Skyland regularly serves vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free campers/ staff, as well as campers/staff with mild to moderate allergies. If you have a severe or life threatening allergy, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can discuss your needs with our kitchen staff. 

WHERE DO I SIT AT MEALS?

Counselors sit with campers at meals! During Girls Camp, a seating chart is made each week. Each table has a diverse range of camper ages and 1-2 counselors. During Adult Camps, counselors spread out amongst campers but there are no assigned seats.

Sharing meals with campers of all ages builds community. Most campers leave camp and remember one thing most – the meals. Not just because of the delicious food, but because of the conversation and the people that made mealtimes fun and memorable.

 

 

Do you have more questions? Email us at mailbox@skylandcamp.com, text us at (828)279-6826, or ask us during your interview. We would love to discuss working at camp with you!