Teach Archery at Summer Camp

The target to aim for this summer.

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Summer Camp Archery Jobs

Overview

As an archery instructor at Camp IHC you'll be responsible for teaching a variety of kids who want to have fun and learn how to shoot a bow and arrow.
You will teach campers of all different ages and abilities how to safely use the equipment and make lessons fun and engaging.
Why Teach Archery at Summer Camp?

As a summer camp archery instructor you will be helping to raise a future generation of adventurous children. You’ll be a core part of our outdoor adventure program and you’ll help run a successful archery program.
Archery is a unique activity area in the sense that campers don’t get too many chances in the normal world to try archery! You will bring that curiosity out in campers and at the end of the summer they will help you grow more confident in your own abilities. You’ll improve your leadership skills, your coaching styles will be stronger and you’ll leave with 9 weeks of outdoor adventure instructor experience that you can use beyond this summer.
Key Responsibilities

• Instruct, supervise, and mentor campers with a focus on building confidence, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the natural environment.
• Plan and lead daily archery activities while also supporting broader camp programs as needed.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and encouraging atmosphere on all excursions, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and outdoor best practices.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with campers, co-staff, and camp leadership to support a smooth and engaging adventure program.
• Model preparedness, adaptability, and teamwork in all outdoor and camp interactions.
Key Details

• Must be at least 18 years of age by the start of the camp season.
• Prior experience working with children is beneficial.
• Available to live and work on-site for the full season (mid-June to mid-August)
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to engage fully in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Competitive seasonal salary.
• Free housing and meals for the duration of employment.
• Leadership and team development experience.
• A strong professional reference for future opportunities.
• Pre-camp training and ongoing support.

5 things we look for in our adventure team

Outdoor Survival and Technical Skills: An in-depth understanding of outdoor survival techniques, such as navigation, shelter-building, fire-starting, and first aid, is crucial. Proficiency in activities like hiking, rock climbing, and orienteering ensures that the instructor can safely guide and teach campers in various outdoor adventures.
Risk Management and Safety Awareness: Ensuring the safety of campers in outdoor environments is the top priority. An outdoor adventure instructor must be skilled in assessing risks, managing group safety, and responding effectively to emergencies or unexpected challenges in nature.
Leadership and Confidence-Building: The ability to lead groups confidently and instill a sense of courage and adventure in campers is key. A good instructor can encourage children to step out of their comfort zones, face new challenges, and develop confidence in their abilities.
Environmental Stewardship and Education: Teaching campers about the importance of respecting and preserving nature is an essential part of outdoor education. The instructor should be knowledgeable about the environment and passionate about fostering a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the natural world.
Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Outdoor adventures often come with unpredictable elements, such as weather changes or unexpected obstacles. An effective instructor needs to be resourceful, quick-thinking, and adaptable, able to solve problems on the fly and adjust plans as needed to ensure a positive experience for all campers.

A young girl wearing a helmet and a blue t-shirt climbing an outdoor wooden obstacle with colorful handholds, surrounded by tall trees and a partly cloudy sky.

A person rock climbing on an outdoor wooden climbing wall while wearing a harness and helmet.

A smiling woman with a helmet and harness stands outdoors in a wooded area, holding a climbing rope. She is wearing a blue T-shirt and black shorts, with a background of trees and a wooden structure.

Mark Tjaden

"As the Outdoor Adventure Director, I believe that our adventure staff are the heart of every camper's journey into the wild. Their expertise, passion, and commitment to safety help campers to push their limits, explore new challenges, and connect with nature in meaningful ways. They don’t just guide; they empower each child to discover their own strength and sense of adventure."

A man wearing a helmet, sunglasses, and outdoor gear adjusting his climbing harness in a forested area.

A man in a navy t-shirt aiming a recurve bow in a forest.

A young boy with short brown hair, wearing a navy blue t-shirt and red shorts, stands in a forested area smiling at the camera with four arrows embedded in the bullseye of a large archery target.

A group of children and an adult in a forest participating in archery, with arrows on a stand and one girl aiming and shooting an arrow.

Boy aiming a bow and arrow in a forest, with other children and adults watching nearby.

A group of young girls practicing archery in a wooded forest, some aiming bows and arrows while others observe.

Four young women standing in a wooded area after archery practice, with a large target and quiver bags in front of them.

A boy at a camp shooting arrows at a target with other children in the background in a wooded area.

Children and an adult outdoors in a forest, participating in archery with bows and arrows.

FAQs

Teaching periods are around 40-50 minutes long and you’ll normally coach 5 or 6 periods a day. Camp counselors will accompany the campers to the archery area and then it’s your responsibility to engage with the campers and get them ready for the lesson. You and your team will have lesson plans (that you help build!) that will be tailored for the different levels and abilities. Those 40-50 minutes are yours to make as amazing as possible.
A typical class will have around 12-18 campers. You will have a schedule for each day to know what campers to expect before the day starts. Sometimes bunks have split activities or off-camp trips, or perhaps two bunks are scheduled for archery at once! This means you can sometimes have a handful of campers or a larger class to teach.
Our camp season runs from mid-June to mid-August. For this position you would need to be available for this period.
Unlike other activity specialist, our outdoor adventure staff don’t live in a bunk with campers. As an archery instructor, your activity area is open almost all the time and requires a lot of demand. On top of that, other outdoor adventure/ropes staff may be required for lifeguarding, trips or archery etc. There is always tasks to be done so you won’t be asked to re-join a camper bunk or division.
Teaching experience will always help but most importantly you have to be super passionate about archery and even more passionate about working with children!
Yes. On a regular schedule you will have one period off each day.
You will also have one full day and night off each week. This is your chance to rest, recover and try some new things on camp and explore new places off camp with other staff.

One Camp.
One Community.

About Us:

Camp IHC is a mission-driven overnight camp in North East Pennsylvania focused on child development. Our team is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for both campers and staff.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

Camp IHC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage candidates from all backgrounds, identities, and communities to apply. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace for everyone.