Teach Ceramics at Summer Camp

Mold your summer into something incredible

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Illustration of a blue water bottle with a black outline, accompanied by a matching blue flashlight, both outlined in black.

Summer Camp Ceramics Jobs

Overview

Ceramics is always bursting with energy! It’s a creative hub of campers coming and going everyday, building incredible sculptures using clay.
As a ceramics teacher you will help campers unleash their creativity and imagination through various projects. It will be a sticky, colorful, splattered wonderful mix of mess and you will love it.
Why Teach Ceramics at Camp?

Teaching ceramics at camp is a fun and crafty way to spend a summer! For 7 weeks you will be helping campers create things with their hands. You’ll be inspiring them to get creative and use clay to mold and shape items.
As an IHC ceramics instructor you will be part of the wider arts & crafts team, working within an amazing team of people who are all there to learn, grow and make a difference.
This role will help you gain teaching experience, gain confidence working with children and build your portfolio.
Key Responsibilties

• Instruct, supervise, and mentor campers with a focus on developing their artistic skills, creative confidence, and collaborative spirit.
• Plan and lead daily activities in ceramics or other creative disciplines, while also engaging in broader camp programs as needed.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and encouraging environment in all creative spaces and across camp life.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with campers, co-staff, and camp leadership to support a smooth and positive experience.
• Model integrity, curiosity, and respect both in the studio and throughout the camp community.
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.

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5 things we look for in art teachers

Artistic Expertise: A strong background in various forms of art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and crafts, is essential. This expertise allows the teacher to guide campers in exploring different artistic mediums and techniques.
Creativity and Imagination: The ability to inspire and nurture creativity in children is key. A creative arts teacher should bring imaginative ideas and projects to the table, encouraging campers to think outside the box and express themselves through art.
Patience and Encouragement: Working with kids requires patience and the ability to provide positive reinforcement. A good teacher can support and guide campers at their own pace, making the creative process enjoyable and stress-free.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Campers come with varying skill levels and interests. A creative arts teacher should be able to adapt lessons and activities to meet the diverse needs of the group, ensuring that every child feels included and engaged.
Strong Communication and Instructional Skills: The ability to clearly explain concepts, demonstrate techniques, and give constructive feedback is crucial. A creative arts teacher should be able to communicate effectively with campers, helping them understand and explore their artistic abilities.

Two young women smiling and holding paintbrushes at an arts and crafts table with small terracotta pots, in a colorful, lively art classroom.

Two smiling girls, one with dark curly hair and one with light straight hair, sitting at a table together, engaging in arts and crafts activities.

A man wearing safety glasses and a navy blue T-shirt with 'CAMP IHC' printed on it is holding a large wooden picture frame in front of him, smiling at the camera.

Ricardo Manigat

"As the Creative Arts Director, I am proud to lead a teaching staff that brings imagination and inspiration to every corner of camp. Their passion for the arts and commitment to nurturing each camper's creativity make our programs more than just activities—they are transformative experiences. Our teachers empower campers to express themselves, explore new talents, and discover the joy of creating."

Two smiling men sitting on wooden steps in front of a building, both wearing blue t-shirts with the words "CAMP IHC".

Group of six smiling girls at a craft table in a woodworking or pottery studio, with shelves of ceramics and tools in the background.

A group of young girls sitting and standing around a table in a woodworking or craft classroom, smiling at the camera, with wooden shelves full of pottery behind them.

Two young girls smiling and holding clay sculptures inside a pottery studio with wooden walls and shelves in the background.

Four children and a young woman smiling and showing their hands covered in gray ceramic clay in a ceramics painting studio. They are wearing blue aprons with 'Matt Camilo Ceramics' logos, and behind them are shelves with colorful ceramic paint bottle

Assorted white pottery and ceramic pieces, including bowls, cups, and decorative objects, on a wooden table near a window.

Three people participating in a pottery class, shaping clay on wheel. They are wearing blue aprons, indoors with wooden wall and large window in background.

A young girl with glasses and bracelets smiling in an art classroom, surrounded by children working on clay projects.

A boy with blond hair using a rolling pin to flatten clay on a table.

FAQs

Teaching periods are around 40-50 minutes long. You’ll normally teach 5 or 6 periods a day. Camp counselors will accompany the campers to the ceramics studio 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 extra campers are scheduled for ceramics at once!
This means you can sometimes have a small handful of campers or a larger class to teach.
Ceramics is indoors, so on rainy days you may have more campers than usual!
Our camp season runs from mid-June to mid-August. For this position you would need to be available for this period.
Teaching experience will always help but most importantly you have to be super passionate about ceramics and even more passionate about working with children!
Throughout the summer you will live in a bunk with campers and other camp counselors. When you’re not teaching you’ll connect with them and be part of their group to provide extra coverage. During this time you’ll have an opportunity to take part in other activities with them and help your team out.
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.