Ready for the Best Summer Job Ever?
CampCo Day Camps is looking for the best-of-the-best to work the
Best Summer Job Ever!
Do you love working with kids? Are you energetic, responsible, outgoing & fun-loving? Are you dedicated and a hard-worker? Are you someone who can help create an unforgettable summer for our campers?
If you’ve answered a super-loud “YES” to these questions, then…
Apply to work at CampCo’s Summer Day Camps!
CampCo staff participate in an excellent training program to be prepared to keep our campers safe, happy & smiling. Our summer staff work as part of a supportive team, build leadership & communication skills, make memories & friendships that last way beyond summer, all while making a real difference in kids’ lives.
Now Accepting Applications for Summer Employment
We’re seeking enthusiastic candidates for a variety of roles at our Lake Mission Viejo & Lake Forest summer day camps, including:
- Day Camp Counselors
- Assistant Site Directors
- Site Directors
Please review Job Descriptions, Mandatory Training Dates, Camp Dates and our NEW Application process, below.
Day Camp Counselor: $18.50/hour
Summer Day Camp Counselor job description.
Assistant Site Director: $23/hour
Summer Day Camp Assistant Site Director job description.
Site Director: $25/hour
Summer Day Camp Site Director job description.
Summer Camp 2026 Dates, Hours & Locations:
Summer Camp 2026 runs:
Mondays-Fridays, 8am-6pm
June 8 – August 14, 2026
Work hours are typically eight hour shifts between 7:15am–6:15pm, with some half-day and shorter shifts available.
Summer Camps are located at:
- Lake Mission Viejo (staff age 18+)
- Lake Forest Sun & Sail Club (staff age 16+)
Summer Camp 2026 Mandatory Training Dates:
CampCo prides itself on the comprehensive trainings we provide our Camp Staff! Prior to each season, our staff participate in multiple trainings designed
to cover knowledge and skills needed to create a fun, safe and memorable summer for campers… and our staff!
Following are MANDATORY pre-season trainings that our staff are required to attend.
Site Directors & Assistant Site Directors will have additional trainings; dates/times to be determined.
Please check your calendar to confirm your availability prior to applying for Summer Camp employment.
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DATES |
TIMES |
TRAININGS |
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Choices of dates & times: Sunday, May 17 -or- Sunday, May 31 -or- Sunday, May 31 |
9am-11:30am 9am-11:30am 12:30pm-3pm |
CPR/First Aid Courses CPR/First Aid courses available for applicants who have been offered conditional employment & who are not currently certified through the last day of summer camp season. Already certified? You might not need this course. Approximately 2-½ hours online portion must be completed prior to in-person date. |
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May begin upon offer of employment. |
Online. At your leisure. |
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Online course. Camp Counselors: 1 hour Site Directors/Asst. Site Directors: 2 hours. Must be completed by June 4, 5pm. |
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May begin upon offer of employment. |
Online. At your leisure. |
Mandated Reporter Online Training Online course. Approximately 2 hours. Must be completed by June 4, 5pm. |
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Choose your preferred time: Thursday, May 28 |
12pm-4pm -or- 4:30pm-8:30pm |
New Hire Training I Learn all about CampCo! Staff Manual and paperwork. |
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Friday, May 29 |
4:30pm-8:30pm |
New Hire Training II The basics of working at Camp. Working with campers, being a great leader, typical camp day, water safety & supervision, camper behaviors and more! |
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Saturday, May 30 |
Lake MV staff: 8am-1pm Lake Forest staff: 11am-4pm |
Site-specific Trainings Site Manual. Detailed walk-thru of camp day. Swim test, aquatic supervision demonstration, fishing set-up, drive-thru, boat training (lmva only), emergency procedures. |
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Saturday, June 6 |
9am-4:30pm |
Summer Camp Kick-off Training The final details before camp starts! Activity rotations: games, songs, skits, fishing, lanyards, camp activities packet. Team-bonding activities. Tips & tricks for working with campers. Safety at camp, more! |
Why work at CampCo, this Summer?
Working at CampCo Day Camps, this summer, is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to:
- Work in a fun, active, outdoor environment!
- Help create awesome childhood memories for campers & make a difference in kids’ lives!
- Build life-long friendships with fellow counselors.
- Participate in fun activities, learn & practice leadership skills & enjoy tons of laughter.
- Get silly camp songs stuck in your head.
- Easily get in your 10,000 steps a day… skip the gym w/o guilt!
- Enjoy weekends & evenings OFF! Work weekdays only. (except training dates)
- Work full-time or part-time for the summer.
- Run around & play! There’s no better job than working with kids at a Lake all summer!
- Enjoy a summer of great memories, crazy laughter, hilarious stories and fun in the sun!
- Check out why our staff come back summer-after-summer in our “Working at CampCo…” video.
How to Apply & the Interview Steps:
Ready to join us this summer? Here’s how to apply:
- Applications are available through our camp registration website.
- Because this website is also used for camper registration, it asks birthdate when making an account; job applicants do not need to provide this information.
- Click on the Employment Application link, make an account and complete the application.
- Once the application is complete, it is automatically sent to CampCo Management.
- Applications will be screened & applicants possessing the most desirable qualifications will be invited to participate in a Zoom/Facetime first interview with CampCo management.
- Applicants who are invited to move forward to the second phase of the interview process will participate in an in-person Group Activity.
- For some positions, a questionnaire/exam may be required as a part of the interview process.
- Prospective candidates who receive an offer of conditional employment, must be legally authorized to work in the United States and able to provide required, original documentation (List A, B, or C) to complete the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification and prospective candidates must successfully complete a thorough background check, which may include drug screen & fingerprinting.
Questions? Call us at (949) 643-9008
STAFF FEEDBACK FROM END-OF-SUMMER SURVEYS:
What are some things you liked about working at CampCo?
- I loved everything about working here. The routine was super easy to follow and I loved working with the kids.
- The campers! They are fun and hilarious! We still talk about funny camper stories from two summers ago!
- Of course, the kids! And, my coworkers were caring and made the job fun. !
- The overall positive atmosphere of CampCo.
- The Counselors! I felt everyone was so friendly and helpful. It was such an enjoyable summer!
- I enjoy how fast the time goes by and spending my time with the kids.
- The hours, staff, scheduling, activities, time outside, and friendly staff.
- I liked that I was able to meet so many people, as well as, gain responsibility and patience.
How were your relationships with co-workers? Did you make new friends? Have get-togethers outside of work?
- AWESOME! I had the chance to meet so many amazing people that were not only fun, but so easy to talk to when I was having a rough day. They were always up for hanging outside of work or playing pickle ball!
- They’re the best! We hung out outside of camp, too, and I’m so hoping they come back next summer.
- I loved my coworkers!!!! I made so many friends and we’ve hung out outside of work, made vlogs and had fun!
- The group of people I worked with were the best coworkers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.
Did you feel well-prepared for camp after the Staff Training? In what areas do you feel management should have focused more on during staff training?
- I feel like everything was thoroughly covered and helpful in the trainings.
- I felt very prepared!
- I feel that every worker was prepared perfectly from the training that was provided.
- I learned a LOT at training, but I was still nervous on the first morning of camp because I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right. On the first day of camp, it took me about an hour and I realized that the schedule and activities were exactly what we learned at training.
- I did feel prepared on my first day and the training was very helpful. Next year, I would love to learn more about how to handle older campers.
What is something you learned while working at summer camp?
- To pack my camp backpack, make my lunch and buy gas the night before my 7:30am shift.
- That it’s okay to sing loud and act “weird” at camp because the kids love it. And, I shouldn’t be embarrassed.
- Sunscreen! And water! Sometimes, I was so busy reminding the campers to re-apply and to drink water, that I forgot to do it for myself.
- Wear good walking shoes!
- Don’t leave my phone out or Miss Kinder will sneak selfies.
- When a kid is fibbing, they get a certain look in their eyes.
- During the first week of camp, I needed to nap after work. I was all-good by the second week, though.
- To open a savings account. I spent my first paycheck very fast! But, I got some deals at (store)! lol
- There is a big difference in how to work with younger kids vs older ones. The older kids joked with me all summer about me asking them to line up to “go potty.” (I was a nanny for a 3 year old the summer before working at camp).
- Wear good sunglasses.
- The first week is the toughest because the new campers are learning the routine and the returning campers are testing the new counselors.
- Kids are messy! I had to teach my campers how to keep their stuff organized and to put everything back in their backpacks or their stuff would be all over the place.
- Be flexible for when things don’t go as planned. Have contingency plans.
- Don’t tell the campers they can’t take a short-cut through the basketball court bushes and then do it myself. Because they’ll yell, “Ohhhhhh, Mr. (name), you are breaking the rules!!! We’re telling Miss Sylvia!”
Did you feel respected and appreciated by CampCo managers? What made you feel that way?
- Yes! Just the words of encouragement they’d give and recognizing what I was doing well in. And always checking up on how I was doing made me feel very cared about.
- I did feel respected and appreciated. Everyday, even before walking up the hill, I was greeted by a yell saying “Hi, Miss (staff name)!” and it made me feel noticed. I loved how everyone noticed me and I never felt left out.
- Yes. They were easy to talk to. They were super-encouraging and noticed hard work. They made me want to do better for them, to lighten their workload.
- I did feel respected by my superiors because of how they spoke to me, how they respected what I had to say, and how they made time for me.