Summer Camp Counselor-Camp Gambill-Paris, TX

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title:

Activity Counselors, Waterfront Lifeguard Counselors, Waterfront Leader, Activity Counselor Leader

Reports To:

Camp Director

Status:

Seasonal

Location:

Camp Gambill 

Last Updated:

September 2026

About Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas:

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) offers amazing opportunities for talented, forward-thinking individuals who share our vision of helping girls and young women change the world for the better.

Here's your opportunity to enhance your career while making a difference in girls’ lives and in the world. At Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, you can build a rewarding career in everything from working hands-on with girls, to accounting, human resources and project management, to marketing, research—and more.

About Camp Gambill :

Camp Gambill, our waterfront camp on Lake Gibbons outside Paris, TX, offers sleepaway family and troop camp experiences for girls ages 5-18. We serve approximately 40-80 campers per week from a variety of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Campers come to camp with adults from their family or troop. 

Counselors work end of May to end of July. Counselor work week is typically 13 hours per day for 4 days per week.  On-site housing is available on a limited basis. While we strive to accommodate, it cannot be guaranteed and is subject to availability at the time of hire.

Job summary:  

Counselors are responsible for leading a fun, impactful summer camp program for all campers.  They develop relationships, lead program activities, and participate fully in daily camp life. This team member serves as a caring mentor, fun companion, patient teacher, positive role model, and helpful problem solver. The position reports to the Camp Director. Paid staff training is provided at the beginning of the summer and takes place at either Camp Gambill in Paris, Texas, or Camp Bette Perot near Palestine, Texas, depending on position and requirements.

Benefits: 

Summer camp changes lives for the better! Join an amazing community where you will make new friends, develop personal and professional skills, engage your body and your mind in an outdoor environment, overcome challenges, and be the best version of yourself, plus have tons of fun! As part of a team mentoring, teaching, and helping, you get to make an incredible impact on staff and campers, who remember the sense of belonging, friendship, growth, and magic of summer camp for their entire lives. All positions include meals when camp is in session, housing (if applicable), paid training and certifications (if applicable), plus invaluable work experience that prepares you to succeed in future careers.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Champion a positive, inclusive, caring, safe, and fun camp environment and promote the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law, including serving as a positive role model for youth in language, dress, culture of inclusion, behavior, and attitude
• Lead and participate in camp program activities and administration, including meals, activities, rest, free time, kapers (chores), staff trainings and meetings, planning and preparation, and cleanup
• Facilitate positive group relationships, including addressing conflict in constructive ways
• Advocate for camper and staff confidence, responsibility, challenge seeking, teamwork, learning, goal setting, relationship skills, coping strategies, and opportunities for personal and group success
• Adhere to camp schedule and direct campers and self to assigned spaces on time

• Assist in care of campsite facilities, equipment, and supplies, including managing resources wisely
• Practice all camp safety standards and emergency procedures and uphold them with others
• Work independently and as part of a team to meet camp program and operation needs and to implement solutions to problems that arise
• Participate in staff trainings and meetings as requested  
• Lead outdoor activities and other aspects of daily camp program.  Accountable for overall success of assigned activity, including developing program plan, maintaining spaces and equipment, and engaging groups of campers throughout the day. This includes archery and other target sports, waterfront, crafts, badgework, and all-camp program

Counselor leadership roles available for staff with extra experience:

• Waterfront Lifeguard Counselor (age 16+): Serve as waterfront lifeguard teaching swimming and boating on the lake. Provide additional program support throughout the day. Waterfront lifeguard certification and small craft certification will be provided. Must be a strong swimmer.
• Waterfront Lifeguard Leader (age 21+ with past lifeguard experience): Serve as Waterfront Lifeguard Counselor with additional responsibilities. Accountable for overall success of waterfront activity, including coordinating lifeguards, developing program plan, maintaining spaces and equipment, and engaging groups of campers throughout the day. Waterfront lifeguard certification and small craft certification will be provided. Must be a strong swimmer with lifeguard experience.
• Activity Counselor Leader (age 18+ with relevant certification): Serve as a counselor with additional responsibility for overseeing activities such as crafts, target sports, badge work, etc. which includes developing and implementing a program plan, maintaining spaces and equipment, coordinating up to 6 counselors, and engaging groups of campers throughout the day. Activities may include target sports, fun and games, crafts, badgework, etc. Prior experience in the assigned activity is required to ensure a high-quality experience for campers.
• Activity and Photography Counselor (16+): Serve as counselor with additional responsibilities capturing and sharing photos of camp.

Minimum requirements:

• Ability to eat, teach, and play respectfully and fruitfully with diverse staff and campers all day, with limited privacy and personal time
• Willingness to live in camp setting with exposure to wildlife, including bugs, spiders, and snakes
• Willingness to be active outdoors all day in variable weather conditions (high heat over 100&degree;F/38&degree;C, high humidity, rain, wind, possible tornadoes) and to walk extensively around camp
• Willingness to role model respect, positivity, smiling, cheerfulness, kindness, patience, honesty, inclusion, good mental hygiene, and accountability and to self-regulate emotions respectfully in a variety of circumstances
• Willingness to listen to, learn from, and cooperate with others