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2025 Job Openings
Camp Wa-Ya 2025 Positions
Lead + Assistant Day Camp Instructors (campers ages 6-13)
Lead + Assistant Overnight Adventure Camp Instructors (campers ages 12-17)
Indigenous Fellow
Assistant Camp Director
Substitute Day Camp Instructors (campers ages 6-13)
High School Outdoor Leadership Interns (visit our Internship page HERE)
All Wa-Ya staff engage in a culturally integrated environment, where Wa-Ya’s values of respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion are practiced.
Wa-Ya runs a 10-week summer camp program with Day Camp offerings for ages 6-13 and Adventure Camp trips for ages 12-17. Camp Wa-Ya staff and campers spend most of their day outdoors, engaged in regular activity. Our programs include hiking, kayaking, and outdoor skills, and Instructors should be prepared to work outside in any weather. We visit sites in and around Olympia and Instructors are responsible for transporting campers in 12- and 15-passenger vans.
All staff must be available to attend training June 15th-20th. Adventure Camp staff have additional training June 10th-13th. Camp runs June 23rd-August 29th and staff are expected to work the entire summer. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. Our camp days start and end at Tumwater Historical Park. For staff from out of the area, Wa-Ya partners with local families to provide free- or reduced-cost housing.
Our Day Camp Instructors work in teams of two to manage a group of 9-13 kids. These staff create and teach lessons, run activities, and organize games for their group of campers. Our lessons are centered around a science-based curriculum, in combination with Indigenous practices and arts, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship.
Our Adventure Camp Instructors work in teams of two to supervise and lead campers on 4-day, 3-night backpacking and kayaking trips. As part of pre-camp training, Instructors are given a week of intensive overnight sea kayaking and backpacking training. Instructors provide kayak/backpacking instruction, manage risk, teach lessons, run activities, organize games, and monitor the health and safety of their group of 10 campers, ages 12-17.
2025 Openings
Lead Day Camp Instructor
Start Date: June 15, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $760 per week salary ($19/hour equivalent)
Lead Adventure Camp Instructor (Overnight Trips)
Start Date: June 10, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $760 per week salary ($19/hour equivalent) + $100/night stipend for trips
Assistant Day Camp Instructor
Start Date: June 15, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $680 per week salary ($17/hour equivalent)
Assistant Adventure Camp Instructor (Overnight Trips)
Start Date: June 10, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $680 per week salary ($17/hour equivalent) + $100/night stipend for trips
Indigenous Fellowship
Start Date: June 15, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $680 per week salary ($17/hour equivalent)
Position Overview: The purpose of this Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for a person connected to the Indigenous community to develop leadership and outdoor instructor skills that will result in them being comfortable with teaching large groups of diverse youth. Fellows will be trained in developing and teaching curriculum, coordinating with tribal communities and teachers, and sharing cultural knowledge in a way that is consistent with cultural teachings.
The Indigenous Fellow will assist Camp Wa-Ya Instructors in the development and delivery of curriculum, and creation of lesson plans, and will be responsible for providing instruction, running activities, and organizing games for groups of 9-13 campers. The Fellow will assist the Assistant Director with day-to-day camp operations as needed, including but not limited to transportation, equipment and supplies management, set-up, clean-up, taking pictures, posting to Wa-Ya’s social media, and other duties as required. This position serves as the primary support staff for the creation and delivery of Wa-Ya’s Indigenous teaching objectives.
Assistant Camp Director
Start Date: April 1, 2025 End Date: September 6, 2025
Compensation: $840 per week salary ($21/hour equivalent)
Position Overview: The Assistant Camp Director is responsible for assisting with the formulation, implementation, and management of Camp Wa-Ya’s summer camp programs. This position will help set the tone for camp staff culture and engage in a culturally integrated environment, where Wa-Ya’s values of respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion are practiced.
This position includes pre-season planning, logistical and administrative support in-season, as well as teaching and instructing environmental science and outdoor skills during camp. Camp Wa-Ya has a small staff and the Assistant Camp Director may be called upon to fill in for instructors on short notice. This position will also oversee our Adventure Camp program, helping to manage logistics and safety for youth and group trips in the backcountry.
Substitute Day Camp Instructor
Start Date: June 15, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $680 per week salary ($17/hour equivalent)
Position Overview: Substitute Day Camp Instructors are responsible for assisting another Day Camp Instructor in managing a group of 9-13 campers. Substitutes fill in for absences lasting a day, a week, and sometimes longer, and are scheduled to work only when regular staff members are absent. You may be scheduled for work in advance, but often will be called upon for same day and next day work. The Substitute Camp Counselor role is the perfect opportunity for those interested in working for Wa-Ya but who are unable to commit to a full summer.
High School Outdoor Leadership Internship
Wa-Ya Interns will gain invaluable leadership & hands-on job training skills in an integrated and outdoor environment. They will learn the management structures of summer camp operations and the logistics that are necessary for the support and delivery of science & adventure-based activities. Interns will be trained in developing and teaching lessons centered around a science-based curriculum, in combination with Indigenous practices and arts, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship. Interns will also gain experience in environmental education, group management, and technical skills training.
Non Discrimination Policy: Wa-Ya does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and campers.