Interested in working at Camp Wa-Ya? Click on the job titles for job descriptions and then fill out the staff application.
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 9-17)
Indigenous Fellow
Assistant Camp Director
Substitute Day Camp Instructors (campers ages 6-13)
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 Camps and overnight Adventure Camp trips. 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.
2025 Openings
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.
Lead Day Camp Instructor
Start Date: June 15, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $760 per week salary ($19/hour equivalent)
Position Overview: Lead Day Camp Instructors are responsible for managing a group of 9-13 campers with the support of an Assistant Day Camp Instructor. This position creates and teaches lessons, runs activities, and organizes games for their group of campers. Our program is centered around a science-based curriculum, in combination with Indigenous practices and arts, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship, and provide an environment that fosters a sense of wonder for Wa-Ya campers.
Wa-Ya runs a 10-week summer camp program with Day Camps and overnight Adventure Camp trips. 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.
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
Position Overview: The Lead Adventure Camp Instructor is responsible, with the support of an Assistant Adventure Camp Instructor, for supervising and leading campers on a variety of trips. We offer 3 day/2 night and 4 day/3 night backpacking and kayaking trips, a week-long car camping road trip, and 1- and 2-night camping trips in nearby state parks. Adventure Camp Instructors should be willing to lead all of these programs, for kids ages 9-17.
This position will teach sea kayaking, backpacking, and camping skills; Leave No Trace principles; and outdoor survival skills such as shelter building, water purification, fire building, and navigation. This position is also responsible for pre-trip preparation and post-trip clean-up each week. Instructors are responsible for driving campers in 12- and 15-passenger vans with a kayak trailer. As part of pre-camp training, Instructors participate in a week of sea kayaking and backpacking training.
Wa-Ya runs a 10-week summer camp program with Day Camps and overnight Adventure Camp trips. Camp Wa-Ya staff and campers spend most of their day outdoors, engaged in regular activity and Instructors should be prepared to work outside in any weather. Our program is centered around a science-based curriculum, in combination with Indigenous practices and arts, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship, and provide an environment that fosters a sense of wonder for Wa-Ya campers.
Assistant Day Camp Instructor
Start Date: June 15, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $680 per week salary ($17/hour equivalent)
Position Overview: Assistant Day Camp Instructors are responsible for assisting a Lead Day Camp Instructor in managing a group of 9-13 campers. This position helps to create and teach lessons, run activities, and organize games for their group of campers. Our program is centered around a science-based curriculum, in combination with Indigenous practices and arts, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship, and provide an environment that fosters a sense of wonder for Wa-Ya campers.
Wa-Ya runs a 10-week summer camp program with Day Camps and overnight Adventure Camp trips. 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.
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
Position Overview: The Assistant Adventure Camp Instructor is responsible for assisting a Lead Adventure Camp Instructor in supervising and leading campers on a variety of trips. We offer 3 day/2 night and 4 day/3 night backpacking and kayaking trips, a week-long car camping road trip, and 1- and 2-night camping trips in nearby state parks. Adventure Camp Instructors should be willing to lead all of these programs, for kids ages 9-17.
This position will teach sea kayaking, backpacking, and camping skills; Leave No Trace principles; and outdoor survival skills such as shelter building, water purification, fire building, and navigation. This position is also responsible for pre-trip preparation and post-trip clean-up each week. Instructors are responsible for driving campers in 12- and 15-passenger vans with a kayak trailer. As part of pre-camp training, Instructors participate in a week of sea kayaking and backpacking training.
Wa-Ya runs a 10-week summer camp program with Day Camps and overnight Adventure Camp trips. Camp Wa-Ya staff and campers spend most of their day outdoors, engaged in regular activity and Instructors should be prepared to work outside in any weather. Our program is centered around a science-based curriculum, in combination with Indigenous practices and arts, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship, and provide an environment that fosters a sense of wonder for Wa-Ya campers.
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.
Our program is centered around a science-based curriculum, in combination with Indigenous practices and arts, outdoor adventure, and environmental stewardship, and provide an environment that fosters a sense of wonder for Wa-Ya campers. 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 the Fellow should be prepared to work outside in any weather.
Substitute Day Camp Instructor
Start Date: June 15, 2025 End Date: August 29, 2025
Compensation: $136 per day/$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
Youth ages 16-18 are invited to apply for our Outdoor Leadership Internship program. Wa-Ya Interns will receive hands-on job training skills in an integrated and outdoor environment. Interns attend a one-day training and then join Wa-Ya’s Day Camp program for two weeks as an assistant instructor, where they will gain experience in environmental education, group management, and technical skills training.
Interns will attend a one-day training in June (date TBA) and then select two weeks during the summer to work at Wa-Ya. Interns are paid $250 per week. An application is required.
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.