Summer Camp Employment

Summer camp employment

At Sugar Creek, your work will change lives, including your own. Spend your summer growing in faith, building leadership skills, and creating lifelong friendships while helping campers experience God’s love in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Why work at Sugar Creek

Working at Sugar Creek is more than a summer job—it’s a calling, a community, and an adventure. You’ll be part of a team that encourages you, challenges you, and celebrates with you as you grow.

About Sugar Creek

Sugar Creek is Christ-centered, Spirit-led, and Bible-fed!

Your 660-acre summer workplace is among clean coldwater streams, lively ponds, high bluffs, peaceful prairies, cozy cabins, and a comfy staff-only lodge.

At Sugar Creek you have a powerful, meaningful role with kids, thanks to small group relational ministry programs in a well-established decentralized system. Campers live in multiple “villages” each with about 15–50 youth each week. Each counselor typically leads a group of just 4–8 campers all of the same age level, with programs for grades K-12.

Each summer, Sugar Creek welcomes 1,000+ campers across residential, traveling, family camp, and day programs. Kids unplug from tech – and socially connect, in more meaningful ways. Your summer here is full of variety, lifelong connections to amazing team members, confidence building, new adventures, empowerment for faith and life, daily opportunities to bless the larger world, beautiful surroundings – all with God’s love seen and felt in surprising ways each week. God is good.

Hear from those who know...

Listen to heartfelt reflections from staff who found purpose, growth, and community while serving at camp.

Roles you can explore

Camp Counselor

Experience a variety of youth program leadership roles and age levels in one summer. Comprehensive paid training is provided. You'll lead small groups of kids and youth in Bible study, team building, worship, games, outdoor activities and daily life. Share your gifts in creating a safe, nurturing, and fun environment; see the growth in your campers. Experience overnight programs, Day Camps, travel adventures, and/or theme camps - according to your skills and preferences, with different program opportunities available weekly. Start Date: June 1

Qualifications

Faith in Jesus Christ: Be willing and able to share your life in Christ with others. Here you don’t need to have all the answers – just a desire to grow, share with honesty, and walk in faith with a God who loves you unconditionally.
Openness to Christian faith: Sugar Creek is founded and guided by ELCA (Lutheran) faith communities and other partner churches; this means you don’t have to be ELCA Lutheran to serve in ministry… just open to learning and sharing in the “theology of grace.” Not sure what that is? The Program Director or Executive Director would actually love to have a mutually respectful conversation – by phone, Zoom, or coffee – about your faith, questions, and/or comfort level. (Read more if you like at ELCA.org.) We are all growing and learning… Most staff come in with very little Bible knowledge or theological education—and that’s completely okay! No pressured, judgmental “forced faith” toxic superiority systems here. We’re all imperfect followers of Jesus who seek to participate in the good news of God’s unconditional love, sharing it in words and deeds.
Passion for people: A joyful heart for helping people of all ages, especially children and youth.
Willingness to try new things: Be ready for unexpected, new experiences and adventures! This job gets you confident & ready.
Education: High school diploma required. (Exceptions can be made for those who completed the L.E.A.D. program, for support roles.)
Background check: Ability to pass a criminal background check as a condition of employment.

Pay and perks

$300/week starting salary for staff 18+ with at least one year of college or equivalent experience
Free housing and hearty meals with modern, nice facilities with private bathrooms and showers in each staff member’s dorm room
Experience Bonus: +$10/week for each prior summer on staff
Leadership Bonus: +$20/week for leadership roles
Recruitment Bonus: Earn $100 right now for each new staff member you refer who interviews, plus $200 more if they complete their summer contract
Time off on weekends to rest, recharge, travel or explore

Your Home for the Summer

Bedrooms with private bathrooms

Community Building ~ Staff Lodge with Modern, Private Dorms

Double Kitchen

International staff opportunities

Sugar Creek is proud to be a global community! We’ve welcomed staff from the Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and more.

We provide:

Visa Support through trusted partners like IENA for J-1 visas
Transportation from Madison or La Crosse airports
Housing & Meals with private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and all meals included
Cultural Opportunities to explore Wisconsin and connect with local families
Custom Internships in coordination with the academic advisor for international students studying in the U.S.

How to apply

Applications now open for the Summer 2026 Season

Pray – Ask God to guide you, equip you, and continue preparing you for this calling
Apply online – Just a Google form. Resume/cover letter not welcome but needed unless applying for leadership roles
Name 3 references who are willing to speak about your strengths
The Program Director will schedule a Zoom or in-person interview
Background check and work eligibility verification will be done
Contact the Program Director at program@sgrcreek.org or (608) 734-3113 if you have any questions

Important dates

May 29–June 1: Leadership Staff Training
June 1–12: Full Staff Training (time off Saturday, June 6)
June 14: First day of summer camp
Mid Summer: Staff Renewal Weekend
July 31: Last day of summer camp
August 1: All-camp clean-up day
August 2–9: Family Camp sessions

Time commitment and training

All summer staff take part in mandatory training covering safety, youth ministry strategies, peer ministry skills, curriculum training, outdoor living skills, and other certifications.

The work week begins Sundays at noon with a staff meeting and ends Fridays around 5 pm, giving you time off over the weekend to rest, recharge, or explore.

Staff stay in the Koinonia Lodge all summer, which features:

A large fireplace room, dining area, kitchen, and rec room
Fiber optic Wi-Fi throughout the building
Private bathrooms and showers in each dorm room

FAQs

Do I need to be Lutheran to work here?

No! You just need to be open to ELCA Lutheran theology and excited to grow in faith with others

What if I’ve never worked with kids before?

That’s okay! Our staff training equips you with everything you need, from outdoor skills to youth ministry strategies.

What are housing and meals like?

Staff stay in the Koinonia Lodge with private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and a full kitchen. All meals are provided.

Is this a paid position?

Yes! Earn $300/week plus bonuses, with free housing and meals.

Do I need a car to get there?

No, transportation is available from Madison or La Crosse, WI.

Can I get internship credit?

Yes, we’ll work with your school to create custom internships.

What’s it like to be part of the Sugar Creek staff community?

It’s like joining a family. You’ll share meals, worship, and adventures with people who quickly become lifelong friends. Staff come from many backgrounds and countries, creating a rich mix of stories, skills, and perspectives that make every summer unique.

Will I make friends?

Definitely! Many staff describe their camp friendships as some of the most meaningful relationships of their lives.

Do I have to know everything about faith?

Nope! What matters most is curiosity, openness, and a willingness to grow together in a supportive, Christ-centered community.