The Hearts of Camp Jenny: A Look at Our Teen Staff Roles

As the staff application deadline approaches, we’re excited to begin building this year’s Camp Jenny team! To help you understand the range of positions available, we asked some of last year’s adult mentors to share what it’s like to serve in each role.

Jake Forstein, our 2025 Outdoors Specialist Mentor, shared, “One of the most special parts of Camp Jenny is watching the campers explore activities, games, and crafts that are completely new to them.” Specialists help create the camp magic by running a large portion of the weekend’s programming. As Jake explained, “as a teen specialist you will work with your senior and head specialists to develop the activities the campers will explore throughout Camp Jenny, and run these activities for every single unit, being some of the only staff at camp that get to meet every camper!”

Specialists can also apply to be senior specialists or head specialists. Senior specialists lead specific activity areas and work closely with head specialists, who design most program materials. Head specialists collaborate with the Leadership and Year-Round Teams months in advance and oversee their specialty areas from planning through execution.

Counselors serve directly in cabin units and play a key role in campers’ experiences. Naomi Litwak, our 2025 Juniors Unit Mentor, shared that counselors “are the first smiles when those kids hop off the bus and the final hugs before our campers return home.” She added that “as a counselor, you practice leadership skills, problem solving, emotional support/patience, and creative thinking.” Counselors ensure every camper has a safe, fun, and meaningful weekend.

Counselors may also apply as senior counselors or unit heads. Senior counselors lead a cabin unit and support fellow counselors. Unit Heads oversee multiple cabins within an age group, working with Leadership and Year-Round Teams to plan unit programming and manage logistics throughout the weekend.

Prospective 9th grade staff should apply for the Staff-in-Training (SIT) program. Brandon Gabay, a 2025 SIT Mentor, explained that “a typical weekend for an SIT consists of training and bonding that teaches them what it means to be on staff at Camp Jenny, with opportunity for shadowing other teen staff positions.” This experience prepares new staff for future leadership roles. As Brandon added, “SITs also get to have many bonding experiences: sharing cabins together, having s’mores, and daily unit check-ins.”

The Media Team captures the magic of Camp Jenny as it happens. Lola Bessoff, our 2025 Media Coordinator, shared that the team “makes sure our campers, counselors, and volunteers have something to remember each smile, each laugh, and each zip line into the lake! Our photographers and videographers travel between units, activities, and events making sure no story goes undocumented.” Their work allows families, donors, and future volunteers to experience Camp Jenny long after the weekend ends.

We can’t wait to review your applications—be sure to submit by December 12th so we can start building our incredible team!