STAFF FAQS
This is not your typical summer job.
If you have any questions you didn’t see answered here, click on the link below.
In Algonquin, Ontario, 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of Toronto (2.5 hour drive).
It is a provincial park, established as a wildlife preserve in 1893, and is one of the largest recreational areas in North America with 3,000 square miles of forests and 2,000 charted lakes. Algonquin is the most celebrated canoe trip area on any continent. Families travel from around the world to go camping in Algonquin and for us, we’re lucky have it as our backyard.
Trying to pinpoint Tamakwa’s appeal to three generations of campers and staff is no easy task. Tamakwa has been called a “people camp”. While the physical facility is top notch in every way, Tamakwa’s magic has always been the intangible quality of warmth and camaraderie among the camp family. That’s what we are, a family. Tamakwa is a small intimate place where everyone knows each other and we love to welcome new members to our family. Above all, Tamakwa is known for its spirit. Singing, cheering, and traditional values of camping are the mainstays of our camp life. In our minds, these values provide an important balance to the highly technological lifestyles of today’s urban youth.
Tamakwa provides a place where young people can grow and develop both individually and collectively; to learn the skills of every day living and giving; develop positive physical, emotional, and ethical values and habits through the day to day example of experienced and highly motivated adults; and to learn by real experience the worth and value of one’s self and of others. And one more sentence… to do ALL this in a nurturing secure environment, situated in a pristine wilderness setting where they learn to appreciate the wonders of nature.
Boys and girls aged 7 – 16. A special Junior Tamakwan program is offered for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. Our camp accommodates 250-275 children each session.
Camp is primarily comprised of Canadians and Americans. The Canadians are mostly from Toronto, but also from Montreal, Ottawa, Windsor, London, Hamilton, and other communities. The Americans are predominantly from the Detroit area, with groups of campers from Buffalo, Rochester, Ohio, New York, California, Chicago, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and all points in between. Tamakwans also come from Mexico, Israel, France, Italy, Turkey, England, Belgium, and Spain.
Two of the five daily activity periods are organized in cabin groups, as are the canoe trips and many other activities. The remaining three periods are individual choice. Our scheduling approach provides every camper equal exposure and access to each camp activity. The individual choice periods allow campers to pursue their favorite activities. Every period is scheduled and every camper and staff member has a place to be. Free play periods are before and after dinner. So, the hours of the day tilt in favor of structure, although there is ample time for campers to do their own thing. The younger campers are given more direction and supervision in the use of their free time.
Tamakwa is well-known for its special “All Day Programs” incorporating a creative theme with team competition in all camp skills, sports, and creativity. These special programs begin and end with a spectacular surprise presentation/introduction called a “Break”, and they are secretly scheduled in each camp session. Staff contribute to these special programs by running activities, dressing up and sometimes working in a group to plan and present them.
Full-time camp nurses and a physician are in residence. We have our own health center with daily “sick-call” and an infirmary. The nearest hospital is 30 minutes away in Huntsville, and is a new and modern facility, which has competently serviced all the area camps for many years.
Well, according to a TORONTO STAR food columnist a few years ago, it’s very good. Tamakwa’s kitchen is operated by a professional catering service. The food is prepared on-premises and breads and baked goods are homemade. The three daily meals have three courses each. The menu has been designed with the utmost consideration for nutritional balance, variety, and children’s tastes. While the regular menu often includes meat, an alternative menu is available for vegetarians. In addition, a fresh fruit snack is served daily, as well as a light snack before bed. We eat family style, everyone in the dining hall at one time. One morning a week, we have a sleep-in and a fantastic buffet brunch is served.
Everyone lives in cabins, substantial wood cottages with electricity. There are bathroom facilities (we call them “biffies”) in all of the girls’ cabins and in those housing the youngest and oldest boys. The middle range boys share the use of a central biffy or community bathroom facilities in the vicinity of their cabins. The cabins have been the focal point of a major rebuilding program begun in 1982. Since that time, we have restored or totally replaced every camper cabin.
Counselors and some Specialists live in cabins with campers. There are between 2 and 4 Counselors/Specialists in a camper cabin and their quarters are partitioned from the campers to afford a degree of privacy. Activity Leaders, Trippers and some Specialists live in staff cabins with between 2 and 6 staff living in a cabin together. Most staff cabins have private bathrooms.
Most of the campers and staff are Jewish, but many are not. We are one big family where everyone feels perfectly at home. Traditionally, we say grace at meals and have a liberal Friday night observance. Friday night speeches, as we call them, are of a creative non-worship nature… usually reflecting on a particular theme such as friendship, nature, cooperation, etc. It’s our “time-out” from the busy week to have a quiet evening. The nicest part about these contemplative services is the camp family assembling together on our “Slope” overlooking the spectacular view of South Tea Lake.
Tamakwa is an active, participating, and accredited member of the Ontario Section of the Canadian Camping Association, the Ontario Camps Association. Tamakwa’s directors are accreditation inspectors for the Ontario Camps Association.
Staff training begins in the third week of June, and camp runs until the third week of August. There may be some jobs available in the spring and fall (early May through September) for staff looking to work longer.
We offer excellent salaries. Your salary will depend on your position and experience. Camp provides room and board, and except for what you spend on days off, you have virtually no expenses while at camp.
Most staff at camp are between 17 and 25. We do have many staff in their late 20’s and 30’s. All our Section Heads and Directors are university grads and professionals who can take the summer off and come to camp.
Most of our staff are from Toronto and Detroit area. We also hire many staff from all corners of the earth including across Canada, the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and around the world.
Counsellors and specialists live in camper cabins, while activity leaders, canoe trippers, kitchen and maintenance live in staff cabins.
Tamakwa contracts a private laundry company to come once a week. This service picks up all of the camp laundry bags and returns them with cleaned and folded clothes the next day. You have two choices. You can opt into the service in which case you are charged at cost which works out to $100 for the full season. If you would prefer to worry about laundry on your own, you’re welcome to bring it to town on your day off.
We believe camp should be 100% social and 0% media. That’s why we don’t feel campers or staff need cell phones, iPads, e-readers or any other electronics at Camp Tamakwa. Camp will keep your electronics safely in the camp office and will charge your phone for you to take on your days off.
Yes, but only at night. We have two phones for staff in our staff lounge. Staff can call anywhere in the world free of charge. They are opened each day at 10:30 PM until 12:30 AM. If you require phone access at another time for course selection, medical appointments, or in case of emergency, you can speak to the office for special arrangements.
Yes, but only at night. We have four computers with Internet access located in our Staff Lounge. They are opened each day at 10:30 PM until 1:00 AM. If you require computer/Internet access at another time for course selection, medical appointments, or in case of emergency, you can speak to the office for special arrangements.
We love that you want to show your friends and family camp! Visits can be arranged depending on the activities of the day and will be at the discretion of a Camp Director.
Canoe tripping is the bedrock of the Tamakwa experience. Canoe tripping and Tamakwa go hand in hand. Algonquin Park is Canada’s oldest provincial park and one of its national treasures, consisting of 3000 square miles, 2000 pristine lakes, and offers 2100 km of canoe routes, and uniquely in Tamakwa’s own backyard. All counsellors are expected to go on a cabin canoe trip each session. Learn what to pack for canoe trips in our Green Book.
Off-season work is available. Staff is required in May and June, and there may be short-term positions after the regular season finishes in August.
This is our camper/parent/staff manual which includes everything you will need to know for camp, including what to bring, and what not to bring
Staff busses from Toronto and back are provided by camp. All staff are responsible for getting themselves to and from the busses. Staff returning to Toronto on the camp bus will be expected to supervise campers during, and for a short period after the trip.
We have 4 or 5 evenings a week for movies, coffee houses, dances, banquets, games nights, town nights, speakers, etc. It’s your opportunity to relax, socialize and just unwind after the day.
All staff MUST have health insurance for their contracted dates at camp.
A period of orientation and training, helping you learn, not only your specific job and responsibilities, but also participating in learning ways of working with children, handling behaviour, programming, etc.
Days off commence at 5:30 p.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. the following day. This is an opportunity to relax, spend the day away from camp in the company of old and new friends, and return to camp refreshed.
Camp Tamakwa prides itself on our healthy and diverse camp food! We can accommodate most dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and gluten. We are a nut free facility.
The camp Health Centre as a doctor and 2 nurses on duty at all times.
YES! Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and most European nations are eligible for this permit. We work with a partner agency to obtain camp-specific work permits. You will need to play an active role in securing these permits, by responding to requests for information from our partner. You may also need to travel to a Visa Application Centre in your home country to provide your Biometrics prior to travel. This permit will allow you to work only for Camp Tamakwa, for the duration specified in your contract. Usually, the border officer who grants the work permit will allow you additional time to remain
in Canada after the end of your work to travel and visit as a tourist. If not, you can apply to switch to a tourist visa near the end of your allowed stay for a cost of approximately $100 CAD.
More Work Permit information at: Immigration Canada.
A WORKING HOIDAY VISA IS ALSO AN OPTION AND information for each country can be found on the International Experience Canada site.
The ETA is a travellers permission to enter Canada would not be able to board the plane without it. You may be required to get an ETA prior to traveling to Canada. It is something you would need to obtain yourself You can find out more info about it here.
The ETA is separate from your work permit. The ETA allow you to enter Canada and the work permit is authorization to be employed whilst in Canada.