Staff FAQs

Camp Watitoh is ideally located in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts in the town of Becket. The Berkshires is a major vacation destination for many northeasterners and is full of cultural experiences, outdoor activity, and quaint towns to enjoy. We are three hours north of New York City, two hours west of greater Boston and approximately an hour from Albany International Airport and Bradley International Airport, serving the Hartford, CT/Springfield, MA area.

Our campers come from all over – from the New York metropolitan area, up and down the East Coast from Boston to Florida, out west in California, Oregon, and Colorado, and a wonderful International community from Canada, Spain, France, Italy, China, the Dominican Republic, and beyond.

We attract staff from all over the United States and Canada and enjoy a nice population from abroad. Some of our International staff come from, but are not limited to, England, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and Eastern Europe. It is no surprise that many of our Watitoh staff return year after year and many have been campers themselves.

Staff training starts immediately once you are hired. Bi-monthly emails will keep you posted on important information leading up to camp and share with you deeply rooted traditions so that you can begin to learn more about the heart and soul of Watitoh. We also have an active Facebook group where you can ask questions and hear from veteran staff about their experiences. A Staff Manual will land in your mailbox and a digital version emailed in late Spring. There you will find a lot of specific information about your role on camp as well as a packing list and a lexicon (a dictionary of all things Watitoh!)

Once you arrive at camp, you will participate in a required five-day staff orientation led by directors, head counselors, head program staff and veteran counselors. During that time, you will become more familiar with the campus, the program, the separate boys and girls campuses and their Head Counselors, as well as a more in-depth, hands-on approach to camp counseling. We incorporate ice breakers, getting-to-know-you activities, and free time around camp to allow you to enjoy the facilities, become more comfortable in the environment, and start making connections with your peers.

Campers look forward to a combination of exciting activities by cabin and age group, as well as individual choice periods each day. Traveling together with their cabin and age group, campers receive skill-building instruction in all areas of camp while developing strong bonds with their peers. Choice periods allow campers to spend more time at their favorite activities and those that have sparked their interest.

Click here to see a Typical Day Schedule

For the camp counselor and specialist positions, applicants must be at least 18 years old and have completed a year of college or the equivalent thereof. For our head staff positions, applicants are typically college graduates who are professionals in their field.

All staff will receive five days off throughout the summer and approximately three evenings per week. During days off, staff typically leave camp to explore the surrounding area. Many of our counselors and head staff will take advantage of the cultural attractions in the area, go hiking or white water rafting, drive the two hours to Boston, or enjoy a quiet day going to a movie and unwinding in nearby Pittsfield.

General counselors and specialists both live in the cabin with campers. General counselors spend a good portion of their day traveling with their cabin and age group to activities, while specialists spend their day at a program area teaching and coaching kids of all ages.

Staff will have access to the internet on their time off in designated areas on campus where there is WiFi and computers hooked up to the internet. We have a strict policy that campers are not permitted to have electronic devices that can connect to the internet, therefore we only allow staff access when they are away from their campers and during designated times.

The campers at Watitoh range in age from 7-16. Cabin assignments are made once you arrive on camp for staff orientation. During the interview process we will discuss your past experiences working with different ages of children and assess where we think the best fit would be, based on the knowledge of our campers and the cabin dynamics.

The Watitoh cabins are a nice mix of comfortable and campy, and all have electricity. All cabins are equipped with bathrooms. Each person gets two cubbies for clothing and personal items. On average, there are 6-10 campers per cabin and 2-3 counselors.

First and foremost, the food at Watitoh is always given rave reviews by campers and staff. The entire camp eats meals together, a great way of creating close community and family. Sitting as a bunk, campers and counselors are served family-style by our camper waiters, our oldest boys – a special tradition at Watitoh. A meal does not go by without singing and cheering from the entire camp!

The Berkshire weather is completely unpredictable and each summer is different. We recommend that you are prepared for all types of weather from extreme heat to chilly nights. Once you are hired, you will be given a packing list that will include a range of clothing that will prepare you for all weather climates.