While each summer we embrace the energy and enthusiasm brought by new staff members, the vast majority has years and years (and in some cases, years and years and years!) of experience at Pemi.
Best summer camp counselors, instructors, and mentors
Beyond their area of expertise within our 4 program areas, each staff member is strong of character and eager to work with children and teens. Together, they represent extroverts, introverts, boisterous adventurers, soft-spoken planners… such that every boy has an adult at Pemi with whom he identifies. As well as facilitating connections between campers and staff, this purposeful approach to hiring ensures a culture of inclusion and respect.
Our hiring process fully complies with American Camp Association standards, which require staff screening (including the use of application forms, reference checks, personal interviews, work history reviews, and criminal and sex offender background checks). Pemi staff gathers pre-season for a week of comprehensive training. In addition to instruction from professional educators in lesson planning and teaching skills, all staff members discuss and practice Positive Counseling skills, learn about characteristics and needs of camp-age boys, and are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.
We can talk all we want about our staff’s dedication, work ethic, and multitudinous talents, but our parents say it the best:
"We believe Pemi's staff is its greatest asset! Our son simply loved his counselor, whose communication home to us really gave us the sense that he saw and understood our boy. In turn, our son really looked up to him and thought he was so nice and funny."
"I am very impressed with the number of adults, especially women, on staff! Having experienced teachers on staff really seems to raise the caliber of the program offerings and having so many adults (age 30+) makes me feel good about safety."
"H. was very homesick, and his counselor handled this in a constructive and compassionate way. His first sentence when we picked him up included the words 'When I return to camp next year,' something he has never said when referencing other camps he’s attended."
"He really enjoyed his counselors and felt that they had the right touch in balancing leadership, structure, fun, and energy. He was incredibly inspired by them. "
"His counselor was AMAZING and made such a lasting and positive impression on C. He was funny, mature, smart, a positive role model, and a great surrogate parent and friend."
"We are so grateful that our son gets to have so many kind, talented, and thoughtful people as part of his summer life. As parents, we are so appreciative of Pemi's exceptional staff. "
