USM Summer Camps will run from June 15 to Aug. 14, 2026, with no programming on June 19 and July 3.

The work day runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. for most positions. Specific roles may have responsibilities outside of those hours, which will be described in your interview and if employment is offered.

Our preference is to hire staff who are available to work for the duration of the program, but will consider exceptions. Please indicate your anticipated availability on your staff application.

Candidates for positions in USM Summer Camps must be at least 16 years old by the start of their employment.

All employees under the age of 18 must obtain the necessary work permit for 14- to 17-year-olds as required by Wisconsin state law. Current USM students can obtain a work permit through the College Guidance office.

There is a mandatory training week that takes place from June 8 to 12, 2026. Prior to this week, employees will be required to complete the online training for Safe Schools and CPR.

The week of training will include a handbook overview, security training, community-building activities, situational awareness training, and much more. Employees will also assist in preparing the school for camp, including decorating bulletin boards and gathering materials for classes. We will also spend parts of the week engaging in group games. We will end the week with an employee cookout.

USM Summer Camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff members arrive at 8 a.m. and may leave after the campers depart at the end of the day. The morning will consist of helping and assisting teachers in their classrooms, or helping the program coordinator prepare for the afternoon activities. The afternoon will consist of engaging campers in activities that consist of crafts, outdoor activities, sports games, and community building. On Tuesday afternoons we will venture out to a local park, and on Thursday afternoons we will take a field trip to Milwaukee favorites such as the Milwaukee Public Museum and Discovery World.

At the end of each day, staff assist with dismissal, pick-up, and other assigned duties to facilitate preparations for the next day of camp. Once a week, we ask you to stay after for a staff meeting.

Some staff will be asked to help run our Extended Time Care (E.T.C.) program. It is our hope, pending hiring, to have rotational teams that cover different days of the week (ex: Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays) and alternate Fridays. More information will be provided as hiring is underway.

E.T.C. hours are as follows:

• Morning: 8–9 a.m.
• Afternoon: 3:30–5:30 p.m.

Lunch will be provided for staff members that are scheduled to work full days. For half-day workers, you may pack a lunch and either enjoy the lunch on campus, or, before or after your half-day shift begins or ends. USM is a tree-nut free campus so lunches cannot contain any nut products.

We will provide T-shirts for you to wear throughout each week. Staff are welcome to wear shorts that are of an appropriate length, as well as athletic clothing and jeans.

The USM Summer Camps counselor role consists of various responsibilities. Together, we form one community, dedicated to providing our campers with a positive, meaningful experience.

Our hiring process is intended to match the right person for each position and we expect our staff to do the job they told us they wanted to do in their application and interview. We aspire to bring together a fully committed staff, both individually and collectively.

Children will always challenge you to be at your best. By no means is this job easy, but it is fun. Whether you are looking to build your experience working with children or love being outdoors, spending a summer at USM is an experience that will provide to be invaluable and memorable for a lifetime.