Summer Camp Info for Counselors & Staff
It's a hard job, but it's worth it. Cradle Beach counselors live, sleep and eat with campers all during the camp session that they are working in. Cradle Beach Counselors are paid a stipend for their work, but all food and lodging are provided by the Cradle Beach while summer camp is in session.
One of the reasons that we have been so successful at Cradle Beach is that each child receives significant amounts of individual attention from our counselors. The maximum ratio of campers to counselors is 4 to 1, but it often goes as low as 1 to 1 for children with special supervisory needs.
Each of our counselors is required to be at least 18 and have at least 1 year of college. Each new counselor attends a week long pre-camp training session, led by our Director of Youth Services Bonnie A. Brusk (who has over 35 years of experience as an educator in urban public schools and as a leader at Cradle Beach). Many counselors are actively pursuing careers in education, special education, recreation therapy, nursing, and social work.
We are very proud of our counselors. Fully one-third have come up through the ranks here from campers or young staff to become counselors. In addition, we have more than 20 individuals on staff who have returned here for 20 years or longer ! We also hire many international counselors who come from all over the world to work with our children..
When we talk to campers about their experiences here, they almost always speak about their counselors first. They are important role models for all our children. Buffalo News Assistant Managing Editor Sue LoTempio was a camper and a counselor herself. She says, "Cradle Beach gave me hope that I could do more and be more. It gave me hope that, like my counselors, I could go to college and have a career."
If you are interested in being a Counselor, you can either download the application here or contact Bonnie A. Brusk, Director of Youth Services at bbrusk@cradlebeach.org with your name and mailing address and we will mail you an application. An interview, in person or by phone, will be conducted before counselors are chosen. A one week pre-camp training session is required for all new counselors.
Cradle Beach Camp serves the needs of disabled and disadvantaged children from Western New York.
