Dates – June 20 – August 28
Our summer camp season begins with pre-camp. Pre-camp is our mandatory training week for staff to prepare for the summer of a lifetime. We are able to accommodate staff working as many or as few sessions as they are able to base on their schedule.
Pre-Camp
June 20st – June 27th, 2026
1st Session
June 29th – July 3rd, 2026 – Candyland
2nd SESSION
July 6th – July 10th, 2026 – Mystery
3rd SESSION
July 13th – July 17th, 2026 – Pirate
4th SESSION
July 20th – July 24th, 2026 – Halloween
5th SESSION
July 26th – July 30th, 2026 – Christmas in July
**Please note session 5 starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday**
6TH SESSION
August 3rd – August 7th, 2026 – Once Upon a Time
7TH SESSION
August 10th – August 14th, 2026 – Around the World
8TH SESSION
August 17th – August 21st, 2026 – Hollywood
Camp Encore
August 24th – August 28th, 2026
**Summer camp session for adults over 18 with a developmental disability **
FAQs
Age Requirements- 17+
You must be at minimum 17 years old to work at camp. Lifeguards must be at least 18 years old. Many of our staff our in their early 20s however we have staff including counselors in their 30s and 40s.
Pay & Benefis
Pay varies by position and experience level.
Pay begins at $400 per week for counselors and $325 for young staff
In addition to pay, staff are provided room and board while at camp and during time off between sessions. There are many non-monetary perks and benefits to working at Cradle Beach, visit our Benefits & Perks page to learn more.
What does an “inclusive” summer camp mean?
- Great question! Cradle Beach offers a safe and welcoming space for everyone – campers and counselors alike. We specialize in offering integrated programming, which means our camp activities are fun for children with and without physical or intellectual disabilities. Children without any disabilities or medical diagnosis are encouraged to attend Cradle Beach! What makes Cradle Beach so unique is that no matter what a child’s background, campers come to our campus to play, learn and grow together.
What’s the age requirement to apply?
- Counselors must be at least 17 years to work at camp, and lifeguards must be at least 18 years old. On average, our counselors are in their early 20s (college age), however, we do have staff in their 30s and 40s!
Do I need to bring a tent to sleep in?
- Cradle Beach camp is more like “glamping”. We have accessible cabins with bathrooms, running water and beds. Don’t mistake “glamping” for bug, spider or critter free. We have lots of friends on our 66-acre campus! PS – we do have WiFi on campus! We will be honest that it’s not always the greatest, but it works better than when your parents’ had to dial-up to use AOL!
Do I need to work every session?
- Nope, but we think you are going to want to! Spending the summer at Cradle Beach is fun and rewarding. You will meet people from around the world and change the lives of children in our community. We think this is the best place to get a tan, make friends and jump outside of your comfort zone.
Am I required to be an expert at Boondoggle?
- No, we can teach you all kinds of fun crafts and games; however, if you do have a special skill or talent, let us know! We would love to incorporate fun new ideas into our program.
I have a food allergy. Will I need to bring food?
- Absolutely not! We have a full kitchen service that makes meals to accommodate all dietary needs from gluten free to dairy free to nut free to vegan and beyond. Just let us know and we will work with our kitchen crew to accommodate you!
Is there an opportunity to be a lifeguard? Also, where do we swim?
- Yes! Counselors also work as lifeguards. If you are not certified, don’t worry, our training week offers a lifeguard certification.
- Swim time is the most popular time of the day. Our campers participate in swimming 2-3 times daily. While we no longer take a dip in Lake Erie, we do have a giant accessible swimming pool that accommodates swimmers of all abilities. Fun Fact – the pool holds approximately 242,000 gallons of water – that takes 2 whole days to fill! So, when we say giant, we mean giant!
I loved summer camp so much, I don’t want to leave!
- Great news! We also need staff to help us during the “off-summer months” during our Respite Weekends. We offer 17 weekends (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) to our families who have children or adults receiving services through the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities. These weekends give caregivers a break (or respite) from their care-taking responsibilities. We play outside, have visits with therapy dogs, walk on the beach, sing karaoke, watch movies and eat snacks. It’s like being at summer camp, except sometimes it’s snowing.