Staff > Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tamarack located?
Camp Maas
Located near the town of Ortonville in scenic Lower Michigan, Camp Maas is our residential summer program for children ages 7-14. Ortonville is located about 1 hour north of Detroit, 40 minutes northeast of Ann Arbor and 20 minutes south of Flint.
 Mapquest Map of Camp Maas
Camp Kennedy & Agree Outpost Camp Maas offers teens (children entering 9th-12th grades) exciting, adventurous and challenging wilderness camping programs at Camp Kennedy in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Charles N. Agree Outpost Camp in Wawa, Ontario.
Mapquest Map of Camp Kennedy
Mapquest Map of Agree Outpost Camp
Western & Alaska Teen Travel Trips
Our highly acclaimed Western and Alaska Adventure Travel Trips depart from the Detroit area and travel between 5-7 weeks from national park to national park.
Western Trips Itinerary
Alaskan Adventure Itinerary
What are the different jobs available at Tamarack?
Click here to view the Job Descriptions at Tamarack.
What are the dates of my contract?
All staff are expected to commit for the entirety of the program they are hired for, including a pre-camp training period lasting from one to two weeks. For some Specialist staff, certification training may require you to arrive before pre-camp training begins.
Do I have to be Jewish to work at Tamarack?
Being a Jewish agency we are committed to helping the Jewish child understand his or her identity by providing children with enriching Jewish experiences through a general residence camp program. We accomplish these goals informally through various cultural and religious activities. We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate in our employment practices on the basis of race, gender, religion or national origin. We expect all of our staff, both Jewish and non-Jewish to support AND participate in various Jewish activities both cultural and religious, which comprise an important part of our program. As in any aspect of camp, expert knowledge is not required, but rather a willingness to learn and relate this learning to others.
Will working at camp give me any experience to add to my resume?
Camp offers you the opportunity to develop life skills that today’s employers are looking for. Leadership, self confidence, communication, organization, time management, teamwork and conflict resolution will be some of the intangibles you will came away with after your summer experience. Do all of this and make a difference to the world around you by impacting the life of a child! Click here to find out why working at a summer at camp will give you what today’s employers are looking for!
What is expected of Tamarack staff members?
Staff members should expect to work directly with children throughout the day. They are to be excellent role models at all times. All staff are expected to be nurturing, energetic and excellent team members who are willing to lend a hand at any time. Above all, staff should be motivated, patient and flexible.
They meet the social, mental and physical needs of their campers on a daily basis. They inspire their campers to be active, to appreciate the outdoors and to be better people. They practice sound judgment and are always willing to lend a hand. They will put the campers needs before their own. At Tamarack our motto is “Camp is for kids”.
For more for more detailed descriptions, please view on our Job Descriptions page.
What are some other policies?
It is important to understand that the possession or use of drugs, whether it is on or off camp grounds, is cause for immediate dismissal. Returning to camp under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also cause for dismissal.
You may click here view some additional Tamarack Camps Staff Policies.
What salary can I expect and when do I get paid?
Our competitive salaries are determined by age, experience, qualifications and personal skills of each individual. In addition to your salary, counselors are provided with meals, lodging and a number of camp socials. Salary bonus opportunities do arise throughout the summer, allowing you to earn additional income. International and out-of-state staff will have laundry facilities and transportation made available to them on their days off. It is important to remember that most people who work for summer camps do so out of the pure love for the experience of working with children and not for financial gain.
How much work is it, really?
Counselors that live in bunks have responsibilities virtually 24 hours a day for up to seven and a half weeks. They have to solve problems, manage campers, oversee child interaction, provide instruction, plan events, evaluate camper progress and much, much more. Any camp staff should be prepared to work extremely hard, keep a positive attitude and have a high level of enthusiasm and energy for very long hours every day.
What are the living arrangements like?
Camp Maas
Most staff will be living in cabins with their campers, but have private counselor quarters. Some specialist staff and supervisors will live in staff-only quarters with up to 8 other staff. Specialists who do not live in cabins (bunks) with the campers will be assigned to a camper bunk in order to bond with that specific group of campers and participate in their daily activities. All bathrooms and showers are either contained in the cabins or within a very short distance from the staff living quarters. Electricity, running water and flush toilets are available to all staff members at Camp Maas.
Camp Kennedy & Agree Outpost
Both of these outpost camps have rustic settings with hot & cold running water, an outdoor shower, 2 outhouses and no electricity. While at base camp, the staff have separate sleeping quarters from the campers. When on camping trips, staff will sleep in tents at primitive wilderness campsites, with no amenities except the Northern Lights, breathtaking sunsets and the call of the Loon. Due to the nature of this program, staff cannot have days or time off for the duration of the program. This is a 24-hour a day job. No alcohol consumption or drug use will be allowed at any time during this program – violating this policy is basis for dismissal. Both camps have a “No Smoking” policy.
Western & Alaska Teen Travel Trips
During the 5-7 weeks of the trip, staff and campers live in tents, traveling from national park to national park. Some campsites will have modern amenities, i.e. hot & cold running water, showers and flush toilets. Some of the campsites have rustic amenities, i.e. outhouses and cold water only, and some campsites will have primitive amenities, i.e. pit toilets and water from the nearby lake or stream. Staff and campers live in extremely close proximity. Due to the nature of this program, staff cannot have days or time off for the duration of the program. This is a 24-hour a day job. No alcohol consumption or drug use will be allowed at any time during this program – violating this policy is basis for dismissal. Smoking is only permitted after the campers have gone to sleep.
At Camp Maas, how does a Village Counselor differ from a Specialist?
Village Counselors are with their campers (bunk) for the majority of each day. They will follow their campers from activity to activity. At the activity/specialty areas, the Village Counselors are still relied upon for leadership and/or instruction, but their first responsibility is to their campers’ well-being and participation in the daily program.
A Specialist Counselor works most of the activity day in one particular program area, instructing our campers of all ages and various skill levels in their area of expertise. Specialists who do not live with campers will be assigned to a camper bunk in order to bond with a specific group of campers. When not in their Specialty area, Specialist Counselors will participate in their assigned bunks’ daily activities.
How will my friends and family contact me?
Our office receives mail, email and faxes six days per week. Phone messages will be sent to you with the daily village mail. Pay phones are provided, after 10:00 p.m., for out going calls. The use of cellular phones is prohibited until after 10:00 p.m.
Kennedy, Agree & Travel Trip staff receive mail at periodic "city stops" and are not available for "incoming calls" during the summer. Staff in these programs will have occasional access to pay phones when in various "city stops" to make calls home or to friends. Your supervisors will give further details to you.
Can my friends & family visit me at Camp Maas?
Visitors are generally only allowed if special circumstances arise. Visitors may only be allowed with special permission from the Camp Director. Visitors can never visit unannounced, while camp is in session. Visitors cannot stay at camp overnight.
What about Days Off and Free Time at Camp Maas?
Each staff member has between 4-6 days off during the summer – approximately one day a week. This will vary depending on the area for which they are hired. During pre-camp, staff members will sign up for days off with the administration. Days off begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. the following evening. A bus will be provided to take our International staff to and from a pre-arranged destination for their day off.
Most evenings, staff are permitted to sign out (leave camp) until curfew. After 10:00 p.m., staff may go out, enjoy a movie in the staff lounge or participate in other planned staff activities. Our staff lounge has telephones, vending machines, a designated smoking area and an inviting area to relax and mingle with other staff members. This is where most of our in-camp staff socials are held. No staff may leave camp property before 10:00 P.M. Curfew for all staff is 1:00 a.m.
Approximately twice weekly, counselors are on night duty (Shmirah) and must stay in their villages to monitor and supervise campers until all other staff returns to the village at curfew.
What are the other staff like?
Our staff of 200 individuals is comprised of college-aged students, graduate students, educators and camping professionals. They come from all corners of the country and abroad. Although no formal child-related experience is required in order to apply, all of our staff brings a passion of wanting to work with children, high energy and a strong work ethic. Due to the self-contained environment, the staff becomes close and forms long-lasting friendships.
What are the campers like?
The majority of our campers come from the Detroit metropolitan area. We also have a small number of campers from others areas of the United States such as Arizona, Florida and California.
Each session, Camp Maas accommodates approximately 500 boys and girls, ages 7 to 14 years old. There are approximately 8-10 campers and 2-3 counselors in each cabin group, called a bunk. Each age group lives in a specific area called a “village”. For our younger campers the boys and girls villages are single sex. For our 8th and 9th grade campers the villages are co-ed. There are anywhere from 6 to 12 single-sex cabins (bunks) in a village.
The majority of our TSS (Counselors in Training), Travel Trip, Agree & Kennedy campers are made up of long time Tamarack campers who are looking for fun, adventure and something a little different than the typical overnight, residential summer experience. These campers are interviewed to make sure they have the right attitude and commitment to participate in these “camper powered” programs.
Nearly 85% of our campers return summer after summer, with many going on to become staff after their camper years.
Can I choose the age group I want to work with?
We do our best to meet the requests of all counselors in regards to the age group they work with. Most placements are made based on qualifications, experience, age of staff member and where you are needed. We cannot guarantee a specific age group or cabin to any counselor.
What is the daily schedule like?
Click here to see the Camp Maas daily schedule. You may also wish to look at our Job Descriptions page for a more detailed explanation of daily staff responsibilities in each program.
What is the food like? What if I am a vegetarian?
Our kitchen and dining hall are Kosher, which means that meat and dairy foods are never served at the same meal and that no pork products are ever served. The menu is well balanced and kid-friendly. Foods such as tacos, pizza and of course, grilled cheese & tomato soup, are served regularly throughout the summer. A number of times during the summer we have all-camp or all-village picnics or campfire cookouts. Vegetarian options, peanut butter & jelly and a salad bar are always available. Only dairy/vegetarian foods may be brought into camp, for personal consumption. All staff must be present and sit with their campers at all meals.
How do I get to and from camp?
If you have a vehicle, we encourage you to drive to camp. This will allow you greater freedom during off periods. If you cannot drive, then you have several other options to choose from.
Our camp driver will pick you up/drop you off at the following points:
Flying - Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Bus - Detroit or Royal Oak Greyhound Station
Train - Detroit or Windsor, Ontario, stations
If your travel will be taking you to another location, special arrangements for pick up & drop off may be made.
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