What Will I Be Doing?

Arts & Crafts

The Arts & Crafts staff helps campers express themselves in a variety of mediums, requiring staff with a wide range of skills, either specific or generic.

This position offers many opportunities to instruct as well as improve personal skills. From teaching the basics to a younger camper or an advanced skill to an experienced camper, a staff member must be flexible and patient.

In addition to the regular responsibilities of camp counselors, Arts & Crafts staff will be responsible for planning their program for the summer.

A preferred candidate should have an extensive portfolio with a variety of projects. Art and Art Education majors highly preferred.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Mountaineering - Backpacking

Whether you've hiked the Appalachian Trail or simply enjoy a weekend trek, we are looking for staff with a wide range of backpacking skills to share their love of the rugged beauty of Western North Carolina.

This position requires trip planning, organization, and leadership. You will spend most of your days in the field, with excursions lasting anywhere from a day to six days at a time. From teaching the basics to custom designing trips for more experienced hikers, you must remain flexible and patient.

As your comfort level and proficiency with the program increases, so do your responsibilities. In addition to the regular training, Falling Creek provides a backpacking orientation in May, prior to the regular staff orientation.

All members of the backpacking staff must be certified in Wilderness Advanced First Aid* or higher (WFR, WEMT) and CPR by a nationally recognized certifying organization. Preferred candidates should have knowledge and hiking experience in the following areas: Appalachian Trail, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Nantahala National Forest, Pisgah National Forest and the Smokey Mountains or 4 weeks of documented back country tent camping in the last 24 months. Experience leading trips for a University Outing Club or participation as a student in a nationally recognized adventure program highly preferred.

General outdoor skills including:

• Ability to carry 45-60 pound pack on and off trail for up to 12 hours a day and sometimes longer
• Personal backpacking experience
• Competence with map and compass navigation, ability to navigate in whiteout and dark conditions preferred
• Knowledge of managing mountain hazards and variable weather
• Backcountry cooking and camping skills
• Familiarity with Leave No Trace backcountry practices
• Experience with multi-day expeditionary travel
• Ability to run 7 mountain miles in 75 minutes

Teaching and facilitation skills including:

• Experience teaching and managing youth in an outdoor setting
• Experience facilitating group discussions and experiences
• Experience working with populations from 13-18 years of age
• Experience fostering effective group dynamics and teaching effective communication and conflict resolution to adolescents

*Falling Creek offers a Wilderness Advanced First Aid course in May prior to Adventure Staff Training. Please ask about enrollment in this course if you are not currently certified or need to be recertified.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Nature

The Nature program opens minds while exploring the trails, lakes, bogs, streams and creeks in the southern Appalachian Mountains. As one of the most popular in-camp activities, the program spans a wide range of activities, from instructional programs to field trips away from camp. The program operates out of the Nature Hut, a large and well-equipped facility with adjoining mammal and bird enclosures.

We are looking for staff to teach what they know about the natural world to the campers. In addition to being a cabin counselor, this position involves animal care, lesson planning, field trips, and instruction.

Flexibility and patience are crucial. Be prepared to be bombarded by questions while teaching our campers about nature and the world.

The Nature program is progression based meaning that as your comfort level and proficiency increases, so do your responsibilities.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Riding

The Equestrian program consists of ground school, ring instruction, on-property trail rides, picnic rides, overnights and off-site trail rides. Falling Creek has over 20 horses, two riding rings, a 24 stall main barn, two outpost barns, plenty of pasture, and 250 acres of camp property for riding.

We are looking for staff with knowledge of horses and the ability to pass on that knowledge to our campers. The Equestrian program is progression based, meaning that as your comfort level and proficiency within our program increases, so do your responsibilities. The Equestrian staff, prior to the campers arrival, have the opportunity to ride the horses in order to learn their distinctive personalities.

In addition to the regular responsibilities of camp counselors, barn staff will be responsible for planning their program for the summer. All candidates should have a strong work ethic, be a self-starter, have knowledge of horses, be comfortable around horses, and have the ability to communicate and teach at many different levels. A highly preferred candidate should have at least 3 plus years experience in English riding and barn management.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Fishing

Falling Creek's fishing program is progression based. Campers initially spend half a day learning how to tie knots, cast, catch, and release fish on the camp's two lakes. After learning the basics, they qualify for out-of-camp excursions to local rivers and lakes. Boys can learn how to spin fish as well as fly fish.

We are looking for staff with a wide range of fishing skills. This position involves equipment maintenance, developing a teaching outline, instruction, and many opportunities to improve your personal skills.

The Fishing program is progression based for staff as well, meaning that as your comfort level and proficiency within our program increases, so does your daily job responsibilities.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Canoe & Kayak

The Canoe and Kayak program is progression based and once a camper grows proficient on the lake he qualifies to begin river progression. On any given day, the paddling staff lead two out of camp trips with overnight canoe trips run once a week.

We are looking for staff with a wide range of paddling skills, from flat-water to whitewater. You will teach and lead canoe and / or kayaking trips on lakes and rivers. The program is progression based for staff as well, meaning that as your comfort level, rescue ability, judgment, and technical skills increase within our program, so do your responsibilities.

In addition to the regular training, Falling Creek provides a canoe and kayak specific orientation in May, including a swift water rescue component, prior to the all staff orientation. Additional American Canoe Association certification courses are available during Adventure Staff training week.

Paddle staff candidates must have a strong awareness of risk management and understanding of the nature of water based programs and trips, experience leading groups of nine or more participants in whitewater, a personal skill base that allows the instructor to comfortably facilitate the campers experience and perform boat based rescues from a solo, tandem canoe and kayak in up to class III whitewater, possess a depth of river experience that reaches beyond the scope of the FCC river program, ability to swim effectively in class III whitewater and an understanding of river hydrology and river hazards: eddies, strainers, holes (hydraulics), under-cuts and how to manage them. ACA OCII Instructor, ACA Kayak Instructor 4, ACA Swift water Instructor highly preferred.

Paddle Staff applicants must submit a paddling log that outlines personal experience outlined above.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Landsports

Most landsports staff teach more than one activity. This position involves a vast opportunity to instruct as well as the ability to improve your personal skills. From teaching the basics to a younger camper or an advanced skill to an experienced athlete, a staff member must be flexible and patient.

In addition to all the regular training, Falling Creek provides a landsports specific orientation.

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Riflery

The Riflery staff provides quality firearm instruction and oversees safety on the range. Falling Creek teaches appropriate riflery skills in a controlled environment with .22 rifles. We offer instruction in prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing positions at 11 shooting stations.

In addition to the regular training, Falling Creek provides NRA instructor training in May, prior to the all-staff orientation.

In addition to the regular responsibilities of camp counselors, Riflery staff will be responsible for planning their program for the summer.

A preferred candidate should be patient in stressful situations and should be comfortable around guns. No experience with rifles and guns is required, but highly preferred.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Mountain Biking

Campers in the Mountain Biking program start with a bike prep and progress up to camp rides that lead to a series of out of camp rides and overnight trips. Falling Creek also has an extensive on property trail system - complete with several technical single track elements - as well as 250 acres of camp property.

We are looking for staff with a wide range of mountain biking skills, which are willing to teach, plan and lead biking trips, maintain the camp's bikes, and improve personal skills. The Mountain Biking program is progression based for staff as well, meaning that as your comfort level and proficiency within our program increases, so do your responsibilities.

In addition to all the regular training, Falling Creek provides a mountain bike specific orientation in May, prior to the all staff orientation.

Preferred candidates should have knowledge of mountain biking and difficulty of the terrain specific to Western North Carolina, East Tennessee and the Upstate of South Carolina. Mountain Biking Recreations areas in clued and not limited to are: Dupont State Forest, Pisgah National Forest, Tsali Recreation Area, Fontana Village, Mills River, and the Greenville Watershed.

All members of the Mountain Biking staff must be certified in Wilderness Advanced First Aid* or higher (WFR, WEMT) and CPR by a nationally recognized certifying organization. Preferred candidates should have knowledge of biking and bike maintenance experience.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Music

The Music program at Falling Creek teaches campers to play a wide variety of instruments. We are looking for staff with a wide range of musical skills who are interested in teaching what they know about music to the campers. Whether you are teaching the basics to a younger camper or expanding the horizons with a more experienced musician, a staff member must be flexible and patient.

The Music program is progression based, meaning that as your comfort level and proficiency of instruction within our program increases, so do your responsibilities. Campers that participate in the music program also help perform for Morning Assembly, Church and Campfire programs. For the past few summers, the following instruments were used as part of the progression and music program: Guitar, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, Piano, Dulcimer and Acapella singing.

In addition to the regular responsibilities of camp counselors, Music staff will be responsible for planning their program for the summer.

A preferred candidate should have an extensive amount of experience teaching individuals how to play an instrument and read music. Music and Music Education graduates and majors highly preferred.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Sailing

The Sailing program is progression based as campers learn the appropriate knots, sailing terminology, rigging, and, finally, how to sail. Falling Creek's sailing facility is located about 10 minutes from camp on Lake Summit with 300 acres and 10 miles of shoreline. Our fleet is comprised of Sunfish and Picos. We have one 16-foot sailboat.

We are looking for staff with a broad knowledge of sailing, either basic or advanced, who are interested in teaching what they know about sailing to the campers. The program is progression based for staff as well, meaning that as your comfort level and proficiency within our program increases, so do your responsibilities.

In addition to the regular responsibilities of camp counselors, swimming staff will be responsible for planning their program for the summer.

In addition to all the regular training, all members of the sailing staff are required to be lifeguard certified (including waterfront). If you are not lifeguard certified, we provide an American Red Cross Lifeguard certification course prior to All Staff Orientation.

Visit our How to Apply page to apply for this position.

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Swimming & Lifeguarding

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