Junior Counsellor Program

Why this program?

We know that our campers are the people who love Brigadoon most and who are the most eager to get involved once they’re old enough. We’re always excited to welcome former campers back as volunteers or staff. However, the camper experience is very different from the staff or volunteer role, and that transition can be challenging without the right support. To set our former campers up for success, this program gives them the chance to learn—and practice—the skills required to thrive in a leadership role. It also allows our team to see them demonstrate these skills in real camp setting so we can coach, support their growth, and help determine whether a future staff or volunteer position is the right next step.

Even if participants don’t return to Brigadoon in a formal role, the experience they gain here is real-world professional development. They build skills in communication, teamwork, responsibility, and leadership that translate directly to school, work, and community involvement—wherever that path takes them.

Who is eligible?

This program is ONLY open to former Brigadoon Village campers who have graduated from one of our many Summer Camp programs.

The last year campers are eligible to attend camp is during the summer after graduating high school. During the following summer, we welcome former campers to apply for our Junior Counsellor Program. (Ex. Camper graduates from high school in 2024, attends camp as a camper during summer 2024, and applies for the Junior Counsellor Program during summer 2025).

Participants may not attend camp as a camper and take part in the Junior Counsellor program during the same year.

Participants may not participate in the Junior Counsellor program and apply to be a volunteer during the same year.

Participants are able to apply for and join us in the Junior Counsellor program for multiple years.

What are the program details?

This program will take place over three weeks. It will include:

Week 1 (Training Week – early June):

Participants join us for a dedicated training week where they learn how to support and care for campers and help facilitate fun, safe, and meaningful camper experiences. Throughout the week, they build practical skills in communication, teamwork, responsibility, empathy, and problem-solving—key components that prepare them for leadership roles at Brigadoon. During Training Week, participants will spend their days in sessions learning these skills and putting them into practice!

Week 2 (During Summer Camp – between July 6th – August 29th):

Participants will be assigned to a cabin group for the week. They will build rapport with the campers and further practice working with children, caring for them, meeting their needs, and helping deliver programming. They regularly check in with the Leadership and Volunteer Coordinator to get support and feedback on steadily improving these skills. At the end of the week, we’ll give them a sense of their strengths and areas of improvement to focus on when they return to join us again.

Week 3 (During Summer Camp – between July 6th – August 29th):

Participants return for a second week and are assigned to a new cabin group, giving them the chance to apply the feedback they received and use their skills with a group that may have different needs and dynamics. At the end of their second service week, review their performance, discuss their growth, and outline what we believe the best next steps are if they’d like to continue their involvement with Brigadoon.

When does the program take place?

The Training Week for the 2026 Junior Counsellor Program will take place in early June – stay tuned for the Junior Counsellor Training Week dates for 2026! Participants must be able to attend during this week to complete the program. Participants can then choose which other weeks of the summer would work best for them based on their availability.

When possible, we will avoid having participants join us for the week of camp they attended as campers (though we encourage staff and volunteers to return to the weeks they feel most connected to).

Where will I stay?

Participants in this program will stay in the staff rooms of the camper cabins with other staff or volunteers or in the staff bunkhouses along with other staff/volunteers, depending on the numbers and needs of our campers for that week.

What about my medical condition/dietary restrictions?

Participants in this program will be responsible for managing their medical conditions. We will support dietary restrictions, but campers will store and administer their medications and be responsible for managing any other treatments required while at camp. Please get in touch with us if you have questions about specific contexts.

What does the application process look like?

The application process will be as follows:

• Applications will be open March 1^st – 31st, 2026
• You will be contacted after you’ve applied to arrange an interview for the program
• After the interview, we will get back to you to let you know whether you have been accepted into the program
• We will confirm details, including which weeks work best for both parties.

What about the Summer Leadership Program?

This program is designed to be the next step for those who have already completed the Summer Leadership Program. However, participation in that program is not mandatory to join the Junior Counsellor Program. Though many of the same skills will be covered, the Junior Counsellor program will explore those skills more deeply.

The Service Weeks of the Junior Counsellor program will look different than those of the Summer Leadership Program. In the Summer Leadership Program, campers split their time between participating in programs as campers themselves with their cabin group and spending time as a mentor with a younger group. In the Junior Counsellor program, participants will not spend any of their time as campers or with campers in their age group but rather will spend the whole week working behind the scenes or in a younger cabin group.

Will I be able to volunteer or be a staff team member after completing this program?

Completing the program will make each participant more competitive in terms of being selected for volunteer or staff opportunities. We will see the skills necessary to succeed in the camp context. As campers, we don’t have many opportunities to see those skills in action.

At the end of the Junior Counsellor program, we will give each participant an understanding of what we see as their strengths and areas of improvement (if any) and recommend an appropriate next step.

Can I apply to volunteer or Staff Member without completing this program?

You certainly can. However, former campers must take a summer off between their last summer as a camper and applying to join us as a Volunteer or Staff Members. Completing the Junior Counsellor program is a way to remain involved during that summer, learn helpful skills to help you succeed as a Volunteer/Staff Member, and help us see your strengths in context.

If you are unable to do this program, we recommend that you find other volunteer or employment opportunities to help you build relevant skills that will make you a more competitive applicant in future years. If you would like suggestions for examples of activities and opportunities that we think would be helpful, don’t hesitate to contact us.