Do I have the right kind of experience to work at Eagle’s Nest?
We hire many people with a wide range of experience! You don’t have to be an expert at everything to be an Eagle’s Nest counselor. Some of our staff are “generalists” who help teach a variety of different classes. We do like to hire people with extensive experience in particular areas, though. That could mean lots of experience playing, captaining, and/or helping coach a range of sports; it could mean being an expert in ceramics, woodworking, or horseback riding. Some of our wilderness staff have or are working on degrees in outdoor education or recreation, while others simply have strong training, experience, and certifications. We look at the whole applicant when we consider potential staff members.
However, we do have a few basic requirements and things that we look for in every applicant. All of our counselors are at least 18 years old and have been out of high school for at least a year (that is, they have a year of college, work, or gap year experiences). All of our staff must also have CPR and First Aid by the time orientation begins, though you can apply if you don’t have them yet. Experience working with children and youth, and a desire to continue doing so, is also key. For those who wish to be Hante Adventures trip leaders, we require extensive wilderness and/or international travel and leadership experience, and Wilderness First Aid and CPR at a minimum (WFR preferred).
Eagle's Nest Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disabling condition, or sexual orientation.
Where will I live while I am at camp?
The majority of our staff are cabin counselors, and live in cabins with the campers and at least two other staff members. Each cabin counselor has a single bed and space for their personal things. The cabins are fully screened “open air” cabins with bathrooms inside the cabin. Cabins have electricity and hot running water. Other staff and administration live in separate staff housing on campus. Staff members who bring a car will be able to park on campus, and we also have storage available for personal bikes.
What about staff training?
You will find yourself greatly inspired by our week-long orientation period for all staff. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together and learn more about the mission of Eagle's Nest, the community we aim to create and uphold, and ways in which we can nurture and teach the campers who are attending during the upcoming summer.
Some of our staff such as the rock climbing staff, the canoeing staff, certain other wilderness staff, the horseback riding staff, and the kitchen staff will need to attend additional clinics or orientations that will take place prior to All Staff Orientation. These four-day clinics cover additional information about the policies and procedures for the program in which they will be teaching. Eagle’s Nest offers a Lifeguard Training Course during this pre-camp time for waterfront staff and others who wish to become lifeguards. There is a fee for this clinic, though we make every effort to offer it at cost.
Does Eagle's Nest have a religious affiliation?
Eagle's Nest is entirely independent and welcomes people of all faiths. We pay full attention to ceremony, music, mystery, and things greater than ourselves. Particularly, this occurs in a Sunday Friendship Circle, in the dining room and in our all camp Indian Village ceremonies and meetings. We feel that these ceremonial structures are healthy and nurture a sense of belonging.
What kind of time off will I receive this summer?
Working for Eagle's Nest requires a great deal of energy and commitment. We realize that time off is necessary for staff to reset and recharge. Staff members are given a minimum of two hours each day in which they are not obligated to specific duties. In addition, camp provides 24 consecutive hours off per week, one night off per session (roughly 6:30pm-12am), and one "lunch out" (12:00pm - 2:15pm) per session. We have a comfy staff lounge with phones, computers and wireless internet access.
What do people do on their days off?
There is a great amount to do in the surrounding areas during your time off. Most staff members spend time with other staff who share their same time off and go off campus to explore Brevard, Hendersonville, and Asheville. These areas are great places for a concert, festival, movie or meal throughout the summer. There are also multitudes of campsites, day hikes, and waterfalls to enjoy in the surrounding areas, as well as an array of neat shops and restaurants to visit.
What is the salary for summer staff at Eagle's Nest?
Eagle's Nest's salaries are above or comparable to other ACA-accredited camps. The range of payment is $200 to $350 per week. Salary is figured for each staff member according to experience, certifications and responsibility level for the position. In addition, room, board and laundry are provided, as well as workers' compensation for time on duty.
What will I be teaching?
You will be teaching three or four activity periods each day, either as the “lead” instructor or in an assistant role. Eagle's Nest offers a wide range of activities, including arts classes, athletics classes, wilderness classes, and “special” classes that are often created by our inspired staff members. During the application and interview process, you will have the opportunity to express the types of classes that you are most qualified for and interested in teaching. We hope for all staff to have the opportunity to teach a variety of classes throughout the summer.
Who are the other staff members?
Our wonderful staff is made up of talented people from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and Eagle's Nest experience. Many of our staff members are brand new to Eagle's Nest and are from all over the country and the world. Still others have been members of the Eagle's Nest community in some capacity (either attending camp, The Outdoor Academy, or Hante Adventures) and continue to come back to be a part of our community. The majority of staff members are in college, yet we always have several who are through with school and simply looking for another adventure and teaching opportunity! Most of our staff members are 20 – 26 years old. Almost all of our staff members have a background that includes experience in teaching, working with children, outdoor leadership, and/or working in community service.
What are the campers like?
Our campers are predominantly from the southeast, although we do have campers from all over the United States and several countries abroad. The campers range in age from 6 to 17 years old, with the most concentrated ages being 9 to 14 years old. Campers are from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, with many campers receiving scholarships throughout the summer. As we are an independent camp, we have campers representing many different religious beliefs and backgrounds. Families who choose to send their children to Eagle's Nest are supportive of our mission and seek to promote the positive growth of their children through community living and responsibility. They are also excited to give their children the opportunity to spend 1 -3 weeks living simply (away from computers and cell phones) surrounded by, and immersed in, the beauty of the natural world.
What are the facilities like?
Our cabins are spacious and breezy, especially since the advent of a rebuilding program. The equipment varies according to the activity and is quite good and expanding. Eagle's Nest boasts of enough whitewater boats for 30 people in an excellent paddling school, a first class climbing school with nearby rocks and a climbing wall, wheels and kilns (including raku) for ceramics, a small open air theater for our musical and drama performances, a cozy old lodge with a fireplace for dances and other all-camp activities, musical instruments, a new dance studio, large stables, an excellent soccer field and tennis courts, plentiful backpacking equipment, a photography dark room, large open-air arts, wood craft, and blacksmithing areas, a swimming lake, two gardens (one small intensive and one production garden), a comfortable new staff lounge (with wireless access and computers for staff use), and beautiful woods, meadows and trails on 175 acres in our valley at the confluence of the Little and French Broad Rivers.
Where is Eagle's Nest?
Eagle's Nest is located in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The Southern Appalachian Mountains, or the Blue Ridge as it is often called, is a beautiful region. It is very green and lush thanks to the gracious amount of rainfall that we can receive in our area. Our camp is nestled into a river valley close to the Pisgah National Forest. In less than a hour, you can drive to a number of spectacular waterfalls, to a scenic highway called the Blue Ridge Parkway (from which you can see amazing views), to cold rushing rivers and excellent climbing sites.
Eagle's Nest is located in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina on 175 acres among the foothills of the Pisgah Forest range. Although Eagle's Nest is in a rural setting, the town of Brevard is less than 10 minutes away by car (Eagle's Nest also has a couple of bikes that you can use to pedal into town or on trails near camp). Brevard is a small college town that is becoming increasingly popular with tourists and staff from a range of camps in the area. In Brevard you’ll find a small movie theater, restaurants, bookstores, a library, and a Wal-Mart. The city of Asheville is about a 45-minute drive away. Asheville is also a popular tourist and staff destination, a unique small city with a wide variety of good restaurants, cute shops, live music, artistic and historical sites, and the like. It also has more typical urban resources like large movie theaters, a mall, etc. The closest airport to camp is also located in Asheville, as is the Greyhound bus station. Other large cities near camp include Charlotte, NC (a major metropolitan area about 2 hours drive), Atlanta, GA (another major city about 3 hours away), and Nashville, TN (home of country music, about 5 hours away).
Eagle's Nest will pick up staff members arriving by bus or plane to Asheville ONLY. Rental car agencies are available in Brevard, and arrangements can usually be made for pickups at car return offices.
View Larger Map and Driving Directions
What's the weather like at camp in the summer?
The climate at camp is very pleasant. Nights can get quite chilly (it can reach around 45 degrees Fahrenheit) and afternoons can get quite hot (in the 90-95 degree Fahrenheit range). We also get a fair number of afternoon thunderstorms.
