Immersive Theater

Drama Instructor and Camp Counselor

Location: Nevada City, California (onsite housing provided)

Position Type: Full-time, seasonal

Compensation: $5,000 for May 12th-August 8th (required dates).

Additional paid work available April 1st-September 20th.

Benefits: Fresh organic meals, onsite housing, utilities, training, and numerous perks

Ready to channel your inner performer, embody a new character every day, and teach kids the art of drama while getting a truly unique experience? If you're passionate about theater, performance, and creativity—and want to combine that passion with meaningful work in an immersive summer camp environment—then we want you to apply for the Drama Instructor and Camp Counselor position at Camp Augusta

Join a vibrant 75-staff co-ed community that values challenge, personal growth, and the power of authentic relationships. We run nine weeks of camp with 100 campers ages 8-16.

Your Role as a Drama Counselor:

As a Drama Counselor at Camp Augusta, you can bring your dramatic flair to your choice of the 140+ clinics, 10 Immersive Theater evening programs, 50+ unique Story Experiences, and numerous camper's choice 'Playstations'. For your love of drama and theater, this could include drama and improv clinics, helping campers develop their own short plays, and even directing large camp-wide productions. And, yes, you'll get to play too—acting in skits, developing characters, and participating in Immersive Theater Programs that are anything but ordinary.

A typical day as a Drama Counselor includes:

• Cabin Engagement: Be the source of energy for your 5 campers with daily special wake-ups and evening connection-building activities, either ones from our database or new ideas from your head
• Skill Development: Teach basic acting techniques—voice projection, stage presence, character development—and help campers build confidence on stage.
• Play & Performance: Lead campers in theatrical games, skits, and creative activities, bringing your playful and silly energy to every session.
• Evening Programs: Take on character roles in immersive 100+ player games with skits, characters, soundtracks, game mechanics, and more. Help build this immersive camp magic.
• Story Experiences: Each cabin participates in one of 50+ unique Story Experiences each session, from "A Wizard Tries to Kill You" to "Escape Room for the Recently Deceased". Bring your own unique magic to these roles and create an unforgettable story experience for campers of all ages

What We're Looking For:

We're seeking a creative, energetic, and passionate individual with a love for the stage and a heart for working with kids. You don't have to be a Broadway star (though if you are, we'd love to have you), but you should be ready to dive into the joy of theatrical play and bring a sense of creativity, fun, and silliness to everything you do

Minimum Requirements:

To apply, you must:

• Be at least 19 years old by June 1, 2026.
• Be available for the full camp season, from May 12 to August 8, 2026 (Please inquire if your availability is within a couple of days of these dates).
• Complete 5-8 hours per week of pre-camp onboarding work leading up to your arrival (this curriculum equates to a free university-level course in communication/facilitation).
• Genuinely enjoy working with kids 8-16 years old (this is a must).

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 3 months or 100 hours of youth mentorship experience - ideally at a summer camp
• Creative hobbies and interests (circus arts, improv, music, dance) that you're excited to share

What You'll Get In a Summer at Camp Augusta

• 75+ hours of training in your choice of clinics from 140+ options, including drama & improv, Dungeons and Dragons, dance, kalimba, ukulele, circus arts, 30+ fine art clinics, weaponry, and challenge course. Take on new skills / hobbies Learn more here:
• $5000 salary, with all food and living expenses covered; walk away having saved a summer's worth of spending money. Additional paid work April 1st-September 20th.
• Unforgettable memories with a community of 75 lifelong friends from around the world (~35% international) you can visit and stay connected with.
• Summer in California Many staff spend time on days off and post-camp exploring the area (Reno and Lake Tahoe are 1.5 hours drive)
• 400+ hours of paid staff training - With ~120 hours of skill learning/practice and ~120 hours of 'doing camp' with staff. The remaining ~160 hours is the equivalent of 2 accredited courses in education / psychology (the curriculums were run / accredited at a University). You'll learn & live skills like:

Nonviolent Communication for fostering empathy and resolving conflicts, Flat Hierarchy and Sociocracy to support decision-making and community-building,

Emotional Intelligence and Humanistic Behavior Management philosophies to apply internally and with others,

Group facilitation and guiding children through deep, emotional experiences

• 9 weeks of closely supported experiential education in applying those learned skills (1:8 supervisor to counselor ratio)
• 3+ Certifications in first aid, CPR, and lifeguarding (optional) - ~$400 value, included
• Numerous opportunities for leadership advancement - if qualified, receive training in the summer for a program director role the following summer (various domains)

Overall, you will get a truly impactful summer of personal and professional growth. Staff routinely comment that Camp Augusta changed their life - from their relationships (outside of camp too) to their career competence to their sense of self. Staff in education and psychology offer that their training at camp augmented and exceeded their training in school.

By the end of the summer, your resume could read:

Theater and Drama Counselor - Camp Augusta Summer 2025

After 300+ hours of dedicated training in skills of facilitation and debriefing, empathic connection, 1st aid, and much more, I spent 9 weeks teaching campers basic acting techniques, such as voice projection, stage presence, and character development. I also coordinated and directed camp-wide theatrical productions and used drama and role-playing activities to teach campers important life skills, such as conflict resolution, empathy, and leadership..

More About Camp Augusta:

Camp Augusta is a 90 acre, solar powered nonprofit residential summer camp nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. We take 100 campers aged 8-16 at a time in cabins of 5. Our mission is to create a transformative and inclusive space where campers and staff alike can grow, explore, and experience the magic of the outdoors. We're committed to fostering a culture of curiosity, empathy, and acceptance where everyone is celebrated for their unique identity.

See more about the vision of our camp here:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Camp:

We aim to include and celebrate many facets of human identity – gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, race, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, and other aspects that make us unique. We are working to craft an inclusive culture founded on ideals of curiosity, honesty, empathy, and acceptance – a place where people are seen and acknowledged for their shared humanity as well as their unique individuality.

Read our full DEIB Statement here:

Ready to Apply?

• Step 1: Visit our counselor site to see the day schedule and core aspects of counseling:
• Step 2: Throw your wizard's hat in the ring with our 5 minute interest form:
• Step 3: Our team will reach out within 24 hours to schedule an Intro Chat to answer your questions about camp and talk about our application process.

Job Type: Temporary

Pay: $1,666.00 per month

Benefits:

• Professional development assistance
• Referral program

Application Question(s):

• Staff must be present for the entire summer, including staff training.

Will you be available to work the entire summer season: May 13th-August 9th, 2025?

If within a few days, inquire within via Indeed messaging.

• Will you be at least 19 years old by June 1st, 2025?

Note: This is a deal-breaker. If the answer is "no", do not apply.

• We require all staff to be up to date on recent vaccinations. Would you be willing to get a COVID booster - if eligible - at the beginning of summer employment?

Note: This is a deal-breaker. If 'no', do not apply.

• This job is a counselor job with a self-declared interest and emphasis in drama.

Have you read the Counselor Page ) to learn more about a day in the life of Augusta?

(Note: An initial application via the interest form on our website is preferred)

Experience:

• Youth Mentorship: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person