We are no longer accepting applications for DC, MD Strathmore and MD St Barts. We are still accepting applications for VA.
The Teen Apprentice program seeks responsible, mature and enthusiastic students to work with campers and teachers for the duration of camp. In the Teen Apprentice program young people, between 7th grade and graduating from high school, assist groups of campers, support teachers in the classroom, learn effective techniques for working with children and put their music and arts background to use. Teen Apprentices, or TAs, make sure that the campers are having the best time possible!
Dates and times of the Teen Workshop and Onsite Orientations are now available.
If you have experience in music, dance, art or theatre or like working with young children, this may be a perfect way for you to spend part of your summer. You’ll get to:
- Share your love of music and the arts with like-minded people in a stimulating environment
- Work with excellent teachers, help plan lessons and assist in teaching
- Develop leadership skills through training and practical experience
- Learn effective techniques for working with children
- Be a role model
- Collaborate with peers, administrative staff, teachers and campers
- Meet your school’s Social Service Learning (SSL) requirements
The Teen Apprentice program is divided into three age groups.
7th and 8th graders work in a classroom setting with PreK and Kindergarten campers. These apprentices stay in the classroom with a teacher and up to ten campers. TAs in these classrooms get a full-range of experiences as they participate in singing and music games, help with art projects, read books to the class, play on the playground and act as a helper for the teacher and a friend for the campers. Learn more about the day in the PreK and K program.
9th and 10th graders work with campers in 1st and 2nd grade and travel with them from class to class. These apprentices help the campers join in with each class and encourage participation by role modelling. Learn more about the day in the 1st and 2nd grade program.
11th and 12th graders work with the oldest campers in 3rd through 6th grade and travel with them from class to class. These apprentices help the campers join in with each class and encourage participation by role modelling. They also help the younger apprentices and take on more responsibilities across camp. Stipend positions are available to qualified applicants aged 16 and over. Learn more about the day in the 3rd through 6th grade program.
Teen Apprentices never work unsupervised and always under the guidance of the Teen Apprentice Coordinator, camp teachers and staff.
We have positions available in all camp locations. You can choose to work Half Day (9am-1:30pm) or Full Day (9am-4pm) and you must be available for the entire three-week session. Many of the youngest campers are at camp for a Half Day only so we do not need as many 7th and 8thgrade teens in the afternoon period.
Find out how to apply
The Program
Participating in the Teen Apprentice program helps you develop talents you'll need throughout life. From the application packet to the final performance, the program is designed to help you develop responsibility and leadership skills. You do not need to have been a camper nor musician to be a Teen Apprentice. You just need to enjoy music and young children (there’s a lot of both at camp) and be prepared to work hard to make sure that the campers get as much out of their day as they can. In the process, you will develop some resume-building traits and possibly the life-long admiration of your group of campers. It is you they look up to the most!
You will support all activities at camp including helping the campers make new friends, learn new songs and dances and stretch themselves as much as possible, and assisting the teachers in the classroom. Through this work you will learn how to effectively lead a group, develop practical techniques for working with children and peers and put your music background to use while demonstrating and sharing your talents.
There are several different jobs that an Apprentice might be assigned to. Since campers are divided into different groups between morning and afternoon classes Apprentices will often have a different type of assignment in the morning and the afternoon. Apprentices are also typically assigned in pairs so nobody has the full responsibility of a class alone. Some TAs are assigned to age-group classes as described above. Other jobs include:
Faculty/Classroom AssistantSome TAs are assigned to work with a specific faculty member and assist with their classroom activities. Remember, as all these classes and activities are designed for elementary school-aged children, you don’t have to be highly skilled at any of these areas to be a TA in the class, you just need an interest and the willingness to participate! Classes that have TAs assigned to them are:
Music (Orff) – TAs will help campers identify notes and learn rhythms on Orff instruments such as xylophones and metallophones and help campers stay on their own part when the group starts playing together. They may also rehearse small groups of campers independently.
Art – TAs will help campers create and complete their art projects, show campers how to use the art supplies properly, maybe teach a project, help the art teacher create the set for the final production and help with art room set-up and clean-up.
Musical Theatre – TAs will help the teacher lead the students in songs and choreography and will participate in all related games and activities. They may also rehearse small groups of campers independently.
Other classes that may have TAs assigned are Dance, Instrument Building, Snack and Games/Sports.
Extended Day
Some TAs come early and/or stay late to help work with campers enrolled in the extended day programs. Extended day has a mix of campers of all ages and TAs have some “down time” with the campers to read, draw, socialize and enjoy free play.
Application Fees
- 7th and 8th graders - $300 application fee. This fee is fully refunded if candidate is not accepted.
- 9th and 10th graders - $200 application fee. This fee is fully refunded if candidate is not accepted.
- Over 16 - no fee.
Withdrawal: Withdrawals must be made in writing (email is fine)! If registration is canceled prior to May 15, 2013, the fee will be refunded. Apprentices who withdraw after May 15 are responsible for the full fee. There are no refunds for absences.
Stipend Teens
Teens aged 16 or older can apply for one of our limited stipend positions. Stipend positions are very competitive and TAs who are receiving a stipend have extra responsibility. TAs cannot fulfil Social Service Learning hours if they are receiving a stipend. Stipend Teens should be prepared to:
- Work either extended AM or extended PM.
- Have an excellent understanding of how to read the schedule and the basic operations of the camp.
- Help train and mentor new and/or younger TAs.
- Rehearse TAs for their song in the final show(s).
- Fill in to help with any group or help in any class at any time.
- Assist with the weekly newsletter by writing an article and/or typing in hand-written entries from faculty and other TAs.
- Learn to use the copier machines and assist with print jobs.
Apprentices are managed by a Teen Apprentice Coordinator. Apprentices meet each morning with their coordinator to go over the day’s activities, identify and resolve any issues and plan for the apprentice performance (always a highlight of the final show).
The Montgomery County Volunteer Center approve our program for Student Service Learning. Read more about the program and how to apply for SSL hours.
Testimonials
What parents are saying:
“They could not be a nicer group of teens. Very helpful, mature, and awesome with the children!”
“The apprentices were very polite and good inspiration to keep my camper playing and practicing his instrument.”
“I thought all of the apprentices were fantastic – very well mannered – engaging with my daughter – always getting her excited for her upcoming day.”
“Thanks for all of your enthusiasm and joy. It’s contagious!”
"She's been coming to camp since she was 5 and hasn't stopped talking all year about applying to be an apprentice. She just can't wait!"
What apprentices are saying:
“I love knowing that through the work of the camp, and the little bit that I contributed, there are more children who love music, singing and art. Thanks to your program I faced my unreasonable doubts about working with young children, and now enjoy prospects of helping at summer camps again.”
"I have learned from camp how good I am at being a leader and how much I enjoy taking care of kids. Watching my group of campers successfully learn a song or master a dance gave me such a proud feeling; by the end of the three weeks I felt like my campers had become my family. Through Levine, I have discovered that I love being responsible for kids, taking care of them, solving their problems, curing their injuries, and most of all, just being around them and talking to them."
"I resolved minor injuries, soothing them both physically and emotionally. I helped the children learn how to resolve disputes by listening, empathizing and explaining the hurt feelings the other child experienced and teaching them to apologize. I dried their tears and then, when appropriate, distracted them so that they could regain their composure and again participate in activities. I learned how to keep order and encourage the children to have fun. I learned that I was capable of taking charge, thinking clearly through chaotic situations and using creative ways to accomplish goals. I learned how to manage situations when many children were making demands of me at the same time. I learned I was comfortable in the role of leader."
What campers are saying:
"When I'm an apprentice, I'm going to be just like Bobby."
"I've been a camper since I was 3, then I'll be an apprentice and then I'll be the coordinator and that way I won't have to leave. Ever."
