Head Counsellor Roles (Leadership Team Role)

The Head Counsellor position is a key leadership role at Camp Cooper. You’ll help oversee all aspects of camp life — supporting counsellors, guiding campers, and helping ensure every day runs smoothly and full of fun. This is the perfect opportunity for someone looking for a new challenge and a chance to take on more responsibility at camp.

Who we're looking for

We’re looking for experienced Camp Counsellors or Youth Workers who are ready to step into a leadership role. Head Counsellors are passionate, organised, and caring leaders who are eager to share their experience and help others grow. You’ll be a mentor, role model, and coach to our Camp Counsellors — helping them build confidence, develop key skills, and create unforgettable experiences for their campers.

Key responsibilities include managing counsellors, cabins, and the pastoral care of campers; overseeing and supporting the elective programme to ensure activities run smoothly, equipment is organised, and daily debriefs happen with activity counsellors; assisting with the general running of camp and contributing to logistics, daily schedules, and camper well-being; and leading by example by fostering teamwork, positivity, and Camp Cooper spirit. You’ll also need to be ready to step in wherever needed, take initiative, and add as much magic to camp as possible.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience as a Camp Counsellor or in youth work or leadership, strong leadership, communication, and mentoring skills, and a team-oriented attitude. Most importantly, they’ll be excited to make a difference and help shape an unforgettable summer for staff and campers alike

Head Counsellor Key responsibilities

• Managing Camp Counsellors 
• Running Staff Meetings
• Dealing with camper issues - e.g. homesickness, arguments, challenging behaviour
• Scheduling activities
• Helping run large events
• Helping in the office and organising Camp logistics
• Writing and giving staff evaluations
• Helping with all aspects of Camp
• Responsible for the elective activity programme
• Responsible for the curriculum for electives 
• Support the counsellors in the delivery of the elective activities
• Ensure we have equipment in place for electives
• Debrief with activity counsellors
• Ensure electives are safe

Other duties to be assigned as required

About You

Candidates must demonstrate the following skills and characteristics:

Essential:

• Experience working directly with groups of young people aged 7-17
• Have or are willing to obtain a first aid certificate
• Fluent in English
• Ability to be a positive role model for young people
• Ability to lead training sessions 
• Experience working in a fast-paced and demanding environment
• Maturity to be responsible for the care, well-being and safety of young people
• All applicants must successfully pass full background and reference checks

Beneficial:

• Experience of working with young people from a range of nationalities
• Experience working at a summer camp

Wages and Work Schedule

Staff are scheduled to work approximately 8.5 - 10.5 hours per day and work schedules will be available a week in advance. Wages are paid via bank transfer and are usually paid in two instalments, one at the end of your first month (August 1) and the other shortly after the end of camp. Underneath are the gross wage amounts before taxes - National Insurance and PAYE deductions (deductions are based upon your current tax codes). The amounts below already include the government accommodation & food deduction allowance of £9.10 per day. Our 2026 Head Counsellors will be paid the following amount for a 7-week role (this includes a 6-night residential staff training period). 

• Head Counsellor £4700

Staff returning for another summer at Camp will receive a £150 bonus. However, this will come with extra responsibilities.

Time Off

We know how important it is to recharge and take care of yourself.  We work hard to give staff as much time off as our programming will allow. Camp Cooper is run on two-week session schedules and staff get 2 full days off during each 2-week session. Staff also get a day off at the end of each 2-week session. We will try to accommodate as many time-off requests as possible and we always accommodate special time-off requests such as for weddings and graduations. 

Staff also get an assigned work schedule of approximately 10 hours per day. When you are not working, this is your own time to do as you please - to chill, exercise, make phone calls home or explore the local area, whether that be a beach walk at Edinburgh or exploring the vast woodlands in Crieff. 

We encourage staff to make the most out of their summer working by going on as many adventures as possible on their time off. We can point you in the right direction regarding places to explore or adventures to be had in the local area.

Dates

Summer Contract Dates (For Crieff and Edinburgh)

Start Date: Saturday June 27, 2026. Arrival time 10am

End Date: Saturday August 15, 2026. Departure time 4pm 

These dates include our mandatory staff training period

Unfortunately, we are unable to hire Head Counsellors staff who are unable to start on Saturday June 27, 2026 for staff training. 

Professional Development

From the interview process to staff training, all the way to end-of-session feedback, the skills you learn while working at Camp Cooper are invaluable. Staff not only learn how to work with children in a professional capacity, but also increase their communication, time management, organisation, and conflict resolution skills. 

We are also happy to write references and letters of recommendation upon request.

Good Food

We provide three meals a day, seven days a week for our staff, and we are able to accommodate most food allergies and vegetarian diets. Our food is home-cooked with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. We pride ourselves on having healthy, nutritious, and delicious food for our campers and staff.

A Place to Live

Don’t worry about having to pay rent this summer! All staff are provided with a clean, comfortable room to sleep in while they are employed. Rooms, more often referred to as cabins are usually made up of 3 to 6 counsellors. We, unfortunately, cannot accommodate couples sharing accommodation or guarantee anyone having their own room.

Staff Training 

Our intensive staff training week is a critical part of Camp Cooper. We set the tone for the summer and learn how to create a fun and positive atmosphere, how to run creative activities and how to ensure the campers are safe.

Staff training will be based in central Scotland, and the location details will be made available in due course. Staff from both Edinburgh and Crieff will come together for an epic training week

Staff training is fully residential, and by the end of the 5-day period, staff will have made firm friends with each other and will be confident in being an EPIC Camp Cooper Counsellor.

Apply Now For Summer 2026

(opens Dec 1, 2025)