Our Culture
College Settlement’s culture is progressive, embraces diversity, and is rooted in deep seated traditions of treating people with dignity and respect. Our programs are carefully designed to be focused on quality, not quantity. Above all else, we value the positive connections and contribution each year’s staff and campers make. We do not run a “canned” program – instead, we encourage our staff to share their own experiences and skills to make each season unique.

Our Diversity
Our Camp Community is a very accepting one. We are tolerant of the differences among all people. We feel that the diversity among our campers and staff enhances the camping experience.

Our Impact
All of our summer program fees are heavily subsidized, thus ensuring that all children can afford to attend our camp. For many of our campers, College Settlement is the only opportunity that they will get to experience the joys of camp. Our staff leave at the end of the season knowing they made a HUGE positive impact on children and that their hard work and dedication was important and very much appreciated.

Our Outdoor School Program is also priced to keep the programs accessible to public schools. Our scholarship fund is supported financially by several local businesses who help teachers bring students to us for 1, 2 or 3 day field trips. Although COVID has momentarily paused this season, we are looking forward to fall.

All camp jobs are intense and require stamina and dedication – College Settlement is no different. We look for folks who can make good judgement calls, are hard working, self motivated, flexible, enthusiastic and prepared to dive into any and all activities that we offer. We recruit staff who will be positive role models, who are patient, compassionate and genuinely committed to the welfare and development of young people! We put together a fun, inspirational, very capable crew. Because of the rich diversity within our camp community, we welcome open minded and open-hearted staff members who thrive in a culturally vibrant environment.

Our ideal staff members exhibit enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, integrity, self-motivation and adaptability. They are collaborative, spontaneous, willing to be goofy but also have a good head on their shoulders! Our staff members treat others with respect, and work though the tougher moments treating everyone with dignity and grace.

• • We prefer a minimum of two years post high school, or 1 year of college or work experience, but we will consider those with less depending on position
  • Previous experiences working with children is essential
  • Positive role models with the ability to set great examples for their campers in a fun-loving setting
  • For specialized positions such as pool, trip, bikes, ropes or camper advocate positions – we require skill specific certifications and experience. Details of these specific skills can be found by shooting us an email or checking each individual job description.

Other than the great work environment and rewards of being able to make a real difference…

• Excellent resume building opportunity
• Culturally diverse environment
• Full room and board are provided throughout the season and during weekends off for overnight camp staff.
• We offer cabin and dorm type accommodations. Nutritious meals are cooked mainly from scratch.
• Vegetarian meals are always available.
• College Internship or Credit (call for details)
• Every other weekend off during summer session
• Local public transportation to Philadelphia and New York
• Opportunity to extend work into spring/fall/winter seasons

Read The Top 10 Reasons Why Working at a Summer Camp is Beneficial.

College Settlement’s beautiful 235-acre Horsham camp is conveniently located 15 miles outside of Philadelphia. Our 235-acre facility includes a 4-acre pond, wetlands, many small streams, meadows, fields and woodland trails. We also have a real organic farm on site run by partner organization Pennypack Farm. There are several pavilions, two nature centers, 2 dining halls/multipurpose buildings, and cabins for our Overnight Camp programs. We also have two swimming pools, both low- and high-ropes courses, a climbing tower and two tree houses. We also have Spruce Run Outpost, our 75-acre campsite in the Pocono Mountains which is used by our Teen Adventure Program as a base for hiking, camping and rafting.

Getting Here and Getting Around

Being centrally located, College Settlement is a great place to spend a summer. Staff members can bring personal vehicles or bikes to camp; and there is easy access to great local entertainment, and easy access to public transportation to Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Camp runs a regular shuttle to local train stations for staff.

Movie theaters and restaurants are a short 3-minute Uber ride away. We also have a fleet of staff bikes that can be used to get to nearby stores, restaurants and libraries.

For Fun…

As a College Settlement staff member, you’ll have the opportunity to experience MANY of the following: hike beautiful waterfall trails, mountain bike, climb, zipline, white water raft, catch dinosaurs, visit the organic farm, cook, paint donkeys, perform in talent shows and counselor fear-factor, lead night hikes, play in a famous camp band, wrestle chickens, get painted, make candles, speak other languages, learn cricket and rugby and hurling, star gaze, dance, sing, camp under the stars, make s’mores, tube the Delaware, invent new games, attend Philly sporting events, visit Philly (best city in the USA!) and have the best summer of your life.