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Friendly Pines Camp

Staff FAQ

We accept applicants that are at least 18 years old and have been out of high school for at least one year. This post-high school experience can be working, university, or a gap year. 

We sometimes hire 17 year olds to work in our kitchen. Email megan@friendlypines.com for more info.

We are only 6 miles from Prescott, Arizona in the Bradshaw Mountains. We are approximately 2 hours from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. 

 

The camp has the feeling of being secluded and remote; our property is roughly 120 acres, and most of it is undeveloped pine forest. Most of the buildings sit on 35 acres. Our ropes course and lake is on the remaining acreage, which is also used for camping and hiking. The camp is bordered on two sides by the Prescott National Forest. 

Staff members will receive eight, 6-hour evenings off, one, 14-hour day off, and five, 24-hour days off throughout the 9 weeks of employment.

 

For the evenings off, you are free to leave starting at 5PM, and you must check-in by 11PM. There can be absolutely NO alcohol or drug consumption on evenings off–this is a fireable offense.

 

At the end of certain weeks, counselors will receive a full 24-hour day/night off. Your day off is yours to enjoy, you’ll have earned it! You are free to leave camp, visit the Grand Canyon, go tubing on the Salt River, watch movies, or whatever. You are required to promptly check in the next day in order to prep for the next round of campers.

 

Additionally, FPC will endeavor to give staff members on-site free time away from campers for a couple hours most days. 

ou will receive a paycheck twice a month. Your final paycheck will be issued on the next scheduled pay date following your last day of work.

Most staff opt for direct deposit by submitting a direct deposit form to have their paychecks deposited directly into their bank accounts. Alternatively, you may choose to receive a physical check.

Please note that we are unable to offer direct deposits to international banks at this time. However, we are in the process of partnering with a company that facilitates direct deposits for international staff members. If you opt for receiving a physical paycheck, it will be your responsibility to cash the check. In exceptional cases, you may request that we cash the check for you; such requests must be made with at least 3 days' notice to ensure timely payment.

Yes! Normally, our internationals make up about ⅓ of our counselor staff. Counselors come from all over the world. We've had counselors from England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Spain, Wales, among others! 

 

If you are not a permanent resident of the United States, you must initially apply through one of the many international placing organizations available, and not through FPC's website. We are unable to consider international applicants unless they use one of these services because of visas and government paperwork. Camp America and Camp Leaders are two agencies that we use to hire international staff members.

 

If you have already applied to one of these agencies, shoot us an email to direct us to your profile on the agency's website! You can also ask your sponsor agency to add your profile to our reserve list. 

 

If you are a dual citizen, and one of your passports is American, please contact Megan at megan@friendlypines.com to discuss your options.

Some of our best counselors have had zero camp experience before Friendly Pines. Responsibility, character, and judgment can be far more valuable than previous experience in camp life! 

 

Any sort of professional work experience is highly recommended; a job where you were regularly paid, filed taxes, and had a direct supervisor is preferred, rather than an informal job like babysitting cousins or siblings and being paid in cash. However, babysitting and other informal work experience is still very useful to have! 

Our smallest sessions will have ~120 campers, and our largest sessions will have ~200 campers.

 

Our staff is comprised of 45-50 counselors, and ~30-35 other staff, like admin, medical, kitchen, operations, maintenance, and office staff.

Rustic, but all of the cabins have electricity, hot water, and a full bathroom (toilet, sink, shower). Most have wooden floors and bunk beds, but size and layout varies.

 

Cabin sizes vary between 4 and 8 campers, depending their age; younger cabins will have fewer campers. Our campers range in age from as young as 5-6 year olds up to 13-14 year olds. 

 

All counselors will sleep in the cabin with their campers; i.e., there is not separate housing for staff if they are counselors. Each counselor will have a bookshelf-like storage unit as well as a twin-sized bed with a foam mattress. Sometimes these beds can be bunked, but for the most part they are just single beds for staff. Staff are required to provide their own bedding, and sleeping bags are required for the weekly "overnight" campouts. When you're in the cabin, you're welcome to use regular bedding, and bring stuff like a mattress pad, comforter, blankets, etc. 

 

Cabin size will also determine if a co-counselor will live in the cabin too. Most cabins will have just one counselor, but some will have a second staff member. 

 

We do not have air conditioning in the cabins, but all do have fans and screened windows.

 

An example cabin for boys, aged 10:

An example cabin for girls, aged 13: An example cabin for girls, aged 7:

Cell phones, along with any other electronics, are not allowed inside of cabins or in the main camp area AT ANY TIME, and can only be used while off duty. Friendly Pines Camp reserves the right to take steps to ensure that this policy is upheld--failure to comply can be grounds for dismissal.

Cell phone reception, although much improved over recent years, is still limited due to our mountain location. 

WIFI is available in the staff lounge, and many counselors bring their personal laptops with them.

ALL staff electronics should remain in the staff lounge. There are lockers provided, but you must bring your own combination lock. Locks can be purchased at a local store in town.

Our days at camp are BUSY! Scroll through a typical daily schedule below
7:00 AM
7:00 AM

Rising Bell

The Big Bell is used for wake-up and gathering at the benches

7:35 AM
7:35 AM

Flag Raising on Ball field

7:45 AM
7:45 AM

Breakfast

Typical full breakfasts may include:

  • Pancakes
  • Eggs
  • Hashbrowns
  • Cereal
  • Juice
  • Fruit
8:30 AM
8:30 AM

Cabin Clean-up

9:20 AM
9:20 AM

First Activity Period Begins

On the first day of camp, each camper will receive a personalized schedule of their activities. Every activity change will be signaled by the ringing of the “activity bell.”
 
10:20 AM
10:20 AM

Snack

Camp provides two nutritious snacks each day:

  • Fruit
  • Crackers
  • Trail Mix
  • Popsicles
10:30 AM
10:30 AM

Second Activity Period Begins

Some activities such as Challenge, Canoeing, Waterskiing, and Hiking require two periods and will bring snack with them.

11:30 AM
11:30 AM

Re-Group, Free time, & Clean Up for Lunch

Campers will re-group with their counselor and cabin mates at their designated meeting spots before heading back to the cabin. During free time campers can play games, ride the Bucking Barrel, visit the Library, prepare cheers and skits, and get cleaned up for meals. The Clean Up Bell lets everyone know it's time to get ready for the meal.

12:00 PM
12:00 PM

Lunch

Lunches at camp can include:

  • Soup
  • Grilled Cheese
  • Hamburgers
  • Chicken Sandwiches
  • Stew
  • Juice

At the end of lunch there is time for announcements and counselors lead camp songs 

1:00 PM
1:00 PM

Siesta

Every afternoon following lunch is Siesta. Campers and counselors retire to their cabins (or hammocks as a special treat) to rest, write letters home, and read.

2:20 PM
2:20 PM

Third Activity Period Begins

The afternoon activities begin after snack signaled by the “activity bell”.
 
3:30 PM
3:30 PM

Fourth Activity Period Begins

If campers want to change an activity their counselor will help them fill out the schedule change form at the Program Office.
 
4:30 PM
4:30 PM

Re-Group, Free time, & Clean Up for Dinner

PM Free time is when cabin groups will prepare for the evening activity, play games on the ball field, or hang out in the cabin and get ready for dinner.
 
5:15 PM
5:15 PM

Flag lowering on Ball field

5:30 PM
5:30 PM

Dinner

Friendly Pines Camp serves wonderful dinners like:

  • Chicken
  • Roast Beef
  • Spaghetti
  • Stir-Fry
  • Salad
  • Homemade Rolls
  • Plenty of Veggies
  • Homemade Dessert
7:00 PM
7:00 PM

Evening Activity

Some of our various evening activities include Games on the Meadow, Upper Village Picnic, Carnival, Rendezvous, Talent Show, Round Dance

8:10 PM
8:10 PM

Retire to Cabins & Get Ready for Bed

9:00 PM
9:00 PM

Lights Out

You'll need plenty of sleep before you do it all again tomorrow!

Most counselors will do it in town at one of the laundromats on their day off; however, you have the option to utilize the same laundry service that we use for the campers. It is sent into town and carries a per pound rate. All staff laundry bills must be settled before checking out for the season. 

Many of our counselors do not have a vehicle at camp; many of them do. We keep that in mind when determining the day-off schedule. Chances are you will choose to spend your time off with other counselors who are off duty. Chances are that many of them will have vehicles. If needed and with enough notice, we may be able to give you a ride and drop you off in town (the city of Prescott is a short 6 mile drive). Once we've dropped you, you'll need to find your own transportation around town, but give us a call when you are ready to get picked up and brought back to camp.

Arizona is one of the most geographically diverse states in the country. When people think of Arizona, they often think of hot, dry desert with scorching temperatures; however that climate is just one portion of the state! 

 

Friendly Pines Camp is nestled in the pine trees of the Prescott National Forest. At an elevation of 6,300’, the average high temperature is in the mid to high 80sºF (~29ºC) and the average low is 60ºF (~15ºC). The air is very dry. We do get some rain though! In late July, the annual monsoon season arrives with the possibility of thunderstorms everyday!

Yes! We are able to accommodate a wide variety of dietary restrictions (e.g. lactose-free, dairy-free), food allergies (e.g. gluten allergy, soy allergy), and special diets (e.g. vegetarians, vegans, pescatarians, no red meat). You will indicate any dietary restrictions or food allergies on your medical paperwork once you've been hired. 

 

We are a nut-free camp, so peanut and other nut allergy people will not need to worry! 

More questions?
Call (928) 445-2128 or email jobs@friendlypines.com