| About Eagle's Nest Foundation and Community | ||||
| Staff Slideshow | ||||
| Camp Alumni | Employment Policies | Dress & Appearance Code | FAQ | |
| 2008 Summer Job Openings | How to Apply | |||
Frequently Asked Questions
for Potential Staff
- Where will I live while I am at camp?
- What about staff training?
- Does Eagle's Nest have a religious affiliation?
- What kind of time off will I receive this summer?
- What is the salary for summer staff at Eagle's Nest?
- What will I be teaching?
- Who are the other staff members?
- What are the campers like?
- What are the facilities like?
- What do people do on their days off?
- Where is Eagle's Nest?
- What's the weather like at camp in the summer?
- Is there a dress and appearance code?
Where will I live while I am at camp?
The majority of our staff are cabin counselors, and live in cabins with the campers and at least two other staff members. Each cabin counselor has a single bed and space for their personal things. The cabins are fully screened “open air” cabins with bathrooms inside the cabin. Other staff and administration live in separate staff housing on campus.
You will find yourself greatly inspired by our week-long orientation period for all staff. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together and learn more about the mission of Eagle's Nest, the community we aim to create and uphold, and ways in which we can nurture and teach the campers who are attending during the upcoming summer.
Some of our programming staff such as the rock climbing staff, the canoeing staff, the horseback riding staff, and the kitchen staff will need to attend additional clinics or orientations that will take place prior to All Staff Orientation. These three- four day clinics cover additional information about the policies and procedures for the program in which they will be teaching.
Does Eagle's Nest have a religious affiliation?
Eagle's Nest is entirely independent and welcomes people of all faiths. We pay full attention to ceremony, music, mystery, and things greater than ourselves. Particularly, this occurs in a Sunday Friendship Circle, in the dining room and in our all camp Indian Village ceremonies and meetings. We feel that these ceremonial structures are healthy and nurture a sense of belonging.
What kind of time off will I receive this summer?
Working for Eagle's Nest requires a great deal of energy and commitment. We realize that time off is necessary for staff to reset and recharge. Staff members are given a minimum of two hours each day in which they are not obligated to specific duties. In addition, camp provides 24 consecutive hours off per week and one night off per session (roughly 6:30pm-12am).
What is the salary for summer staff at Eagle's Nest?
Eagle's Nest's salaries are above or comparable to other ACA-accredited camps. The range of payment is $190 to $350 per week. Salary is figured for each staff member according to experience and certifications. In addition, room, board and laundry are provided, as well as workers' compensation for time on duty.
You will be teaching three or four activity periods each day, either as the “lead” instructor or in an assistant role. Eagle's Nest offers a wide range of activities, including arts classes, athletics classes, wilderness classes, and “special” classes that are often created by our inspired staff members. During the application and interview process, you will have the opportunity to express the types of classes that you are most qualified for and interested in teaching. We hope for all staff to have the opportunity to teach a variety of classes throughout the summer.
Who are the other staff members?
Our wonderful staff is made up of talented people from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and Eagle's Nest experience. Many of our staff members are brand new to Eagle's Nest and are from all over the country and the world. Still others have been members of the Eagle's Nest community in some capacity (either attending camp, The Outdoor Academy, or Hante Adventures) and continue to come back to be a part of our community. The majority of staff members are in college, yet we always have several who are through with school and simply
looking for another adventure and teaching opportunity! Most of our staff members are 20 - 26-years-old. Almost all of our staff members have a background that includes experience in teaching, working with children, and / or working in community service.
Our campers are predominantly from the southeast, although we do have campers from all over the United States and several countries abroad. The campers range in age from 6 to 17 years old, with the most concentrated ages being 9 to 14 years old. Campers are from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, with several campers receiving scholarships throughout the summer. As we are an independent camp, we have campers representing many different religious beliefs and backgrounds. Families who choose to send their children to Eagle's Nest are supportive of our mission and seek to promote the positive growth of their children through community living and responsibility. They are also excited to give their children the opportunity to spend 1 -3 weeks living simply (away from computers and cell phones) surrounded by, and immersed in, the beauty of the natural world.
Our cabins are spacious and breezy, especially since the advent of a rebuilding program. The equipment varies according to the activity and is quite good and expanding. Eagle's Nest boasts of enough whitewater boats for 30 people in an excellent paddling school, a first class climbing school with nearby rocks and a climbing wall, wheels and kilns (including raku) for ceramics, a small open air theater for our musical and drama performances, a cozy old lodge with a fireplace for dances and other all-camp activities, musical instruments, a new dance studio, large stables, an excellent soccer field and tennis courts, plentiful backpacking equipment, a new photography dark room, large open-air arts and crafts and wood craft sheds, a swimming lake, two gardens (one small intensive and one production garden), a comfortable new staff lounge (with wireless access and computers for staff use), and beautiful woods, meadows and trails on 175 acres in our valley at the confluence of the Little and French Broad Rivers.
What do people do on their days off?
There is a great amount to do in the surrounding areas during your time off. Most staff members spend time with other staff that share their same time off and go off campus to explore Brevard, Hendersonville, and Asheville. These areas are great places to catch a concert, festival, movie or meal throughout the summer. There are also multitudes of campsites, day hikes, and waterfalls to enjoy in the surrounding areas, as well as an array of neat shops and restaurants to visit.
Eagle's Nest is located in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The Southern Appalachian Mountains, or the Blue Ridge as it is often called, is a beautiful region. It is very green and lush thanks to the gracious amount of rainfall that we can receive in our area. Our camp is nestled into a river valley close to the Pisgah National Forest. In less than a hour, you can drive to a number of spectacular waterfalls, to a scenic highway called the Blue Ridge Parkway (from which you can see amazing views), to cold rushing rivers and excellent climbing sites.
Eagle's Nest is located in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina on 175 acres among the foothills of the Pisgah Forest range. Although Eagle's Nest is in a rural setting, the city of Brevard is less than 10 minutes away by car (Eagle's Nest also has a couple of bikes that you can use to pedal into town or on trails near camp). Brevard is a small town that is becoming increasingly popular with tourists and staff. In Brevard there is small movie theater, restaurants, bookstores, a college, a library, and a Wal Mart. The larger city of Ashevilleis about a 45-minute drive away. Asheville is also a popular tourist and staff destination as it is filled with good restaurants, cute shops, large movie complexes, live music, etc. The closest airport to camp is also located in Asheville, as is the Greyhound bus station. Other large cities near camp include Charlotte, NC (major metropolitan area about 2 hours drive), Atlanta, GA (another major city about 3 hours way), and Nashville, TN (home of country music about 5 hours away).
Eagle's Nest will pick up staff members arriving by bus or plane to Asheville.
View Larger Map and Driving Directions
What's the weather like at camp in the summer?
The climate at camp is very pleasant. Nights can get quite chilly (it can reach around 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit) and afternoons can get quite hot (in the 90-95 degree Fahrenheit range). We also get a fair number of afternoon thunderstorms