About Eagle's Nest Foundation and Community

Eagle's Nest Camp and Hante Adventures are programs of the Eagle's Nest Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing experiential education programs for young people for over 80 years. Along with The Outdoor Academy (an academic semester school for 10th grade students which operates during the fall, winter and spring when camp is not in session) our Eagle’s Nest Camp and Hante Adventures work to provide a special place where campers, staff members and students find themselves belonging to a community of people whose mission is to promote the natural world and the betterment of human character.

Eagle's Nest Camp is small with a capacity of 158 campers each session. We maintain a quality program within a ratio of three or four campers to one counselor. Counselors live in the cabins with the campers and also teach activities in the wilderness, arts and athletics disciplines. Hante Adventures is a wilderness and cultural based advenutre program for teens interested in gaining wilderness skills and being part of a dynamic community. Each Hante has 8-12 participants and 2-3 instructors. Eagle’s Nest Camp and Hante Adventures are progressive programs which strives to provide fun and enriching growth experience for our campers and participants. When you read our literature, absorb our philosophy, and look at our varied lists of activities, you will get an idea of the many different ways to use your talents at Eagle's Nest. The opportunity is there; the making is up to you.

The most important activity of all at Eagle's Nest is not even listed on the activity sheet. This activity is the community life itself. Communal life is most closely experienced within the four walls of the cabins. Good cabin counseling is at the heart of camp life and counselors live in the cabins with the campers. Communal living is also found within our table families, tribes and activity groups. Community, and a place of belonging, exist throughout Eagle’s Nest. This strong sense of community is what leads many campers and staff members to consider Eagle’s Nest a second “home”.

In our camp community, attitude is very important as is a willingness to work hard, be flexible, be positive, and put the community first. It is also important to have a desire to support others and develop your own potential during the 9-weeks of residential summer camp. At Eagle's Nest you will need to be self motivated and hardworking; if you are, you will reap MANY rewards.

"I had a fantastic time this summer. I met and worked with some awesome people from across the globe and have never really worked in an environment where I can just start up a conversation with anyone that worked there. I believe that Eagle's Nest teaches great skills to both campers and counselors. A person learns key skills such as independence, leadership and develops a great surge in confidence. I really enjoyed developing different sorts of relationships with all types of campers. There were many great aspects of camp that I liked. I also enjoyed working [for people] whom I was never afraid to ask for help and talk to."

- International Counselor 2009

"Thank you for a truly meaningful summer. Camp allows folks to find their own strengths in concrete ways, grounding us, but also challenging us to excel. It’s incredible what you can achieve when you feel like someone believes in you. I think that I learned to be a good leader because you expected me to be one. I feel so much more confident, curious, and brave after this summer."

- Counselor 2009     

Application Process

Please complete the application of your choice with sincerity and close attention to details. The staff application is for those seeking to become a counselor or intructor in the Camp or Hante Adventures program. The support staff application is for those applying for positions as cooks or as members of our medical staff. The application form needs to be filled out in totality, and supplementary questions must be answered as well. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Once you have completed the application and agreed to the staff policies, please email the application to campprogram@enf.org.  We prefer emailed applications; however, if necessary, you can mail the application to our winter office in Winston-Salem:

Eagle's Nest Camp
PO Box 5127
Winston-Salem, NC 27113

Please review all of the camp materials before applying:

• Camp Employee Policies
• Dress and Appearance Codes
• FAQs

You should have a very clear understanding of our expectations of you as a staff member. All staff members need to be in agreement with all these codes and policies before applying to work at Eagle's Nest Foundation. On the staff application you will be asked to sign a statement that you agree to abide by these policies.

We begin receiving and reviewing new applicants in November/December and begin contracting new employees as early as December and late as April. Applications are received and reviewed until all spaces are filled. There is no deadline for submitting applications; however, it is best to apply in the winter.

Prospective 2010 applicants please take note: our staff for the summer is almost complete! As of March 25, 2010, we are primarily looking for experienced whitewater canoeists and English horseback riding instructors. If you meet either of these descriptions, please send in your application materials accompanied by a detailed description of your experience and training in the activity area. For applicants with other expertise: we do review every application we receive, but we do not anticipate hiring many more staff in other activity areas.

If you are selected for our staff you will receive a contract, a copy of the staff policies to sign, and several necessary forms including a medical form. The contract is a legally binding document and it is absolutely necessary that you be sure of your commitment to Eagle's Nest before signing. Contracts generally have a 10 day deadline for commitment. All forms and copies of your current First Aid and CPR certifications (required for all staff) must be on file at the Eagle's Nest office before April 15. Wilderness Instructors must have a minimum of Wilderness First Aid certification.