Information for Summer Staff
What info can be accessed here:
How to access all pre-season forms/paperwork via CampMinder
Travel Information
How to set up an international banking account for your time in the US
Connecting with other staff before summer
Suggested packing list and other information to help us all prepare for the season ahead
Welcome to the Camp Hochelaga Team! We are so excited for you to join us at camp this summer, and hope you’ll be able to find all necessary information to help prepare on this webpage. If any questions arise that are not answered here, please always feel free to reach out to our Camp Director, Christine, at christine.perry@ywcavt.org
Beginning this season, all staff will be required to create an online account on CampMinder via our Staff Application Portal. This is where all essential paperwork will be stored for you to complete so that we can best support you (and also pay you) at camp this summer. Please complete this at your earliest convenience as you will not be able to begin your seasonal contract until all paperwork has been turned in.
If you have not yet applied through CampMinder:
Please follow the link & steps outlined HERE.
All Staff Paperwork must be submitted prior to arrival at camp. If you have any questions about how to complete certain forms or online trainings, please contact our Business & Operations Director, Jillian Aldrich, at jillian.aldrich@ywcavt.org.
REQUIRED Pre-Season Paperwork & Learning
Please also complete our
as soon as possible or by the end of April at the latest.
Travelling to Camp
We will have our own staff running airport, train and bus pickups for all incoming staff who need transport to camp. All pick-up locations are around a 30 minute drive away from camp.
If you are travelling from afar, we recommend flying into one of the New York City region airports, and then catching connecting transportation to Vermont. Transit options include:
Airplane to Burlington International Airport (BTV)
Amtrak train to Burlington Union Station or Essex Amtrak Station
Bus to Downtown Transit Center
As we are not able to support on transportation fees getting to camp, we are willing to run pick-ups at whatever incoming time is most reasonable for you. Please share all travel information with Christine once your plans have been made, and they will communicate with you prior to arrival to connect you with the staff member who will be picking you up.
When to Arrive:
We are planning our first all team dinner to kick off Staff Training Week on Sunday June 7 at 6pm EST. We would love if you’re able to join us for this. This year, we’ll be hosting our Centennial on the Campgrounds & an Open House on June 6, and we ask to please avoid arrival to Vermont on this day. International Staff especially are welcome to join us as early as June 1. There will not be scheduled activities at camp, and any time given to support setting up camp or preparing for the Centennial would be volunteer work. Meals will be provided, and we intend this extended arrival offering as a way to support folks adjusting to new timezones, new foods, new faces, new languages, and new climates.
End of Season Departure: When you are planning your departure for the end of the season, we ask all staff who are able to, to remain at camp through the night of August 15. On August 14, all campers will depart for the end of the season. We will take time from the end of their dismissal through dinner (around 6pm) on Saturday evening to tidy up camp, tidy up our living spaces, prepare for other groups who will be coming into the space, and of course spend some additional time together as a staff team before having to part our separate ways. For dinner on August 15, we will host a Staff Banquet to celebrate our summer. Staff who are local are invited to attend, even if you’ve had to return to school already.
Other Ways to Prepare for your Summer Ahead:
Setting up an International Bank Account Before you Arrive in the US:
We highly recommend setting up an international banking account prior to your arrive if you do not already have one (if you are an international staff member).
We recommend the following:
Setting up your bank account prior to your arrival in Vermont will help ensure that we can begin distributing your salary on-time. All YWCA Vermont employees are paid bi-weekly (every other week).
Connecting with Fellow Staff:
Plan your travel with someone else from your region or country, and begin connecting with all 2026 summer staff prior to your arrival.
Text Christine your name on WhatsApp (802.598.2366) or email them if a different communication platform would be preferred for your country or region.
Please note that during the summer, we typically use WhatsApp for primary staff communication off-radios.
Getting Ready for our Intense & Rewarding Season Together:
Seasonal Trainings & Other Resources will be added here soon!
Check out our Quick Guide to Life on Staff for more information, including our suggested packing list!
