Drama Instructor and Camp Counselor
Location: Northern California (onsite housing provided)
Position Type: Full-time, seasonal (May 12th-August 8th)
Compensation: $5,000 + food, housing, utilities, training, and perks!
Ready to channel your inner performer, embody a new character every day, and teach kids the art of drama while getting a truly unique internship experience? If you’re passionate about theater, performance, and creativity—and want to combine that passion with meaningful work in an immersive summer camp environment—then we want you to apply for the Drama Instructor and Camp Counselor position at Camp Augusta!
By the end of the summer, your resume will reflect a transformative internship where you’ve had the opportunity to direct, perform, and guide children in the art of drama, while learning new skills in facilitation, group dynamics, and youth mentorship.
By the end of August, your resume could read:
Theater and Drama Counselor – Camp Augusta Summer 2026
After 300+ hours of dedicated training in skills of facilitation and debriefing, empathic connection, 1st aid, and much more, I spent 9 weeks teaching campers basic acting techniques, such as voice projection, stage presence, and character development. I also coordinated and directed camp-wide theatrical productions and used drama and role-playing activities to teach campers important life skills, such as conflict resolution, empathy, and leadership.
The Camp Augusta Difference
There are thousands of camps across the country, but none like Camp Augusta. Here’s why our staff return summer after summer and why we believe this is the most unique camp experience you’ll find in California:
- Selective Hiring: We hire only the top 20% of applicants, meaning you’ll be working alongside some of the best and brightest people in the field of youth development.
- Fresh, Organic Meals: Our meals are freshly prepared and made with locally-sourced, organic ingredients.
- Diverse & Creative Programming: At Camp Augusta, you’ll have the chance to select and develop 10-15 new activities to teach, from arts and crafts to drama and circus arts. As a drama counselor, you’ll get to shape and innovate our theatrical programming—bringing your ideas to life!
- 300+ Hours of Training: No other camp offers this level of preparation. You’ll get 3.5 weeks of in-depth training to ensure you’re ready to engage, educate, and have fun with our campers.
- Personal & Professional Growth: Beyond teaching drama, you’ll deepen your skills in empathy, facilitation, child development, and more, all backed by psychology-rooted philosophies developed by our camp director, a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology.
- Supportive Environment: With no more than an 1:8 ratio of counselors to campers, you’ll have a dedicated supervisor who focuses on your growth throughout the summer.
Dates & Benefits
Housing and meals are provided. Live in a cabin, yurt or treehouse! Meals are organic, locally-sourced and made fresh every day.
Staff must be available for our main season from May 12th – August 8th 2026, which means being at camp and ready by May 11th. Staff training is 3.5 weeks long followed by 9 weeks of main season camp. Opportunities are available to work pre and post season assisting with family camps and school groups before staff training (start of May) and after the summer (August and September).
The depth of training and ongoing professional support you will receive as a Camp Augusta staff member (in the realms of education, personal development and communication, and activity skills) can offer far-reaching benefits for many other parts of your life.
Your Role as a Theater & Drama Counselor:
As a Theater & Drama Counselor at Camp Augusta, you’ll have the unique opportunity to lead a variety of theater-related activities for children of all ages. This is a chance to build your resume in ways few internships can offer! You’ll be facilitating dramatic games, leading improv activities, helping campers develop their own short plays, and even directing large camp-wide productions. And, yes, you’ll get to play too—acting in skits, developing characters, and participating in Evening Programs that are anything but ordinary.
A typical day in your life as a Drama Counselor:
- Cabin Engagement: Be the source of energy for your campers with daily special wake-ups and evening connection-building activities, bringing a theatrical flair to everything you do.
- Skill Development: Teach basic acting techniques—voice projection, stage presence, character development—and help campers build confidence on stage.
- Play & Perform: Lead campers in theatrical games, skits, and creative activities, bringing your playful and silly energy to every session.
- Evening Programs: Take on character roles in camp-wide games and performances (think giant scavenger hunts, capture the flag, or even full-on circus performances) while building camp magic through drama.
- Story Experiences: Take the lead on adding Wish, Wonder, and Surprise to every camper’s time at camp! Each camp participates in a unique Story Experience from “A Wizard Tries to Kill You” to “Escape Room for the Recently Deceased”. Bring your own unique magic to these roles and create an unforgettable story experience for campers of all ages!
What We’re Looking For:
We’re seeking a creative, energetic, and passionate individual with a love for the stage and a heart for working with kids. You don’t have to be a Broadway star (though if you are, we’d love to have you!), but you should be ready to dive into the joy of theatrical play and bring a sense of creativity, fun, and silliness to everything you do!
Required Qualifications:
- Must be 19 or older by June 1st, 2026.
- Available from May 12th to August 8th, 2026.
- Ability to commit to 5-8 hours/week of pre-camp onboarding (prep work, training videos, and reading).
Must Have One of the Following:
- At least one summer of experience at a summer camp, OR
- Over 100 hours of direct mentorship or teaching experience with youth, OR
- A background in theater, drama, or related fields, with the intention to work with kids or pursue a career in education or theater.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A passion for acting, drama, and theater-making, and the ability to share that passion with campers.
- A GPA of 3.0+ with enthusiasm for learning and development.
- Creative hobbies and interests (circus arts, improv, music, dance) that you’re excited to share!
If you have internship requirements, we can almost definitely meet them.
The Camp Augusta Experience:
Living and working at Camp Augusta is an experience unlike any other. Here’s what we offer:
- Housing & Meals: Live in a rustic cabin, yurt, or even a treehouse! Meals are fresh, organic, and made on-site.
- Salary & Perks: Competitive salary with additional perks (certifications, staff discounts, and more).
- Training: 300+ hours of experiential training in group facilitation, child development, first aid, and specialized skills related to your area of focus (in this case, drama!).
- A Supportive, Collaborative Community: You’ll work with passionate individuals from around the world who share your love for working with kids and creativity.
See more about the vision of our camp here.
We aim to include and celebrate many facets of human identity – gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, race, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, and other aspects that make us unique. We are working to craft an inclusive culture founded on ideals of curiosity, honesty, empathy, and acceptance – a place where people are seen and acknowledged for their shared humanity as well as their unique individuality.
Read our full Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging (DEIB) Statement here.
Ready to Apply?
- Throw your wizard’s hat in the ring with our interest form to let us know you’re interested, or send us an email at applications@campaugusta.org.
- Our team will reach out within 24 hours to schedule an Intro Chat.
- Complete your full application and get ready for an unforgettable summer!
You can also read more about us and our open positions on our website. We can’t wait to meet you!
Find Out More About Augusta
- Check out our website
- Connect with us on Facebook!
- Follow us on Instagram @camp.augusta
- Give us a call! 530-265-3702