Dates, Benefits & FAQs
Once you are hired Timber Lake West, we’ll email you a lot of information to help prepare you for the summer of a lifetime! We will also set up a Staff Group on Facebook so you can start to get to know some of the other staff members coming to camp and possibly arrange to travel together to camp or meet up at one of the New York metropolitan airports. Below are various tips and hints from former counselors, to give you a better understanding of what you will need to bring and an idea of camp life in general. Feel free to contact us with any other questions you may have.
2025 Staff Dates
Staff Arrival: Thursday, June 19th
2025 July Session
- Camp Begins Saturday, June 28th
- Visiting Day Saturday, July 12th
- Camp Ends Friday, July 25th
2025 August Session
- Camp Begins Sunday, July 27th
- Visiting Day Saturday, August 9th
- Camp Ends Tuesday, August 19th
Programs & Benefits
The camping experience is invaluable to both campers and staff – but only with your efforts, love, energy and enthusiasm. It’s a place where counselors meet new friends, learn about themselves, determine careers, and in some cases, meet their future husband or wife. One thing is certain – it is an experience that will stay with you throughout your lifetime.
Pay Scale
| College Year Completed | Salary | Travel Allowance | Max Bonus | Total Potential Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Students | $3,000 | $500 | $600 | $4,100 |
| Group Leaders | $3,200 | $500 | $600 | $4,300 |
Bonuses
At Timber Lake West, we have developed a very comprehensive evaluation and bonus program. Based on job performance, bunk counselors can earn up to an additional $600 in Bonuses.
Travel Allowance
If you live more than 350 miles away from camp and are an American, you can get up to $500 to help cover your travel expenses. Canadian staff can receive up to $600 to help cover their travel expenses, work visa and SEVIS fee. Make sure you retain all receipts to submit them to our office once you arrive at camp!
Staff Recruiting Bonus Plan
We’re looking for top quality staff for next season and we’d like our returning staff to help us. For every college student that you recruit, we will pay you a cash bonus of $300 at the end of the summer. The staff member that you recruit must complete the summer in order for you to earn your bonus. Please have your friends apply online (and make sure they tell us that you recommended them).
Day Off / Time Off
Time Off/On Duty
All counselors typically have one period off each day and three or four evenings a week from 9:15pm until curfew to unwind. Two to three nights each week, every counselor must take an OD (on-duty) shift, watching his/her bunk at night from the end of Evening Activity until counselor curfew. Additionally, the entire staff is on camp every Saturday night for a staff meeting, including a snack and a host of organized sporting events only for staff.
During time off, counselors and other staff may use the camp facilities as long as it does not interfere with ongoing camper activities. Waterfront facilities are available only when a qualified lifeguard is on duty. The Canteen (snack bar) is open every night from 9:00 PM to 11:15 PM. We also provide transportation to town most nights of the week for the staff. In addition, on days off, we will do our best to reasonably accommodate staff needs for rides into and out of town. Information regarding camp transportation will be provided for you during Orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Timber Lake West is located in Roscoe, NY, in the Catskill Mountains. We are approximately 2.5 hours northwest of New York City and 3 hours from Philadelphia. We are one hour East of Binghamton, NY and less than an hour West of Middletown, NY
Each session at Timber Lake West is FOUR WEEKS. All of the campers arrive and go home together. Each session has a different set of campers. We hire all of our staff for both sessions.
By Plane: The closest airport to camp is NEWARK AIRPORT. Please reach out to the camp office PRIOR to booking any flights.
By Bus: The Short Line Bus Company will bring you to the closest stop, Monticello, NY. You can reach the Short Line Bus Company at 201-529-3666 or 800-631-8405. The buses run from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 41st Street and 8th Avenue in New York City (Manhattan). The charge is approximately $40 one-way. BUS SCHEDULE
Once you board the bus to Monticello, please call the camp at 845-439-4440 to arrange to be picked up. We will send a van to pick you up. Please advise our Office in advance of your travel plans so that we can more easily coordinate your pick up time.
By Car: Take a look at our Traveling to Camp page.
Mornings and evenings may be cool, while the daytime temperatures are usually in the 70’s and 80’s (Fahrenheit)
After arriving at camp you will complete a week of Orientation, which will cover all aspects of camp and what will be expected of you. This also gives you an opportunity to get to know the other counselors and staff. Orientation will give you some useful advice in order to deal with various situations you may come across at camp.
Orientation can also give you a chance to pick up all the necessary items you will need for the summer or were unable to bring with you. There is generally a trip to Wal*Mart or the Mall, which stocks everything from clothing and toiletries to bedding. It is advisable to take smaller sizes of toiletries to reduce luggage weight and buy more when you arrive at camp. Other items you may wish to purchase once you’ve settled at camp include:
- Bedding — sheets, blankets — bed in a bag is a great bargain
- Egg Crate for your bed
- Flashlights
- Water
If it’s your night off, you will be free after evening activity ends (around 9:15pm) until 12:30 am. You will have a variety of options available to you of what to do, including:
- Shopping
- Movies
- Going to get something to eat
- Staff may just want to stay in camp and relax. Staff can use the staff lounge to watch movies and use the computer facilities
- All staff must be back on camp and in their bunk by 12:30am. All staff members have 6 days off over the summer which run from 9:15pm the day before until 12:30am on your day off. This is your free time, so take advantage of it. You can stay in camp but remember camp life will still go on around you. Many counselors will leave camp for the night and stay in a motel, go out for the evening, go to the movies or out for a meal etc. The next day can be spent shopping, at local beaches or lakes, or doing some sight seeing. Ask at the office for other ideas for days off, or consult the Days Off Page
All that’s left to say is you will have a great summer, enjoy it and have lots of fun!!! It will be a summer of a lifetime for you!
