There’s a certain kind of summer job that doesn’t feel like work – one where you’re outside, active, and genuinely having fun. For college and high school students, a counselor role at Greater Midland summer camps can be exactly that. And the same qualities that make it a great job also make it a great experience for the kids attending. It’s an environment built around energy, safety and belonging.

Alec Finch knows this better than most. Six years ago, while majoring in education at the University of Toledo, he was drawn to a counselor position with Greater Midland because it offered something most summer jobs can’t: a dynamic, outdoor experience working with kids. What followed was two summers as a counselor, one as a lead counselor, and now the role of Full Day Camp Director.

When he’s not working with Greater Midland camps, Alec is a special education teacher at Dow High School – he recently earned his master’s degree in special education from Alma College. That kind of growth is exactly what Greater Midland camps are designed to foster, for campers and counselors alike.

For Kids: A Safe Place to Thrive All Summer

If you’re a parent weighing your summer options, here are some areas where Alec sees Greater Midland camps standing out.

• A great balance of energetic and low-key. “The camps are very active with a lot of time outdoors, but there is a wide variety of activities, so there is always something that connects with each camper,” Alec says. “The staff put together both high-energy programming as well as more laid-back games or crafts. And at the full day camps, there is a field trip each week.”
• Personal attention and safety emphasis. “While everyone is having fun, it’s also a very safe environment. There’s an excellent ratio of counselors to kids, so we can pay closer attention to what kids need and ensure everyone is participating safely.”
• Fun and engaging themes. According to Alec, the team evaluates themes each year, rotating new ideas in and familiar ones out. Themes include sports and aquatics, STEM learning, cooking and baking, and even movie/show themes like Star Wars and Pokemon. “We’re always trying to keep things fresh and interesting for kids.”
• Locations that work for you. Greater Midland summer camps are held at the Community Center, Coleman Family Center and North Family Center, providing an option close to home within Midland County.

For Counselors: Real Leadership, Real Responsibility, Real Fun

For students looking for a summer job that’s anything but ordinary, becoming a camp counselor at Greater Midland might be exactly what they’re looking for.

• Keeps you moving, keeps you coming back. “Being a counselor with Greater Midland is very active and very fun,” Alec says. “It gave me a chance to work with a big age range – now from ages 4 to 13 – and to work alongside other counselors who were enjoying the experience as much as I was. It’s just a blast, which is why I do it and why we see so many returning counselors each year.”
• A challenge that builds leadership skills. Counselors are responsible for managing large groups of kids and making sure they’re safe and having fun – Alec sees that responsibility as one of the biggest opportunities of the role. “It can be a challenge, but this is a real chance to grow as a leader.”
• An organization that invests in you. “When I have returning counselors, I try to give them more responsibilities – going into lead spots or assistant lead spots.” That added experience can pay dividends in the working world. One of his former leads went on to become a preschool teacher, and Alec says he remains in touch with her for ideas.

Whether you’re a young adult looking for a rewarding summer job or a parent searching for the right place for your child this summer, Greater Midland has something to offer.

View current job openings and apply by visiting our jobs page.

Browse summer camp options and register on our camps page.