Fitness Instructor
Start Your ApplicationFitness Instructor Description
Our fitness program combines running, weight training, and circuit training, to build endurance, strength, confidence, and healthy habits. As a fitness instructor and camp counselor, you’ll guide the safe and effective use of weights, lead group workouts, and pace trail runs to improve campers’ stamina and strength. Weights and circuit training take place in Miller Lodge, while running takes place on the miles of trail across Falling Creek’s 900 private mountain top acres.
Fitness instruction is offered each weekday, and you’ll be coaching boys ages 6-16 years old with varying levels of fitness. Activity periods typically include warmups, trail runs, circuit training, weight lifting, or a group fitness session. Some campers will choose to join this activity as conditioning before their school sports begin, while others are just curious to learn new healthy habits. No matter their experience level, campers can improve their speed, strength, and stamina thanks to your coaching.
Save Your Spot
What’s a Typical Day Like For This Position?
Male camp counselors live in a cabin with one other counselor and eight campers. In addition to their activity instruction, male counselors will have an assortment of responsibilities related to the management of their cabin. Female camp counselors also serve as activity staff, but don’t live in cabins with the campers, and are responsible instead for organizational tasks during the times that male staff are busy with their cabins.
Each day at camp begins with waking up and gathering as a community at Morning Watch. Next we enjoy a hearty breakfast and an exciting Morning Assembly on the porch. Then it’s off to the first three activities of the day, followed by a period of Free Choice before lunch. On a typical day, each counselor will be assigned a specific area to supervise during one Free Choice period, and have the other Free Choice period to themselves as their “Self-Care Time”. Rest Hour happens after lunch, before the three activity periods in the afternoon. Then there is the second Free Choice period, dinner, and a fun Evening Program! A typical day ends with Milk and Cookies, followed by Evening Embers, a discussion time with your cabin mates to talk about the day’s adventures. Everyone is tired and happy by the time it’s Lights Out. On weekends, we take a break from our regular activity instruction, sleep in an extra hour, and play games as a whole camp community.
At Falling Creek, campers are free to choose the 6 activities they want on their daily schedule. Even though you might have 8 boys in your cabin who are the same age, you’ll be instructing a variety of ages and skill levels throughout the day in your 50 minute long activity periods.
Weight training takes place in the Lodge, where we have weights, mats, pull up bars, medicine balls, a punching bag, and a projector for occasionally following along to workout videos. You will help campers set goals and test themselves during their time at camp. The program includes circuit training, jump rope, cardio, resistance bands, ab workouts, and traditional fitness activities. Cross Country runs will take place on trails around camp. Developing healthy habits as a young man can last a lifetime, and campers of any level or ability are able to enjoy our many miles of trails at Falling Creek. In Cross Country, you might play tag, run relays, enjoy scenic trail runs, and even host 5k races during the session!
Need internship credit?
Many of our counselors who need internship credit to graduate don’t realize that they can earn that credit while working at camp! We can coordinate with your department to tailor a unique learning experience, and have set up internship credit across a wide variety of disciplines. Read more about the value of an internship at camp or how to translate your camp experience to your resume.
Working at camp isn’t just fun and rewarding, it’s also a great way to jumpstart your professional development. The skills critical for success in today’s world are developed and practiced at camp, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and contribution. You’ll make connections with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, across the country and around the world. Being a Falling Creek alumni also connects you to a network of former staff and parents who are business owners, entrepreneurs, outdoor industry professionals, and employers. We are frequently asked to refer our most talented staff members.
Career Development & Resources
Why Should You Be a Fitness Instructor at Summer Camp?
You’ll spend this summer staying active, spending time outdoors, practicing healthy habits, and making a difference for campers.
As a fitness instructor and camp counselor, you’ll be a role model for the boys both in and out of the gym, and will gain valuable experience in both sports management and coaching. If you’re majoring in fitness administration, sports management, physical education, or exercise science/kinesiology, being a summer camp fitness instructor will give you invaluable experience for your future career path. Even if your college major is unrelated to athletics, you’ll still be gaining leadership skills and networking connections that will give you a competitive edge in the job market.
What’s My Time-Off Like?
Each week you’ll receive a scheduled time-off period of approximately 34 hours, typically in one block of time. While the 2025 time-off schedule specifics are up for discussion during this off-season, in 2024 a time-off period started at 1 pm on a certain day and ended at 11 pm the next day. For example, someone with a Monday time-off period would be off from 1 pm Monday to 11 pm Tuesday. Staff are also able to take an hour of “self-care time” each day at camp, where you are free to read, workout, nap, or do anything you need to “recharge your batteries” daily. Everyone gets the same amount of time off; the schedule is based on your position and role at camp. Being well-rested and refreshed is a must! (During session changeover weeks, this schedule is altered slightly.)
What Benefits Do I Get?
We offer a competitive and progressive pay schedule that is determined based on your experience, age, education, certifications, and other factors. See the 2025 Estimated Pay Sheet here. Staff working the full summer (Orientation plus 4 sessions) will have a base pay of $4300, not including additional pay, experience, and bonuses.
In addition to housing, food, and pay, each day at camp brings adventure, physical recreation, and endless opportunities for personal and professional growth. You are welcome to use the camp facilities and participate in activities during your free time, so long as it does not take away from a class or camper.
Visit our “What You Get” page to read more about the value of an internship at camp, how to translate your camp experience to your resume, resources, networking, and certifications offered.
When Do I Need To Be Available?
While individual dates may differ based on your personal contract, our summer season is from mid May to mid August, and our preference is to hire for the full season. For the 2025 season,
All-Staff Orientation begins on May 30th (Friday, arrive by 10 am). Closing Day is August 15th after the final session.
Depending on your role at camp, you may need to arrive earlier in May for additional training. We begin WFR certification training (for Adventure Staff only) on May 17th, followed by Leadership Training (for Line Leadership, Activity Leaders, Adventure Staff, Lifeguards, and Horseback Staff only) on May 26th. You also have the option to extend your contract by joining us for Father/Son Weekends.
What Essential Skills Are Needed?
Completed At Least One Year of College and/or At Least 19 Years Old.
Our mission is existing to shepherd the journey of personal growth through love and adventure. Staff must be dedicated to live by the Falling Creek Code.
Patient. Flexible. Team Player. Genuinely Enthusiastic. Friendly. Eager to Grow. Open to Offer and Receive Feedback. Able to Think on Your Feet. Good Decision Maker. Hard Working. Get-It-Done Attitude.
See more on our staff FAQs page.