OUR SUMMER STAFF
Camp Hazen’s summer staff are the role models kids remember for a lifetime. Carefully selected for their character, leadership, and genuine love of working with children, they create a safe, supportive environment where every camper feels encouraged to try new things and be themselves. With a blend of returning local leaders and passionate counselors from around the world, our staff bring energy, empathy, and a commitment to making each day unforgettable.
Caring Counselors From Around The Globe
Camp Hazen’s staff is truly a global community, bringing together voices and perspectives from more than 20 countries each summer. We believe it’s essential for campers to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds, helping them build understanding, curiosity, and lasting friendships.
Most of our international staff are over 21, and all new team members have completed at least their first year of college or the equivalent.
Many of our counselors are also “home grown,” having spent their childhoods at Hazen before completing our LEAdership Training Program. Graduates of the LEA program may apply for the highly selective Assistant Counselor role, and each year we welcome a small group of these exceptional young leaders to our summer team.
Training & Selection
Camp Hazen’s staff selection process is intentionally thorough, designed to ensure that every counselor is prepared to create a safe, supportive experience for campers.
Applicants participate in face‑to‑face interviews with behavior‑based questions, and we conduct reference checks and verify work history with other youth‑serving organizations. Before arriving at camp, all staff complete required online child protection training.
Once on site, every new team member attends a full week of orientation covering camp policies, procedures, behavior management, emergency plans, camper care, program implementation, and Hazen traditions. Lifeguards and ropes course staff receive an additional week of specialized training to ensure they meet the highest standards of safety and skill.
Health Lodge Staff
Camp Hazen’s Health Lodge team plays a vital role in keeping campers healthy, safe, and cared for throughout their stay. As a licensed youth camp in the State of Connecticut, we meet all regulatory requirements, including having a registered nurse on site whenever our population exceeds 250 people.
Each session, we staff the Health Lodge with two to three experienced nurses who oversee medication administration, run daily sick call hours, and spend time around camp checking in with campers.
Supporting them is a Health Lodge Assistant—often a nursing student or a trusted returning staff member—who helps with organization and provides a familiar, reassuring presence for campers. Together, this team ensures that every child receives attentive, compassionate care.
