Junior Staff FAQs
“What is the Junior Staff program?”
Junior Staff combines personal and professional development experiences for participants aged 17 - 18 who have successfully completed their Journey Year.
To learn more about Junior Staff and see a sample schedule, visit the Junior Staff page.
“How much does it cost to participate?”
The program is free of charge…like all Camp programs!
In fact, it’s not only free, but we pay you for spending time with us at Camp! That’s right, upon successful completion of the Junior Staff program, each participant will receive a stipend as compensation.
“Am I eligible for the Junior Staff program if I never attended The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp as a camper?”
While you do not need to have attended Camp as a “Camper,” you do need to complete a Journey Year before applying for the Junior Staff program. Successful completion of either Hero’s Journey® or Champion’s Journey fulfills this requirement. Learn more about our Journey Year here.
“How old do I need to be to participate in Junior Staff?”
Junior Staff is available to participants aged 16 - 18 at the time of the participant’s session. Individuals who have attended Hole in the Wall’s traditional summer program until age 15 typically participate in Hero’s Journey® or Champion’s Journey the following summer and are typically aged 17 - 18 when participating in Junior Staff.
“What are the session dates this year?”
Check out the application and schedule here.
“Are all the sessions the same?”
All sessions are “General Diagnosis,” meaning a participant must be aged 16 - 18 and have a qualifying medical diagnosis or be a sibling of a participant with a qualifying medical diagnosis to be accepted. For more information on who can attend, click here.
“Is there a sibling session for Junior Staff?”
All Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) program sessions are general sessions, which means siblings, along with diagnosed participants, have the choice of any available session throughout the summer.
“What do the days look like at the Junior Staff program?”
Each day of Junior Staff follows roughly the same schedule as our traditional summer program. Since Junior Staff are paired with both a Cabin Counselor and Program Counselor, they spend the majority of their day with their cabin or in their program area. However, each morning after breakfast and Cabin Cleanup, Junior Staff head back to the Young Adult Lodge for a morning workshop until lunchtime.
“Do Junior Staff participants sleep in cabins? What does housing look like?”
Participants in both the Champion’s Journey and Junior Staff programs stay in the Young Adult Lodge bunkhouses. Built in 2022, the Young Adult Lodge bunkhouses contain rooms with 4 - 6 bunk beds with an adjoining bathroom including private shower and toilet stalls.
“Is the application process the same as when applying to summer sessions?”
The application process will require applicants to submit a resume, one reference letter and to either answer personal statement questions on the application or upload them later. These are a required for the Junior Staff application, but they have no effect on whether the applicant is accepted.
“Will I be responsible for supervising younger campers as a Junior Staff participant?”
No, Junior Staff participants are not responsible for anyone but themselves so that they can focus on their own growth, development and fun while at Camp. While Junior Staff help create positive experiences for Campers, they are still “participants” and are under staff supervision. They are not counted in our staff-to-camper supervision ratios.
“What if I have a question that wasn't answered here?”
Please feel free to contact Ana Baggiano, Adolescent & Young Adult Director.