Staff Dates & FAQs

2025 dates of employment are June 8th – August 26th.

French Woods Sports and Arts Center is located in Hancock NY which is in the Catskill Mountains of New York State just 2.5 hours from New York City.

We are the perfect balance of classic American summer camp in the mountains but with clean, modern living and facilities. Our facility speaks for itself and is unequaled in the world of summer camps. French Woods is well respected in the camping industry and the birthplace of the Elective Program where campers select all of their activities and counselors are hired to work in specialty areas. Many camps now use this program structure. All staff work in an area they are passionate about.
We value creative input, new ideas and new activities and are always open to change. Benefits are many and include plenty of time off, free 24-hour laundromat, no curfew, WIFI, staff lounge with Cable TV, organized/subsidized staff trips to New York City, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls and more, free movies in the local town, free bowling in the local town and working in an activity area that you are passionate about.

• If you drive your GPS will get you here no problem using our street address.
• If you come by bus you need to get a CoachUSA bus from Manhattan NY to Hancock NY. There are 2 buses each day 8:00am and 4:00pm.
• If you fly use either JFK or Newark. From the airport, you’ll need to transfer in to Manhattan NY and get a bus to Hancock NY.
• If you are an international staff member your visa issuing agency will inform you of your travel to camp details. In many situations, you will be picked up from the airport by camp.

We will send a full packing list prior to camp.

(All staff must bring a Hawaiian Shirt to wear on Tropical Tuesday – visit your nearest thrift/charity shop).

Yes. We will send you a staff manual and many informational pieces to review prior to the summer. Once here we have a week-long staff orientation that all staff must attend.

Your salary is negotiated prior to the summer but are very competitive within the camping industry. International staff are paid at the rate the visa issuing agency advises us to pay. You will be paid at the end of the summer by a PayCard that you can use in any country as a debit or credit card. Staff can request 1 pay advance during the summer. In addition, you’ll receive TIPS from parents every 2-weeks on visiting day. You will have no expenses once in camp, everything is covered including laundry.

You get at least 1 hour off each day, at least 4 nights off each week, 8 days off during the summer and you do not have a curfew. We regularly provide staff trips to Walmart. Staff also get to enjoy organized and subsidized trips to places such as New York City, Niagara Falls and Philadelphia. All French Woods Staff wearing camp ID can enter the local movie theatre for free and the same at the local bowling alley.

The majority of the counselor and support staff are 19 – 25 years old. Department Heads, Head Counselors, Management, Support staff and Medical staff etc, are 25 and older.

From all over the USA and abroad. 65% of our staff come from outside of the USA. We work with many staffing agencies including Camp America, CCUSA, Camp Leaders, IENA, InterExchange and many more.

We do not have a uniform. You will be provided with staff shirts to wear on visiting days and other special event days. Think casual and dress for your activity.

You do not have to pay for anything. Everything is covered.

Counselors live in modern, comfortable bunks with large clean bathrooms, flushing toilets, plenty of hot water, walk-in closets, drawer/closet space, and comfortable beds. There are multiple electrical outlets in each bunk. Bunks are climate-controlled with A/C and heating. All living areas have WIFI. Bunks differ in size from 10 to 12 people.

All staff not living with campers have their own room in a shared house. All houses are fully equipped houses with kitchens, laundry, WIFI etc. The ‘non-bunk staff’ housing is very comfortable.

The food is delicious. Any staff member or camper that goes home saying the food sucked has something wrong with them. Other camps like to come here to play sports for the day so they get to eat our food – it’s that good. Our Chefs are not camp cooks but are culinary experts with degrees in that field. They are professional caterers in the winter and able to join us in the summer. All kitchen staff is recruited from a world-class hospitality school and all have experience in food service. There are many options at each meal. We cater to Vegans, Vegetarians, Celiacs and Meat Eaters. We work with staff who have special dietary needs and are completely NUT FREE. We emphasize, fresh, healthy, nutritious, and delicious.

We have WIFI campus-wide so you can FaceTime, Text, Email and call your family and friends.

Campers can stay 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 weeks.

We have Doctors and Nurses on-site and a fully stocked modern Wellness Center. If you have to visit a Doctor outside of camp, get X-rays, get a prescription etc, we will help you with transportation. If you need extra time off due to sickness your Department Head and Head Counselor make arrangements for your responsibilities to be covered.

It’s usually very nice here. Lots of sun and lots of warm weather. However, when it rains it rains hard so bring a rainjacket. Our daily temps range from the mid 70’s Fahrenheit to the low 90’s Fahrenheit.

All staff must be well presented at all times in tidy casual clothing suited to their activity area. Large nose jewelry including nose studs/bolts, septum piercing, lip rings, ear spacers and facial tattoos are not permitted. Offensive tattoos anywhere on the body that can not be covered up are not permitted. Small nose rings and studs are ok. Male staff must be cleanly shaved and hair color for everyone must resemble something you would naturally find on a human head. Camps shirts will be provided and must be worn on visiting days, changeover days, lazy days and any time you are out of camp on a camp-sponsored trip. Many staff wear their camp shirts all the time and we like that!