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Employment

Join the HopeWood Outdoors team and help create a welcoming community where faith and nature intersect. Our transformative programs aim to cultivate growth, connection, and hope in a beautiful outdoor setting. Explore our job openings and apply. We’d love to have you join us on this unforgettable journey!

Development Coordinator

HopeWood Outdoors is seeking a part-time Development Coordinator to lead fundraising efforts in coordination with the Executive Director. The right candidate will be enthusiastic about outdoor ministry, vocational exploration, and fostering relationships with current and new supporters. With an average of 20 hours a week, this position both requires travel to engage supporters and includes an openness to remote work arrangements that ensure a high-touch communication style that keeps our community informed of ways to support the available ministries. Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone you think may be a good candidate for this opportunity.

Program Director

HopeWood Outdoors is seeking a full time Program Director to develop and implement programs for summer camps and year-round retreats. With 480 acres of camp property and outreach efforts throughout the state, HopeWood is committed to inclusive, accessible outdoor ministry models and we are growing to make that a reality at all levels of our organization. The right candidate will be enthusiastic about working with children, youth, and families, providing faith formation experiences, and developing teams of staff and volunteers. This position requires residency in close proximity to Lutheran Memorial Camp at HopeWood Pines. Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone you think may be a good candidate for this opportunity. 

Summer Camp Counselor

Join us for an incredible summer experience at HopeWood Outdoors. As a camp counselor, you’ll have the opportunity to make a positive impact on campers’ lives, develop valuable skills for your future career, and deepen your faith in a fun and supportive community.

If you prefer working at camp in a capacity other than as a counselor, you’re in luck! We also hire young adults to work in a variety of positions that support summer programming through logistical support. Our support staff serve the camp in a variety of ways, from lifeguarding to serving as a maintenance assistant to assisting in the kitchen and offices.  Any role you take at camp will empower our campers to have a great summer experience and empower you to explore your next steps in life’s journey.  

Our dynamic outdoor programs offer unique opportunities for personal and professional growth, including:

Summer Staff FAQs

The HopeWood Outdoors Camp Counselor shall be responsible for carrying out program assignments and supervisory responsibilities of children at youth programs and program leadership for families.

The HopeWood Outdoors Camp Counselor shall be responsible for leadership and mentoring of campers, providing a safe, enriching, joyful, and Christ-centered experience for campers, consistent with HopeWood Outdoors policies and procedures and the teachings of the ELCA.

Download full job description

  1. Access our staff application on Camp Brain Staff
  2. Log in to your existing account or create a new one
  3. Select the 2024 Summer Staff Application for Lutheran Memorial Camp at HopeWood Pines or Camp Luther at HopeWood Shores
  4. Complete the application and remember to submit it when finished.
  5. If you need help accessing your Camp Brain Staff account, or you’d like to learn more before applying, please don’t hesitate to contact info@hopewoodoutdoors.org

Starting pay is $400 per week plus room and board. There is a $300 finder’s bonus if you recruit additional staff for the full summer. Each staff’s compensation package will be outlined in their contract.

Staff orientation begins after Memorial Day

Our regular summer programming begins the first week of June and ends the first week of August (8 weeks of camp sessions).

Staff at HopeWood Pines are mainly off from Friday evening (following staff meeting) to 9:00 am Sunday morning.  Staff at HopeWood Shores are off from Saturday afternoon to late Sunday morning with an additional evening off each week.

It’s your time to nap, do laundry, explore the area, or whatever it is you need to do to take care of yourself and get ready for the next week!

Not at all! However, we do ask that all staff members be willing to be a part of a community that affirms Lutheran values and teachings. At HopeWood Outdoors, we are rooted in the Lutheran theology of grace, which shapes everything we do — from how we relate to one another to how we care for God’s creation that surrounds us. 

While we do prefer applicants who can commit to working the entire summer, we welcome all applicants to apply even if they are only available for part of the summer. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about your availability.