create the summer experience of a lifetime
Since 1958, URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute has provided both young and old the opportunity to learn and grow.
GUCI offers a fine balance between education and recreation. As a Jewish camp, GUCI seeks to enhance the experience of our campers and staff with the richness of Jewish faith and culture. The Camp places a strong emphasis on personal growth and positive self-image. For all who attend, camp is an unforgettable religious, cultural, and emotional experience.
GUCI takes a great deal of pride in its staff. The staff is comprised of college students, graduate students, and professionals in various fields. Staff members provide a stable and caring home for campers all summer long. A summer as a member of GUCI’s staff is incomparable. a wonderful social and growth experience. Come learn and bond with 100 other dedicated and talented staff members.
A summer season lasts nine weeks, including our staff training program, and is conveniently scheduled to coincide with most school calendars. You could spend your summer at GUCI working in the great ourdoors, while at the same time developing the skills and experience that will enable you to build your present or future career. Not to mention, you can make a positive difference in the life of a child by being the spark that ignites the flame of fun, growth, and learning.
Take the challenge! Be a staff member at Goldman Union Camp Institute.
staff grant opportunities
Cincinnati Staff Fellowship
The Fellowship is available for Cincinnati Jewish young adults from age 18 (or after high school) to age 26 to work at an approved Jewish overnight camp in the United States or Canada. The fellowship will include the following grant for a work contract of at least 8 weeks:
- $1,200 for new counselors/staff
- $2,400 for returning counselors/staff
You can learn more and apply here.
Louisville Staff Fellowship
Louisville is offering a fellowship program for counselors who work at Jewish overnight camp!
The Louisville Counselor Fellowship is designed to encourage Jewish young adults, age 18-25, to work at Jewish overnight camps. These young adults will be role models for younger generations and will offer support and guidance to these children. The program will encourage young adults to continue their journey in the Jewish community and encourage them to stay connected to Jewish organizations in the future.
Overnight camp staff will have the opportunity to earn a stipend of up to $ 2,000 in addition to their camp pay. First-year fellows can earn up to $1,000, and returning fellows can earn up to $2,000.
You can learn more and apply here.
Cleveland Staff Scholarships
The Mandel Myers Fellowship is a unique program designed to encourage Jewish Cleveland’s college students to work at Jewish overnight camp and develop into future Jewish leaders. This program has two important components:
1. Learning workshops that are filled with a rich curriculum centered around applied professional and leadership development, Jewish learning explorations, and intentional networking opportunities to connect the experience of working as overnight camp counselor to career skills.
2. A college scholarship of up to $5,500 or $4,500 to offer future Jewish leaders a meaningful opportunity that may have previously been too financially burdensome or unaffordable.
You can learn more and apply here.
Summer Staff FAQs
Where is GUCI located?
GUCI is located in Zionsville, Indiana, just outside of Indianapolis.
What is the process for applying to work at GUCI?
You can apply online here. Once we have received your application and all necessary references, you will be contacted to set up an interview. If offered a position with GUCI, you will be sent a contract to be signed and returned to our office.
Following your contract return, you will receive several information forms that we will need to have on file prior to the summer. You will also receive a staff manual that you should read before your arrival to camp. As we get closer to the beginning of camp you will receive further information regarding pre-summer training, travel, and how to prepare for camp.
If you would like to discuss what opportunities are available, please contact the GUCI office at guci@urj.org.
if I have never been to camp before or never did the Avodah program, can I still work at GUCI?
Absolutely! We value a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds and always love new members to the community on our staff.
When do I need to be at camp?
The standard camp season is eight and a half weeks; this includes a full week of staff orientation which is considered a vital component of GUCI’s summer. Arrival dates to camp are dependent on your position and are included in your staff contract. Discussion of the expected dates of attendance will occur during your interview. Our leadership team and specialists requiring additional training, are expected to arrive a few days earlier. Counselors and specialists will be expected to arrive in early June. Our summer concludes in early august.
What if I need to leave camp for college orientation or a family event?
All time out of camp needs to be approved by the Director team. If you know you may need to leave during the summer, please let us know during the interview process.
what kind of positions are you hiring for?
Each summer we hire a diverse group of staff with different skillsets to create an unforgettable experience for our campers.
The following is an incomplete list of the positions we hire for:
- Cabin counselors
- Arts and crafts/ceramics/glass blowing specialists
- Photographers
- Videographers
- Aquatic specialists
- Songleaders
- Sports specialists
- Climbing specialists
- Communication/marketing specialists
- Administrators
- Office managers
- Infirmary administrators
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Cooks
- Laundry assistants
- Maintenance assistants
- Kitchen stewarts
What happens during staff orientation?
Staff Orientation is a vital component of GUCI’s summer. During this week, staff members are presented with a great deal of information – from Camp policies and procedures, to working with children, to developing strong working relationships with each other. Staff Orientation is required for all staff members.
When do I have time off?
Staff members receive both daily and monthly time off. Most days, staff members have an “off” hour. Staff may also have additional time off after campers are asleep if they are not on duty in the bunk. Each session, staff receive two days off and one night off. Time off will be discussed during your interview.
When do I get paid?
Paychecks are issued at the end of the summer. If you require a different payment schedule, please let Allisa Horwitz, Business and Operations Associate, Midwest Hub know. You can email her here.
will I have access to my email, cell phone, and other technology?
Yes, staff members will have access to wireless internet in certain spots of camp and are expected to keep their personal cellphone on them at all times in case of emergency. Our campers are not allowed phones or Internet-connected devices, so we ask staff not to use their phones in front of campers unless absolutely necessary.
what can I expect from my experience at GUCI?
Being on staff at any residential camp is perhaps the most difficult and most fulfilling job you will ever have. A summer at GUCI will be challenging at the same time that it will be fun! As a staff member at GUCI, you have the opportunity to experience life in our unique community, positively impact the lives of campers and other staff members, create lifelong friendships, and gain both professional and personal skills to excel your future career.
How will I do my laundry?
Everyone on camp gets their laundry done twice a session. If additional laundry is needed for staff, it can be done with the approval of the Camp Director.