Summer Camp at Wolf Ridge
Enriching Kid's Lives:
Growing Up Outdoors

Summer Camp
and Naturalist Jobs

Connect with children & peers outdoors

There is no better way to make a difference this summer. Who are we looking for? The staff of the Wolf Ridge Summer Youth Program must have an interest in working outside with children. Experience working with kids is certainly helpful, but an enthusiastic, open, and positive attitude are qualities that create success in these positions. The team of naturalists, counselors, and trip leaders work together to bring a sense of belonging, stewardship, and adventure to the kids and families they lead. Join us for a summer of rewarding work!

Summer Counselor

  • Lead games, songs, skits, and other outdoor activities
  • Assist Naturalists during activities
  • Camp overnight with your group
  • Spend time outdoors with children
  • Minimum age 17

Summer Counselor/Assistant Trip Leader

  • Same description as above, except...
  • Minimum age 18
  • Assist Trip Leader with:
    • with Planning and pre-arrival packing
    • Share in responsibility for the group with your trip leader, including teaching participants Leave No Trace camping skills, outdoor recreation skills, and assisting in "wild classes" on the trail as needed

Summer Naturalist

  • Teach outdoor, environmental, cultural history and nature-themed activities
  • Spend time outdoors with children
  • Act as a liaison to visiting groups
  • Wilderness Trip leading is a possibility for those with trip-leading experience
  • Minimum age 21

Summer Nat. & Family Camp Coordinator

  • Same as Naturalist except......
  • Assist in the management of Family Camp including scheduling and administrative duties
  • Assist with Family Camp set up, check in, weekly duties and clean up
  • Facilitate campfires, special family events
  • Communicate family camp needs to kitchen and custodial staff
  • Provide primary contact to participants during the family camp weeks

Summer Nat. & Road Scholars Coordinator

  • Same as Naturalist except
  • Assist in the management of Road Scholars including scheduling and administrative duties
  • Assist with Road Scholars set up, check in, weekly duties and clean up
  • Facilitate campfires, special Road Scholars events
  • Communicate Road Scholars needs to kitchen and custodial staff
  • Provide primary contact to participants during the Road Scholars

Naturalist in the Parks: Gooseberry St. Park

  • The Naturalist in the Park position provides interpretive programs at Gooseberry State Park under a partnership between Wolf Ridge and the Minnesota DNR.
  • 40 hours/week at Gooseberry Fall State Park as a member of the Minnesota Naturalist Corps.
  • Assist the Park Naturalist in developing and conducting interpretive programs including nature hikes, kids programs, nature carts, evening campfire programs, and demonstrations.
  • Wolf Ridge provides housing, program support, uniform, and a salary.
  • WR Naturalists must have an undergraduate degree in a natural resource related field (i.e. biology, botany, fish and wildlife, forestry, MN natural or cultural history, environmental/outdoor ed., environmental studies, natural resources management, outdoor recreation or related) or be recent graduates of the WR Naturalist Training Program.

Animal Care & Education Internship

  • Learn about and assist with the care and management of Wolf Ridge’s education animals.
  • Teach wildlife classes to summer campers, families, grandparents and grandchildren, and other groups.
  • Join our staff in weekly bird banding projects.
  • Please contact Erin Manning, our Animal Care Coordinator, for more details.

Assistant Camp Director

  • Assist with training and managing the SYP staff
  • Assist with the management of campers
  • Schedule classes, room assignments, and overnights
  • Support SYP staff by assisting with behavior management, instructing classes as needed
  • Mentor counselors
  • Minimum age 21

Trip Leader

  • Planning and pre-arrival packing
  • Share full responsibility for the group with your co-leader during the trip (smaller family canoe trips may have only one leader)
  • Teach participants Leave No Trace camping skills
  • Teach outdoor skills related to the trip
  • Interpret the environment as a naturalist during the trip
  • Minimum age 21

Apply for a job:

To apply for these positions, please print, fill out and return these forms:

Hiring begins in January and continues until all positions are filled. Please call 218-353-7414, or e-mail the Camp Director with any questions.


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