Returning 16 Year Old Campers
Learn to Lead
The counseling internship program at Kabeyun is a perfect opportunity for older campers to expand their involvement with camp and to prepare for the challenges of joining the Kabeyun staff in the future. The deadline for applying is December 1.
Sixteen-year-old interns work closely with our counselors in activities and cabins, observing and being observed; teaching and co-teaching. These experiences are strengthened and focused through regular group meetings, workshops and individual conferences centering on counseling and teaching techniques, and group management skills. A veteran Kabeyun counselor is assigned as the intern supervisor – his primary responsibility is to the intern group.
The program length of seven weeks is designed to accommodate late summer commitments to school sports, preparation time for the academic year, or family plans that often seem to fall in August.
The size of the intern group is limited to six, and we often have more applicants than we are able to accept. Acceptance to the program is based on the quality of the letter of application along with our sense of his interest in investing himself in learning all the program seeks to teach. The intern group is almost always made up of boys who have been campers at Kabeyun, but new boys are welcome to apply.
To Apply
Write a letter to the director, Ken Robbins by December 1 explaining in detail why you believe you are a strong candidate for this program. This letter is your application and should reflect the level of commitment you are willing to apply to the experience. Make it clear and thoughtful. It should be typed.
This letter is an important part of our decision making; your opportunity to make a positive impression and demonstrate your enthusiasm and sense of commitment.
In the letter, talk about:
- Your interest in, and experience with younger kids; your connection with Kabeyun and its ideals
- Why you want to learn more about becoming a camp counselor; what you hope to gain through participation in this program
- What activity area(s) you are most interested in and your experience in these areas. Interns spend their first two weeks in a variety of different activities before focusing in on one, but it is helpful to hear which activities you feel most enthusiastic about now.
- Please include your e-mail address, and the best phone numbers to use to reach you.
Mail your letter to:
Kabeyun
PO Box 325
Alton Bay, NH 03810
** e-mails will not be considered **
Make sure your folks send in an enrollment form and deposit to Alton Bay at the same time.
Letters postmarked after December 1st will not be considered!
Three Week Introductory Session
The three-week Introductory session is available to first-time campers, 7 - 9 years old, for one time only. Whenever possible, we try and create a dedicated cabin for the Introductory guys so that we can maintain all of our cabins without the coming and going of boys signed on for different lengths of time. Because making connections is at the core of the Kabeyun experience we don't want the boys to have the experience of cabin mates leaving before they do, and don't want a boy coming late into an established group.
We only offer this option during the second half of the summer. Ideally, we love to see parents allow their Introductory boys the option to stay for the last week if he's craving more Kabeyun after three.
Visit the Director's Blog in the Resources section and read the
"How Many Weeks?" entry for a full discussion of the session lengths at Kabeyun.