Training Newsletter - March 6, 2026

• REMINDER - Our next virtual huddle is Tuesday, March 17, 2026 3:00 pm (Central U.S.). If you can't make it live, the recording will be available afterwards. Tap here for the recording of our last huddle.

• Your Invited! Join us at camp on Saturday April 4th, 11am - 3pm, for our annual open house. If you've never been to camp before this is a chance to take a tour, meet some of the staff, and visit with the animals. It's also a great chance to bring your family and friends to show them where you'll be spending your summer. No need to sign up, just show up on the day. 

Returning staff, if you are available to volunteer your time to help show guests around, or run activities, please email Nathan to let him know your availability.

• Next week, you will start receiving emails with directions on how to begin filling out your onboarding paperwork. International staff, fill out your personal profile, and we will help you complete your tax forms after you arrive. 

We're still on the lookout for several positions to fill for the summer. If you or someone you know is interested, please email:

• Lifeguards - if you are certified, or willing to be trained, we are still in need of lifeguards for the summer. We will be training lifeguards during the first week of camp this year, so let us know if you would like to be included. This is in addition to serving as a counselor or in other positions, and most lifeguards are at the pool 2 or 3 times a week for no more than 1 hour at a time.

• Lead Adventure Instructor - oversees our shooting skills activities (archery and riflery).

• Lead Science Instructor - oversees the crime science, chemistry, culinary, and physics activities.

• Health Lodge Assistant - assist the camp nurse in supervising and tending to the campers who visit during the day or stay in the health lodge overnight.

• Office Assistant - enter camper data, answer phones, assist parents, and help camp run smoothly behind the scenes.

• Camp Store Assistant - along with the 2 other members of your team, help the campers and their parents purchase items at our camp store, clean and stock shelves, and keep inventory records.

• Camp Photographer - along with the 2 other members of your team, take thousands of photos each week of our campers and animals.

• MALE COUNSELORS! - Doesn't the name tell you all you need to know? Just like most of you, only a guy.

Cub Creek Science Camp is located in the town of Rolla, and will be your home for the summer. Located two hours from St Louis, along historic Route 66,  it is in the heartland of Missouri. On your time off it will become your source of sustenance and entertainment. As a college town (Population 20, 000) it provides most of the amenities and retail options you will need.  For entertainment there is a cinema, bowling alley, skating rink, and many outdoor parks and hiking trails. During the summer, transportation is provided to get anyone without a car to get into town on their day off. 

Sometimes it can seem that Cub Creek, has a language of it's own!  From ASIT's and ALC to beads and night owls it can be tricky to feel 'in the know'.  Get familiar with some of the strange words, activities, and traditions, by reading the Cub Creek 101 page.  Each week these newsletters will explain in further detail some of this new information so that you feel a little more confident when you arrive at camp.

While we are all about fun at camp, it also comes with responsibility. Working at summer camp is one of the greatest ways to impact the life of child you will ever experience, but it takes care, dedication, and intentionality.  Your days will be filled with silly songs, fun activities, and sometimes chaos (the good kind!) but it is still a job and professionalism is required. 

What do great summer staff do?

• Connect with each camper, quickly

• Be right in there with the kids

• Plan and organize great activities

• Act as a team with other staff

• Recognize danger signals, and act quickly

• Model the values and philosophy of camp

• Create a safe, secure, and enjoyable place for kids

• Manage personal stress and stress of campers

During staff training we will learn more about these expectations, and practice them before kids arrive. We will guide you throughout the summer and step in when you need a little help. Our biggest ask is that you come to camp ready to put these in to practices, and have a true heart for giving our campers, and each other, a summer to remember (for all the righ reasons!)

Camp is all about FUN! As a counselor you have the chance to bring fun and joy to your campers every day.  Having songs and games in your back pocket to pull out whenever your campers need an energy boost or a change of pace will make your days less stressful and more fun for your campers.  

One of the more unique traditions of summer camp are camp songs, and the more you get in to it the more your campers will. We often sing songs when we are waiting for the next activity - outside the dining hall, between classes, before evening activity etc. - but any time of day is great for a song.  You will learn many of our favorite songs during staff training, don't be afraid to look and sound silly - that's the point!

For some people, leading a song or acting silly around new people can be one of the hardest parts of staff training. But remember this, we are all in it together and look just as silly as each other. For some people, learning songs, or thinking of ways to occupy your campers during a dull moment can be tricky. Spend some time learning songs, games, and activities before you arrive. Or better yet, think about activities you already know and be ready to teach others when you get to camp!

For most of our staff, you will spend at least two hours each day as an activity instructor. Campers choose four activities each day, 2 courses and 2 classes.  Courses are week long activities that occur at the same activity period everyday. They center around a main theme (for instance, Physics) and are built of individual classes taught each day of the week. Classes are a 1 hour activity that campers choose on a daily basis. Sometimes the class is one of the course days, but we also offer many classes that are completely independent. 

Our campers have LOTs of activities to chose from, and you also get some choice in the activities you teach. We collected some of this information during your interview process but there will be more opportunities to let us know your preferences closer to the summer.

• Read more about the activities available to campers