Abstract
Jewish overnight camps would not be able to create the magical, and life-changing experiences that they do for hundreds of campers each summer without staff members. Being on staff at camp is special because just as staff are making an impact on campers lives, so too staff have transformative experiences and campers are making an impact on their lives. Camps need to hire properly trained, enthusiastic, and compassionate staff to foster the safe and supportive communities that so many camps aspire to have and build. Camp professionals are tasked with the job of hiring new staff each year, as well as recruiting and retaining former staff members. Through my research on the topic of staff retention and recruitment, I noticed that there is a lack of academic writing on this challenge as well as strategies and practices to lessen the burden of trying to recruit and retain staff. The purpose of this thesis is to take a deep dive into the state of the field when it comes to staff retention and recruitment as well as to understand the challenges and successes that camps experience regarding staff. To address this gap, I used a range of research methods, including a survey, interviews, and a review of existing literature. To better understand the challenges and successes that camps experience in relation to staff retention and recruitment, I interviewed nine full-time camp professionals from a range of camps with varying backgrounds and affiliations. My research identified that according to professionals in the field, the current generation of potential staff members are looking for well-rounded and flexible experiences that meet their various needs. Based on my findings, I developed recommendations for the industry to lessen the challenge of recruiting and retaining staff while improving overall staff retention and recruitment.