Find freedom and explore. You’ll leave camp with new skills, a happier understanding of our world, amazing friendships, and new confidence from fun adventures: the knowledge, values, and superpowers you’ll use long into adulthood.
Overnight Camp registration is now open! The last day to register is Friday, May 15, 2026. Registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Leadership Camp Opportunities
Counselor in Training Core Week
Bear Creek Aquatic Camp
June 7-13 | 6 nights | $570 + KY sales tax
Must be at least 16 years old by June 1, 2026.
Do you hope to apply for a camp staff job at Pennyroyal or Bear Creek in the future? The CIT program is the best way to get started! Polish your camping skills and learn basic counselor techniques! CITs will live and learn as their own unit during Session 1 at Bear Creek. CIT Core Week is required for those wishing to attend extended skills training for CITs or who have completed CIT 1 last year.
Counselor in Training Extended Skills
Bear Creek Aquatic Camp & Camp Pennyroyal
June 13-26 | 13 nights | $1235 + KY sales tax
Must attend Counselors in Training Core Week to participate. CITs enrolled in Extended Skills will remain at camp from June 7-June 26. CITs will have to be picked up or arrange carpool for return from Pennyroyal on June 26.
Extend your time learning at camp while working on the intricacies of being a camp counselor! Improve your skills in archery, outdoor cooking, nature study, and the arts. Love the water? Spend additional time with the aquatic staff! Learn about the characteristics of children at different ages, study human relations, and learn how to teach songs and games while you spend time observing staff working with younger campers. Start by practicing primitive camping skills (weather permitting) and then spend time dispersed to intern with Bear Creek camper units or program areas (waterfront/boating/kitchen) when other campers join us for Session 2 on June 16. CITs will be driven from Bear Creek to Pennyroyal on June 21 to intern with Pennyroyal camper units or program areas for Pennyroyal’s Session 3 until June 26.
Junior Counselor Intern
Bear Creek Aquatic Camp (Sessions 1-5) & Camp Pennyroyal (Sessions 2-5)
Free
Must by at least 17 years old by June 1, 2026
There is no better way to get hands-on job experience than by being a Junior Counselor Intern at GSK overnight camp. Beyond being an extremely rewarding experience, interning at Camp Pennyroyal or Bear Creek Aquatic Camp promises to give Junior Counselors (JCs) an amazing skill set, reference letters for use in future applications, and community service volunteer hours. Junior Counselors will shadow experienced counselors and step behind the scenes to assist camp directors while learning what it takes to create fun and successful camp experiences. Junior Counselor applicants must be 17 and have completed CIT I, CIT II, or have relevant experience. There is no charge to attend camp as a Junior Counselor Intern. We encourage all Junior Counselors to participate in at least Session 1 at Bear Creek where you will live and work in a unit together with other JCs under the direct supervision and coaching of the CIT Director to increase your leadership knowledge and skills. Sessions 2-5 provide opportunities for JCs to intern with a unit, aquatics, or program staff and work more intensively with campers. You can choose any of these sessions that work with your schedule.
The deadline to apply is April 1, 2026. To learn more and to apply, please visit bit.ly/gskjc.
Free bus transportation is available for Bear Creek Aquatic Camp Junior Counselor experience only. Bus transportation requests must be communicated with Camp Director and are subject to availability. Spots will be confirmed with Junior Counselors by Camp Director.
Lifeguard Certification for CITs and Junior Counselors
Bear Creek Aquatic Camp
July 15-18 | 3 nights | $286 + KY sales tax
Must by at least 16 years old by June 1, 2026
Current and former Counselors in Training and Junior Counselors are invited to join us for this three night camp during which you will earn your American Red Cross lifeguard certification! Please note: bus transportation will not be available.
Helpful Tips for Getting Hired as a Camp Counselor
- We prioritize applicants who have successfully demonstrated leadership and growth in our Counselors in Training (CIT) and Junior Counselor (JC) programs.
- We recommend you complete as many weeks of these programs as your schedule allows.
- We encourage you to shine as a leader while you participate as a CIT or JC. Give it all you’ve got!
- For both camps, we prioritize applicants who have their lifeguard certification.
- We hire certified lifeguards before considering non-lifeguard applicants.
- Lifeguards are paid more than non-lifeguards.
- At Bear Creek, where aquatic programs are the focus of each day, lifeguarding is considered a key skill for all staff members (except those who work in the kitchen).
- Apply to work at camp the summer you will be 18 (or older) by June 1st.
- Staff must be 18 to supervise campers, in accordance with Girl Scout policies.
- We restrict the ages of our leadership-track programs to prepare you for camp employment. This is why we require CITs to be 16 and JCs to be 17 by June 1st.
- Watch for camp jobs to be posted on GSK’s camp website or Indeed.com in the late fall.
- Apply early!
- If you get an offer for a screening interview, reply promptly. Be professional in all communications: texts, emails, phone calls, and Zoom meetings.
Registered for overnight camp?
Find everything you need to help your Girl Scout have a successful camp experience!
Accreditation
Bear Creek Aquatic Camp and Camp Pennyroyal are accredited by the America Camp Association (ACA) indicating safe, high-quality programs that meet industry and government standards.