Photography Internship

This internship program is for those pursuing a career in marketing, photography, social media management, nonprofits, and related fields. As an assistant photographer and/or videographer, you'll work closely with our experienced camp photographer and have the opportunity to shadow and learn from him. Your responsibilities include taking photos, creating social media posts, and assisting with the development of marketing materials during camp. Interns may also be asked to support day and/or overnight supervision of campers, including staying in cabins overnight.

This is a valuable opportunity to expand your skills and gain experience in non-traditional environment. (Plus, you'll have a ton of fun!)

Our Mission

At Camp SkyWild, we are designing a world that better fits all kids. We believe in the power of camp, and that all young people should have access to the outdoors regardless of their disabilities. We create spaces where neurodivergent people can enjoy the same exciting recreational programming available to their peers, with supports and accommodations in place to help them thrive. We aim to inspire folks across all youth development professions to reinvent the way we celebrate our kids’ differences and build spaces that encourage them to stay wild.

Our Camp

We run a weeklong sleepaway camp designed for autistic children and their siblings. Our campers shoot archery, go canoeing, tie dye t-shirts, go fishing, roast smores, sing, dance, swim, and so much more! We understand that each camper needs unique support in order to access our program, so we run extensive staff training, operate flexible programming, and maintain low staff ratios. Our daily schedule is highly structured and predictable to ease camper anxiety around what's coming next, but remains adaptable in a "challenge by choice" nature so that campers can engage in the ways that feel best for them. 

Our Team

The magic of camp is made possible by the many adults who volunteer their time. We have an experienced leadership team from diverse backgrounds including disability advocates, camp directors, teachers, occupational and behavioral therapists, medical professionals, and more. At the heart of our team is our cabin counselors. They often come to us with broad range of interest in neurodiversity, and no specific experience is required for our counselors. We provide 3.5 days of extensive training to all staff prior to camper arrival, as well as ongoing mentorship throughout the week. 

Detailed Job Description:

Position Overview

Support staff provide aide in various aspects of camp as needed to help ensure a successful program. This is a flexible role that is tailored to the strengths of the staff member and the needs of camp. They also support the supervision of campers, and may stay in cabins with campers overnight as needed.

• Dates of Employment: July 16 - 24, 2026
• Reports To: Coordinator, Director
• Supervises: None
• Classification: Volunteer
• Compensation: None
• Location: 1200 University Camp Drive Pinckney, MI 48169 (North Star Reach)

Position Requirements

The requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Camp SkyWild is committed to building a diverse and inclusive working environment. We do not discriminate against candidates based on disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status under the law. Reasonable accommodations are available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, and applicants are encouraged to request accommodations for the application process if needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 18 years of age at the start of camp.
• Willingness and ability to pass required pre-employment screenings including criminal background check, central registry clearance, and personal/professional references.
• Willingness and ability to live in a camp setting with exposure to the sun, heat, insects, other animals, and inclement weather.
• Willingness to provide critical medical information prior to start of camp, to allow camp health staff to make informed treatment decisions in case of an emergency.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to learn and apply youth development practices in-line with Camp SkyWild’s policies for inclusion, relationship building, and behavior management.
• Ability to positively interact with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds.
• Possess a stable emotional well-being; be comfortable supporting campers who are experiencing meltdowns, mental health struggles, and other challenges.

Physical Demands:

• Cognitive and physical ability to accurately communicate with campers and other staff, including providing necessary instruction for programming and activities of daily living.
• Cognitive and physical ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior management techniques.
• Cognitive and physical ability to identify and respond appropriately to situations requiring emergency aid, including assisting campers in an emergency such as a fire, evacuation, illness/injury, and environmental hazards.
• Additional physical demands may include traversing long distances on uneven trails and prolonged stationary periods.

Roles and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Support the leadership team and other staff in the assigned area(s).
• Support supervision and relationship building with campers.
  • Assist with the supervision of campers, including in the evening and overnight as needed.
  • Apply basic youth development practices for positive communication, relationship development, respect for diversity, inclusion, and youth empowerment.
  • Adhere to all Camp SkyWild policies for supervision, behavior management, and camper interaction.
• Maintain high standards of health and safety for both campers and staff.
  • Support campers in activities of daily care (eating, dressing, showering, toileting, and other personal care tasks) through prompting, reminders, visuals, and other non-hands-on strategies.
  • Ensure that campers receive daily medications as directed by the Medical Team.
  • Recognize camper needs, changes in behavior, and potential health concerns; and bring them to the attention of the Medical Team or other leadership staff promptly.
  • Recognize facility and environmental hazards; and bring them to the attention of leadership staff promptly.
• Be a positive role model to campers and staff through your attitude and behavior.
  • Set a good example to campers and others in regard to general camp procedures and practices.
  • Follow the assigned schedule and strive to be on time to all activities including meals.
  • Communicate professionally with other staff members include mature conflict resolution.
  • Follow and uphold all camp safety and security rules and procedures; as outlined in the volunteer service agreement and staff manual.

Other Duties

• Attend virtual and/or in-person staff training events prior to the start of camp.
• Assist with pre-camp tasks prior to camper arrival including (but not limited to) setting up living spaces, setting up program areas, organizing and distributing supplies, creating visual aids, and reviewing camper files.
• Assist with camper check-in and check-out processes, including (but not limited to) interacting with camper families.
• Assist with post-camp tasks after camper departure including (but not limited to) cleaning living spaces, cleaning program spaces, organizing, and putting away program supplies.
• Complete documentation throughout and/or after camp including (but not limited to) incident reports, program evaluations, and camper notes.

Support Staff Roles (Non-Exhaustive List)

• Behavior Float: Assists the Behavior Coordinators and Interns in implementing interventions in cabins with the greatest needs, floating between cabins throughout the week depending on needs.
• Operations Float: Assists with the day-to-day operations of camp such as doing laundry, washing dishes, pulling in boats, and moving program supplies.
• Program Float: Assists the Program Leaders in implementing activity rotations and evening programs.
• Assistant Photographer: Assists the Camp Photographer in documenting the camp experience and creating social media posts.
• Substitute Counselor: Part-time staff member who provides coverage for staff during time off rotations.