Avodah Staff

Job Title: Avodah Staff at URJ Camp Harlam

Nestled in the foothills of the magnificent Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, Camp Harlam provides the finest in Jewish Camping. Established in 1958, Camp Harlam has developed a strong tradition of success and excellence based on a highly skilled staff dedicated to the spiritual, physical, social and emotional well-being of each child, while building lifelong relationships between friends.

The mission of Camp Harlam is to create a vibrant, fun and caring camp community which enriches and strengthens Reform Jewish identity and values while cultivating lifelong friendships.

Although our camp primarily serves campers from a Jewish background, our staff come from a diversity of backgrounds and are leaders and role models in their community. We do not require or expect our staff to have any prior experience or knowledge of Judaism, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our community this summer.

At Camp Harlam, staff have a unique opportunity to work with campers and fellow staff from all over the country and the world. We take a great deal of pride in the quality of our staff and all of us play a vital role in the development of every one of our campers. A great staff member possesses many characteristics and makes immediate decisions in such a way that campers are happy while their health, safety, and welfare are maintained. It is a vital role that allows staff to guide, support, and influence children for years to come. Each staff member serves as role models for our campers. It is our goal to build and strengthen the self-esteem of our campers and provide a profound Jewish experience that will positively impact the rest of their lives.

As an Avodah Staff member, you are a primary caretaker, along with a co-counselor, for a bunk of 2-6 Avodah participants (adults with developmental disabilities), ranging in age from 18-30. You will live in the cabin together with them, and follow the schedule of the day with your assigned participants: actively participating, leading, supervising and engaging them in all aspects of the day. In a typical day, you may take them to their job sites, join with them in the pool for Free Swim, help run the Coffee Cart, create rituals for reflection at the end of the day, meet with the participants to support vocational goals, encourage skill-building in areas of work and socialization, share meals together and much more.

Responsibilities:

• Directly responsible for all participants living in one’s assigned cabin: day-to-day involvement with participants as individuals, imparting of camp rules, policies and traditions, getting places on time and prepared, help every participant be social, become acclimated to life at Camp, grow towards his or her potential and become part of the community
• Responsible for the well-being, health, safety, and happiness of ALL participants at ALL times
• Act as “early-warning system” for participants
• Ensure participants exercise good hygiene and health practices. Notify appropriate staff members of problems.  Assist with certain tasks of daily living that they may need help with (such as showering, sunscreen application, shaving, cutting food, etc.)
• Help participants keep track of belongings and managing their jobs during Nikayon
• Directly responsible for cleanliness and good repair of the cabin
• Participate regularly and enthusiastically in all Camp programs
• Plan and lead cabin activities, including creating and implementing meaningful nighttime rituals for participants, and teaching general life skills.
• Attend in-camp training sessions and staff meetings as required
• Be totally familiar with all emergency procedures
• Supervise trips to ensure safety and security of participants outside of camp
• Meet one-on-one with participants on a regular basis to review vocational and social skill goals and growth

Designated Supervisor: Unit Head

Staff Training: June 17-23, 2026

Session Dates: June 24-July 19, 2026

Salary: Dependent on experience

Apply here!