student nurse

first officer

camp counselor

Adventure Valley Day Camp

Pros: most staff were pretty chill and fun to hang out with. 
Cons: Pay was abysmal. Paid less than minimum wage for the amount of work we had to do. Never got my pay stubs with my cheques, despite asking for them which I'm pretty sure is illegal. Only got a summary thing when I quit near the end of the summer. Weird pay structure where you got paid in one lump sum at the end of your contract instead of biweekly like most other jobs. I had to ask to have my pay divided so I could pay my bills. Their reasoning was that it'd be too difficult to have EVERYONE on a biweekly pay schedule just because of how many staff there are. That makes no sense at all. They've been open for quite some time so you'd think they'd have that sorted by now. 
Optional lunch program is available though you have to pay for that yourself out of pocket and don't get your pay cheque until you pay your "tab".
Since camp ran during COVID, we were outside all day, except for bathroom breaks and changing for swim time. So you can imagine how fun that was considering how little shade there was. I understand that safety is important and all that but still. Had to stay outside even in torrential downpours, the only exception being if there was lightning. That meant running the risk of getting sick from the cold which, given the current health situation, would absolutely suck. 

To be honest, camp culture at AV can be seen as either a positive or a negative depending on how "campy" you are. Positive, if you buy into the your upper staff are ur friends and love to participate in the activities and Friday Fun Day (which is often unorganized). Negative, if you see how the head staff treat employees who don't live up to certain expectations especially for returning staff, if little pay gets you down, if you find constant peppiness obnoxious. Tbh, a fine place to work for ur first year. As the years go on though, you start to see layers unfold or get treated poorly, unappreciated. There was an incident in August 2018 with a lot of staff getting food poisoning, and getting very sick that was never apologized for by the head staff responsible for it (in fact they were laughed at for still being sick halfway through the day, when they were sick all day. Many had to participate in rigorous physical acitivity while barely functioning, or were too incapacitated to be able to. This was during colour wars, which is often a mess.).
There is also a culture of "you have to return" with disregard for many people's lives outside of camp.
Honestly, hit or miss. Only work here if you're campy, like children, dont need a lot of money, and get along with head staff.
A good first job, after my 2018 experience I wouldn't return there though.

I worked here for march break a few years back. 
Not only was I under payed (6 dollars per hour) but I was under-qualified for the tasks they had me do. 
The manager at the time had me do one on one supervision of a boy with down-syndrome. 
My main duty the entire time was to take care of the boy with down-syndrome. This in itself wasn't bad as he was a great child....
However, I was 17, with little experience with children, no camp experience and no experience with differently-abled children. 
Even though normally a specialized camp counselor with the sole responsibility of caring for a child with down-syndrome SHOULD get paid more...I was not. 

I feel as though I was taken advantage of due to my young age and inexperience. 
However, since this was years ago, I never thought of reporting this job before. 

This job experience ruined wanting to work at camps with children. 
However, I have recently been looking for jobs working with children and often still see ADVENTURE VALLEY postings. 
Figured I would inform others not to EVER apply here.

A really nice place to work to gain experience working with children. The only true objection to this position is the low pay - which often falls below minimum wage unless you take on a specialized position (private camps do not have to follow minimum wage laws in Ontario). That being said, if the salary is not an issue for you it is a great place to work otherwise. The staff culture is very welcoming and head staff are always available for support, advice, and feedback. As a staff member you feel that your opinions and efforts are valued with there always being opportunities to give your recommendations on aspects of the camp and there being many staff appreciation events including a banquet at the end of the summer. It's truly a place to learn and grow your skills in the workplace and as an individual overall. Lunch and snack are also provided with vegetarian options available and there is the option to ride a bus to and from camp free of charge. 

I have been working with his camp for a few years now, I love this company. A typical day of work would start off at 8:30 in the morning and end at 4:00pm. These days are packed with activities and helping assist my campers will anything they need as well as making each day the best it can be. I've learned how to deal with all types of campers and their personal needs as well as being able to talk to their parents if need be. Additionally i've learned a lot of professional skills and be able to give a good example to everyone around me. My co-workers were very kind and helpful. The hardest part of the job would be adapting to new ages of children. The most enjoyable part of this job was that even though it was hard work i had got to create close bonds with my campers and leave them upset when it was the end of the summer. I was the best feeling knowing that i did a exceptional job.

I’ve worked at AV for 6 summers now, and I’ve really grown a lot thanks to AV. I went from being very shy and insecure in my ability’s to now leading large groups and training staff. I’m 100% a for lifer and that really is due to the camp culture. The growth mindset and continuous learning culture as well as the understanding and down to earth personalities of not only campers but staff and management is what keeps me coming back each year. Even on the hardest days where nothing seems to go right (camper behaviour, Rainy days) I’m still thankful to have this experience. I’ve been able to try out different roles and learn various skills I know I will be transferring to my future career. 

I loved working at AVDC this summer. Working with kids is not always easy, but very rewarding. The head staff at Adventure Valley are always around to offer support and guidance for any issue that comes up. Not only do they support their staff when it comes to the campers, but they are big advocates of the mental and physical health of the counsellors as well. As a staff member you feel like your opinion matters and is heard. They are always asking for feedback and suggestions on how activities and camp itself can be improved. I learned so much at camp this past summer, and I wish I could have attended AVDC as a camper when I was younger. Overall, it is a great place to work, and it can be very rewarding to see improvements in the campers throughout the summer. If you love working with kids and having fun outside all summer, I would 100% recommend AVDC!

A typical day at work would be following your schedule, taking your kids to the different activities and making sure they eat their lunches, making sure they swim, and making sure you know what bus they go on at the end of the day. 

I learned patience, organizational skills, and time management

Times were rough, management wasn't that smooth, seeing as though it's a summer camp

I loved my co-workers! They, (other than the kids) were one of the best parts of going to camp! They were fun, friendly, funny, and all very outgoing and accepting. 

The hardest part of the job was making sure you don't miss your bus in the morning and waking up really early every single day. 

The most enjoyable part of the job was getting the weekends off, having free lunches, and getting time to relax (sometimes)

Learned a lot about how to talk to customers and staff. 
A typical day consisted of rounding up the kids off the bus, taking attendance, making sure everyone is where they need to be. Then giving kids their schedule and taking them to their activities. Once my group was handled, I went to my scheduled period where I ran an activity. If my activity wasn't scheduled, I would go assist another coach. Then take kids to lunch and swimming, then at the end of the day, I would take them to their bus. 
The people were amazing it was always a fun environment.
Most enjoyable part was making connections with co workers and campers. 
Hardest part was dealing with the extreme heat, and long hours everyday out in the sun.

I love working at Adventure Valley, I've worked there for about five years and always keep coming back. Everyone is sweet and there's a real sense of community. I feel like everyone cares and this job has really helped me come out of my shell. AVDC is worth it all and I've never regretted a second of my time here. I've made life long friends and think of AV as my second home. The pay is not enough to live on but good for a first job or just summer fun.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Student nurse 1 salary reported	$550 per week
First officer 1 salary reported	$550 per week
Camp counselor 1 salary reported	$525 per week

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