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One of the keys to Hilltop's success is our staff.  We take pride in the people we hire.  They are the most important people to us, our families and our campers.  We recruit counselors who are college age and above, as well as graduate students and teachers for our Senior Staff positions. The average age of the Hilltop staff is 23.

Hilltop is an international environment both in campers and staff.  Our staff is from around the world including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and many more. No matter where Hilltop's staff are from they have a desire to have a positive impact on children, have specialized skills and have what we feel it takes to be a great camp counselor.

All Hilltop staff members go through an extensive application and interview process.  We provide an in-depth week long orientation prior to campers arriving and work with/guide them throughout the summer. 

Hilltop's has a high rate of amazing counselors returning each summer to the delight of our campers and families.

2010 Staff Profile

Here is a sample of some of the amazing counselors
we have lined up for the 2010 camp season.
 

Toby		Sara
Age: 20 Hometown/Country: Leicestershire, England University: Exeter University doing Maths with Economics Interesting fact about myself:  I have been many to many countries, In Asia and Europe backpacking. Experience with kids: I taught swimming when I was at school to 3-8yr olds, I ran an activity club at the same leisure centre and last summer I stayed at a residential camp with foreign students learning English. Why I want to be a camp counselor:  I have lots of energy and enthusiasm which means in a standard office job I would be bored out of my mind!! I love working with children as I find their energy and creativity inspiring. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: Hilltop seems to have a very friendly welcoming environment where everyone is encouraged to participate without a competitive edge..		Age: 22 Hometown/Country: Montclair, NJ USA School/University: I have just completed my undergraduate degree from Syracuse University in Secondary English Education. I am hoping to teach high school English. Interesting fact about myself: I have been published in an English literary magazine. My story was about my experiences at Camp Hilltop and how that prepared me for a four-month trip to London. Experience with kids: This will be my 4th year as a Hilltop counselor. I have also been a lifeguard and swim instructor for 7 years where I have taught swim lessons for individuals between the ages of 4 and 70+. Why I want to be a camp counselor: My life has been undeniably shaped for the better by the counselors I had as a child at Camp Hilltop. I have seen firsthand the incredible experience summer camp can be for a child, and hope to give many of you the fantastic experience I was fortunate to receive year after year. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: The Young’s have created an atmosphere where growth and personal development is inevitable. They carefully choose staff that support campers and encourage them to be themselves not conform to pressures or norms. Hilltop is a family run organization that treats every camper and staff with respect and holds everyone in high esteem. Camp Hilltop has become my second home. After begging my parents to allow me to become a camper at the age of 5, I haven’t been able to turn away.
Nicola		Kat
Age: 24 Hometown/Country: Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK Current job: Graduate in Travel Management 2.1 BA Hons. I am currently working for a Gap Year Travel Company based in the UK. Interesting fact about myself:I have traveled quite a bit  around the states, Canada, Europe, Australia and Africa. I also spent a year working in New Jersey for my graduate placement. I love meeting new people, making friends and learning about new cultures. Experience with kids: I recently volunteered at a community volunteer project in Kenya and lived in the local community. I taught sports and played games with the local children with very limited resources. It was definitely an eye opener to see how children live in an underprivileged country. For my Silver Duke of Edinburgh award, I volunteered at my local village Brownies for 8 to 11 year olds where I taught arts and crafts, games, singing, sports and music. Between college and university I taught arts and crafts at my village summer day camp for 6 to 12 year olds. I have babysat since I was 15 years old and I regularly babysit for a family who has two young boys aged 7 and 10 years old. Why I want to be a camp counselor: I have always been interested in teaching, and so I thought what better experience to get, than to spend a few months working abroad teaching. As said previously, I love meeting new people and learning about new cultures so I hope that my summer working at Hilltop will fulfill my passions. Why I choose to work at Hilltop:  The camp looks amazing! It looks like the most wonderful place to spend my summer; my only regret is not finding it before now!		Age: 20  Hometown/Country: Montrose, Scotland School/University: Studying BSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Science at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, UK. Interesting fact about myself: I have been a sport fanatic most of my life taking part in all kinds of sports, especially Football. Just a few years ago I was selected to play for the Scotland U17s squad where I travelled abroad to play other countries.  Experience with kids: This will be my second summer at Camp Hilltop, where I worked as a counselor during the summer of 2009. Prior to this, I have been a football coach for the past 4 years, working with kids of all ages and just recently becoming a tennis coach where I have had the opportunity to work with younger kids to teach them some basic skills. As well as this, I have a personal trainer qualification which allows me to work in a gym specifically designed for children aged 8-14 which I did for 2 years.   Why I want to be a camp counselor: After the summer I had last year working with the kids alongside the Young family and other counselors, it was an experience I will never forget. The opportunities for the campers were endless; they were able to take part in activities they wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to do, make new friends and develop as an individual. As a camp counselor I was able to be a part of this and help the campers achieve what they wanted out of their summer. Although camp can be challenging at times for the staff, it is also a very satisfying role and you will not want to spend your summer anywhere else!  Why I choose to work at Hilltop: Working at Hilltop is an amazing experience where you can learn as much from the kids as they can from you. The Young family have created a close-knit environment, that keeps the kids safe and the staff at ease especially through the initial getting started process. You will meet special people at Hilltop that will influence your lives in the best ways possible and for these reasons alone you will have a summer of a lifetime.
Nathalie		Mark
Age:    20 Hometown/Country: Lusaka, Zambia School/University: I'm studying for a BSc in Zoology at Cardiff University Wales. Interesting fact about myself:  I sang for the Duke of Edinburgh and was invited to meet the queen. Experience with kids: I was a camp counselor last year at Hilltop which gave me a huge amount of experience with not only being counselor to children but also understanding how to motivate and inspire children to reach their goals. Other than my camp experience I was a prefect in school which involved organizing activities such as tennis tournaments and swimming galas as well as being a role model to younger students. I was also a peer tutor which involved me tutoring pupils younger than me to help them improve their English writing skills. Why I want to be a camp counselor: I love working with children and am planning to go on to do a postgraduate teaching degree. There really is nothing that comes close to that feeling when you see a child reach that goal they've been striving for, it doesn’t matter how small it is. I find working with children an extremely rewarding experience and having worked as a counselor previously I have seen firsthand what a difference a staff member can make in the happiness and growth of campers. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: I choose to work at Hilltop because it has got the balance of everything just right. The staff are carefully picked and always extremely friendly and very skilled at their individual crafts. The fact that the Young’s ensure they have interviewed everyone and are completely happy shows their dedication to the camp and this dedication and spirit never leaves you from the day you arrive to well after you've left. There is such a personal atmosphere at Hilltop I haven’t experienced elsewhere, everyone is a stand for each other and the community created at Hilltop is simply amazing! It is great to see children of all ages enjoying activities together and when you realize at the end of a camp session that the campers don't want to leave you know you're part of something unique an special.		Age: 21 Hometown/Country: Newmilns, Aryshire, Scotland School/University: University of Stirling, will have graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology by the time I get to camp Interesting fact about myself: I love to scuba dive and have dived in Mexico and Spain and when I travel to the Dutch Antillies to work with Turtles after camp I hope to be able to get some dive time in when I am there. Experience with kids: I have taught swimming to children from the age of 3 to 17 for the past 4 years and enjoy it greatly. I also have a younger brother who is only 8 so I have experience looking after him directly. Why I want to be a Camp Counsellor: Being a camp counselor is a huge responsibility as the campers look up to you, but it is also highly rewarding. It feels great when you help a child overcome a fear or learn a new skill and camp allows you to do this on a large scale. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: I first joined Hilltop in summer '08 and it was amazing, I looked at the website and saw that it encompassed everything that I thought a summer camp should and so I decided there and then that Hilltop was for me. The Young’s made the experience so fun and exciting for me and the campers were just great and made you feel you fitted in right away and so when I decided to return there was no question that it had to be Hilltop!
Ailsa		Jo
Age: 20 Hometown/Country: Glasgow, Scotland School/University: I am study to be a doctor at the University of Edinburgh, but am currently undertaking a year of specialist study in Reproductive Biology. Interesting fact about myself: As well as training to be a doctor, I am also a "Teddy Doctor", helping children to learn about their own health through the illnesses that their Teddy's have. Experience with kids: I worked at Hilltop in 2009 as a 1st to 4th grade counselor. In addition to this I volunteer as a Teddy Doctor at local schools. During the school holidays I volunteer at a youth group for Autistic children aged 6-12. Why I want to be a camp counselor: Until you have been to camp I don't think you are able to appreciate the true value of summer camp for children. Summer camp offers so many opportunities for them: they are able to meet new friends, try new activities, and build up a sense of character. So, why would you not want to be a camp counselor when you are able to help children achieve this all in one summer? Camp also offers a lot of opportunities for the staff that work there. It is a challenging summer, but if you are prepared to put in the work then the rewards are fantastic. You are able to work alongside great kids, and built up camaraderie with fellow staff members that is difficult to rival anywhere else. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: Honestly, last summer was one of the best experiences of my life. There was so much to do at camp, so many new activities and experiences to get to grips with. The kids that come to Hilltop are fantastic, the counselors are enthusiastic and the Young family ensures that everyone at Hilltop feels welcome!		Age: 25 Hometown/Country: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Current Job: I am working as a teacher of Physical Education at a High School in Glasgow. Interesting fact about myself: When I was 13, I played for a girls' soccer team.  It was an exciting time as scouts from the Scotland Youth squad were coming to see us all play, unfortunately I fractured my wrist the day before the trials and missed out on my spot! Experience with kids: I have been working with kids since age 14 where I was a Brigader in the Girls' Brigade in Glasgow.  Due to my degree and current job, I have lots of experience in working with children in a sporting and educational setting.  At my school, I currently coach the girls' football (soccer) team and also take part in the running club.  I have also been a counselor at Hilltop for the past 2 years. Why I want to be a camp counselor: I want to be a camp counselor because I love working with children, it could be because I really am a big kid at heart and refuse to resign myself to the fact that I really am getting older (grey hairs are appearing!).  I have learned so much from my time at Hilltop and am always growing in confidence and skills which I want to share with the campers. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: Initially when I decided to apply to be a camp counselor in America, I planned to do it once, tick it off on my 'things to do' list and then move on...2010 will now be my 3rd summer at Hilltop!  What can I say... the staff are the best you will find, dedicated, caring, loyal to the campers and skilled in different areas of the program.  The camp setting is beautiful, I love waking up in the morning and looking out (even when it's raining!).  And finally the Young’s are extremely supportive of both staff and campers.  I always wondered why I wasn't homesick the first year I got to camp but it's because I was made to feel so welcome, part of the Hilltop family and that's why I keep coming back.
Jerilyn		Greig
Age: 22 Hometown: Amherst, MA School/University/Current Job: St. Mary's College of MD '09, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.  Over the last year I've traveled to the UK and have been teaching swim lessons and volunteering in pediatric department in the hospital and getting excited for another summer at Hilltop Interesting Fact about Myself: Last fall I completed a dolphin-assisted therapy internship at Island Dolphin Care in Key Largo, FL.  I loved being a part of the amazing experience each family had, witnessing the life and joy it brought out of the children, and even the bonds dolphins would form with their clients each week.  When it came time for the families to swim freely with the dolphins at the end of each week, the dolphins knew which kids were they'd been working with all week, and would often only swim alongside those families, which made the children feel an even stronger connection.  It was certainly an unforgettable experience for each family as well as me! Experience with kids: I have been teaching swim lessons since I was 16, and this will be summer number 5 at Hilltop! Why I want to be a camp counselor: After my first summer at Hilltop, after only one session as a camper, I knew that I wanted to one day be a counselor.  I keep coming back to Hilltop because it's great to be a part of the team that creates such a memorable, enjoyable summer for so many kids each year. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: Because I always feel like I'm coming home to my summer "family"!		Age: 20 Hometown/Country: Glasgow, Scotland University: University of Strathclyde (Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences) Interesting fact about myself: I was voted the best personality in my year at school Experience with kids: I have aided in the running of soccer, tennis and basketball camps for the past three years. As well as gaining coaching certificates in sports such as Hockey, Soccer, Tennis, Rugby and Badminton.  Why I want to be a camp counselor: I think it would be an amazing experience and I think my enthusiasm would shine onto the kids and we can learn from each other and have the best summer of our lives! Why I choose to work at Hilltop: They seemed the most trusting camp; I received offers from four camps at the recruitment fair. Hilltop though stood out. The people there seemed friendly caring and it seemed as everyone was genuinely happy to be there. They answered any questions I had and did not put any pressure on me to accept their offer. I found myself trusting them plus the camp itself looks amazing!
Amy		Amber
Age: 19 Hometown/Country: Edinburgh, Scotland School/University: I am currently studying Social Anthropology and Politics at Edinburgh University. Interesting fact about myself: I was interviewed on Scottish television when Dougie Vipond (a famous Scottish sports presenter) covered a long distance, endurance hill race that I was competing in for my running club! Experience with kids: When at school I coached our younger girls soccer team once a week and loved every minute of it, however this had to end when I moved on to University. Now I work part-time at a children's soft play centre as a party host where we play silly games, dress-up, paint faces and balloon model every weekend!. Why I want to be a camp counselor: As a child I never experienced camp life. To finally have this opportunity aged 19 still excites me! I love to see others enjoying themselves and believe that a summer as a counselor will be a very rewarding experience. Why I choose to work at Hilltop:  As soon as I looked on the website I knew it was perfect. I love everything outdoors, active and challenging - Hilltop provided all of these through activities and more! The fact that it is a family based and orientated camp simply seals the deal.		Age: 22 Hometown/Country: Gaylord, Michigan, USA School/University: Central Michigan University, Elementary Education concentration with a special education endorsement, middle level education endorsement, Integrated Science Minor. Interesting fact about myself: Two summers ago I was a teacher at a bilingual school in Oaxaca, Mexico. Experience with kids: I have been substitute teaching for the past two years at all grade levels. I also just completed 16 weeks of student teaching with 9th-12th graders. I also was a counselor at a one week summer day camp for seventh grade students last summer. I have also spent a number of hours volunteering at local schools. Why I want to be a camp counselor: I remember going to camp in 6th grade and loving it! I want to be part of a great experience for another young person. Why I choose to work at Hilltop: When looking at the information on the website Camp Hilltop looked like a great place to be. Their philosophies are similar to the way I feel about children in an educational setting, it just seemed like a great match!