Many of our counselors were once campers themselves. It’s not uncommon for a 20-year old counselor to have been attending CSM for over half of his life. In these cases, we are very familiar with the young men and women and know their families very well. Often, these counselors have worked for us as counselors-in-training, so we also know them in a professional sense.
We also recruit counselors from area universities and seminaries. Working as a camp counselor is perfect training for a young person who is pursuing a degree in education or any other people-intensive field. Lastly, we hire counselors from accredited agencies who recruit oversees.
In the past, we have hosted wonderful exchange counselors from countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and both North and South America. This cultural exchange is a unique opportunity for our campers to really get to know someone from a different part of the world, who may speak a different language, play different sports, and celebrate different holidays, all the while sharing similar attitudes about spirituality and moral standing.
In every case, each counselor, administrator and support staff member undergoes a complete application and interview process. We check personal references and run professional background checks. Before our staff members work directly with campers, they take part in a week-long training period, during which we carefully observe all of their traits, habits and leadership styles. By the time they greet our campers, we are confident that each Sancta Maria counselor has met the highest and most demanding standards to work with your children.
