Learning Isn’t Just for the Campers
Yo! Camp is not just a camp, but a deep experience for both campers and staff. Check out this piece written by one of last years staff on her experience.
Read the Story
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Join us on staff and give kids an unforgettable community experience this summer. Help us build community, personal discovery, and life-lasting memories for all of our campers.
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Through a seven-day overnight experience, carefully crafted curriculum, an all-star staff, and a little bit of camp magic, Yo! Camp provides a special experience for teens in the Japanese American community by providing a safe, hands-on environment for family fun, personal discovery, and life-lasting memories.
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Sunday, June 29, 2025
thru
Saturday, July 5, 2025
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Camp Seely
250 CA-138
Crestline, CA 92325
*Camp has a new location in 2025!
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9-14, entering 4th grade - entering 9th grade
18, or exiting Senior Year of High School and above*
Prior experience in youth development is not required, only a strong desire in working with kids along with an open mind to learning and feedback.
*General staff training will be provided virtually prior to camp to cover the basics of camp roles and expectations. All staff members will be placed on teams where they can learn and grow together.
Come ready to learn and work hard for our kids. That’s all you need.
There are a variety of roles available at camp. Upon registration, prospective can share their preferences on where they’d like to be placed.
Responsible for the effective implementation of daytime and night activities for all age groups. Instructors will prepare, execute, and evaluate activities. In addition, instructors ensure that planned hourly activities are fun, educational, engaging, and memorable.
Responsible for administrative coordination and camp marketing. Includes registration, photo & video, receiving parent inquiries, daily parent emails, emergency preparation, drills, and other duties.
Responsible for monitoring allergies, medications, conditions and assisting campers and staff in times of injuries & sickness. Medical staff members provide directives during times of medical emergencies.
*This is the one staff role with required background. Prospective medical team members must be accredited, vetted, then selected by our current medical team.
Responsible for leading and supervising an age-specific group of campers throughout the week. Counselors will shepherd cabin groups between activities, ensure cohesiveness, mentor campers individually, and monitor health and wellness.
Responsible for preparing and serving meals plus kitchen cleanup. Responsible for monitoring dietary restrictions.
There are a few foundational expectations that we hold for staff members across the board. Those include the following:
While a full week is preferable (and also a much more meaningful staff experience), staff members are expected to sign up for at least a half-week (4 days).*
*This does not apply to Regional Leads since you'll be attending the full week.
Come ready to learn and work hard for our kids. That’s all you need.
If this opportunity sounds interesting to you and one of past staffers has recommended you, just complete this quick interest form below. We'll then request to do an informal interview with you to determine if you're a good fit for our program.
Apply to our Staff
Yo! Camp is not just a camp, but a deep experience for both campers and staff. Check out this piece written by one of last years staff on her experience.
Read the StoryDo you remember way back in the day when you were younger. The joy of meeting up with your best school friends during the summer to spend the day riding bikes, eating your favorite local foods, hitting the mall, having meaningful life conversations, and never wanting the day to end? Yeah, it's kind of like that but every day for a week (and not just for the campers, for staff too).
As a counselor at Yo! it was so fun getting to know my cabin and being able to watch friendships develop! It was a wonderful opportunity to have real change-makers in the community as my fellow staffers, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything!
Yo! Camp is a special place where by serving the campers, our counselors are able to build their own sense of identity and community. Our worst kept secret is our staff gets as much out of camp as our campers do.
It’s hard to articulate in words, but for staff, camp is magic. You’ll walk away with new relationships, new memories, and most importantly, with the knowledge that you’ve changed lives - the campers, fellow staffer, and your own.
Take our word for it and try it out, you won’t be disappointed.
No experience is required, just a strong interest in working with kids, and an open mind for learning and feedback. Camp is a learning program for both our campers and staff. We will provide training prior to camp and all staff members will be placed on a team where they can learn from other seasoned staff members.
New staffers will be required to complete a short interest questionnaire (located below) and will be informally interviewed to deem if their a fit to join our program.
No registration cost, you’re volunteering your time. Also, food and lodging at camp are, of course, provided.
~March
Yes. General training will be conducted for all staff prior to camp. Leaders for each role will also conduct role-specific training prior to camp.
All staff will be required to be fingerprinted and undergo and standard federal and state background check prior to camp.
Yes. No exceptions.
This opportunity is for prospective staffers coming from outside of SoCal. If you’ve been contacted about helping to bring out-of-state campers to Yo! Camp, this section is for you.
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See for yourself. Peruse images from in and around last year's program.
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Learn about the Camp Seely site, located in Crestline, California.
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Read our safety policies to see how we’re covering everything from allergies to fire.
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View our pricing for individuals and groups.
We bring together the best. Check out our all-star staff and annual planning committee.
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