How do I apply and what can I expect from a summer at the Sunset Bay Wharf
If you are already familiar with our operations and wish to apply for a position for next summer or beyond, please follow this link to our online application: https://form.jotform.com/220135711683147 and send us an email here to let us know to review your application sunsetbay@sunsetbaywharf.com We will get back to you promptly to schedule a call or additional information.
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Sunset Bay Wharf is a fast growing organization with student enrollment increasing every year. We have new career and seasonal positions every year with resume building opportunities for young people with a passion for the outdoors and empowering the next generation. There is simply no more valuable, fun, and rewarding way to spend a summer or beyond than at the Sunset Bay Wharf, living and working with young people from around the country and the world.
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Summer Positions
The following summer operations positions are available each year:
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Counselor
Counselors are assigned in pairs to lead one of the 8 age specific Orca, Dolphin, Seal, and Minnow cabin groups each week. They receive additional assistance from CITs and are primarily responsible for the fun and welfare of their group.
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Counselors are trained as lifeguards, and since the main form of transportation at camp is paddleboards, counselors must be sufficiently fit and with sufficient balance and water skills to pass lifeguard training, and be able to stand up on paddleboards and lead paddleboarding groups. Counselors with aptitude may also trained to operate the Zodiacs for trips to the sea lion buoy. There are 20-25 summer Counselors positions.
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Instructor
Instructors are responsible for teaching Beach Camp curriculum to the Orca, Dolphin, Seal, and Minnow cabin groups. Instructors receive assistance from CITs and Counselors, but are primarily responsible for holding class and delivering instruction in the 20 some skill and knowledge areas that we teach. Instructor positions include the following.
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-Sailing Instructor
-Skimboarding/Skateboarding Instructor
-Kayak/Canoe/Rowing Instructor
-E Surfer Instructor
-Climbing Gym Instructor
-Beach Biking Instructor
-Marine science tide pooling Instructor
-Fishing Instructor
-Rope rescue/rigging/knots Instructor
-Gymnastics Instructor
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There are 10-15 summer Instructor positions.
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Managers
Beach Camp Managers are responsible for overseeing Counselors and Instructors, scheduling activities, managing food service and facilities, and answering parent inquiries. Manager positions include the following.
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Head Instructor - Oversees Instructor Staff
Head Counselor - Oversees Counselor Staff
Dock Manager - Oversees facilities and day to day camp operations
Zodiac Manager - Oversees Zodiac operations
Compliance Officer - Insures that camp procedures are being followed
Food Service Manager - Runs the kitchen and meal service
Parent Liaison - Answers parent inquiries
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Staff Compensation and Overview
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Summer teaching staff receive round trip air fare from anywhere in the country, $4,000 ($400 per week) stipend, food and lodging, and free time use of camp facilities, so that at the end of the summer, camp staff are likely to have almost their entire summer pay still in the bank.
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Summer staff attend two staff training weeks followed by 8 Monday to Saturday camp sessions. Like any manager within an organization, our counselors and instructs, lead and motivate their group to accomplish a wide variety of missions each week. And like any modern organization manager, leadership is accomplished through fun and encouragement. What is unlike a typical management trainee job, is that our leaders live and work with young people like themselves from around the country and the world, and get a fresh start each week with a new group of students to try out new things and work toward finding their best leadership voice. Beach Camp educators leave with friends and connections across the globe, and with leadership experience equal to many years or many jobs in a typical organization.
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I'm not sure what I want to do next, what can Sunset Bay do for me?
​The mission of the Sunset Bay Wharf is two-fold. To educate and empower our students with marine science and outdoor education life skills. And, to educate and empower our staff by helping them develop the type of soft skills necessary for success here or in any field they choose to pursue.
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It goes without saying that you can accomplish a lot more with an organization behind you. But it’s a lot harder to work within an organization because it requires special “soft skills” that take time and opportunity to develop. ​The three main soft skills for getting along and advancing within organizations are “managing up” (dealing with your boss or bosses), “managing down” (dealing with your subordinates), and “managing across” (dealing with your peers in the organization). All three take real world practice to develop. There’s no book that can do it for you, and there is no one single way to be. Everyone needs to find their own voice, and the Sunset Bay summer program offers a unique opportunity for young people to practice these soft skills in a forgiving and low stress environment.
The ability to start afresh each week leading an entirely new group, and being able to work with different staff members each week, is experience that would take years to replicate in a typical job with the same co-workers and customers year after year. ​​And the Sunset Bay Wharf is small enough that all educators have daily one on one interactions with the directors, giving them experience “managing up” which would take years to replicate elsewhere.
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​At the end of each summer season, teaching staff in good standing are eligible for year around positions with favorable odds. And for staff members where a career match is not in the cards, the Wharf may still be able to offer subsidized housing and hourly work sufficient to allow part time staff to support themselves while attending college or grad school or launching another career path job search.
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​​Although it is never easy for young people to obtain meaningful work and financial independence right out of school, the Sunset Bay Wharf offers a well trod path and supportive environment for young people to grow, learn, relax, and pursue their dreams.
Look us up!
Sunset Bay Wharf
14725 Norma Beach Road
Edmonds, WA 98026
206-324-6715 Main
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