This will be no ordinary summer
You can make a difference. Live your faith in your work and play. Inspire greatness and create the safe space for kids to be who God created them to be. You'll play hard, and work even harder and it'll make you stretch and grow in ways you haven't before.
College-aged students who want to invest in youth this summer: we would love to meet you! We hire a diverse group of young people who all have a passion to "Be with kids and show them God".
2027 Summer Staff Applications open early November
Let us know you're interested and we will send a reminder!
Explore the website and watch some highlight videos
Read the job descriptions, and our “Be Part of Something Bigger” post to ensure that you align with Sonlight Core Values and ministry intent.
Be familiar with the Staff Handbook to learn more about some of the parameters of the position and our camp community. If you agree with our statement of faith and Core Values, then complete and submit a application.
Following your submitted application, Interview with Sonlight Leadership staff.
Applications will open early November
Be with kids! Live and work alongside the campers, mentoring, guiding and sharing all the fun of camp. Read the full Job Description here.
This entry level kitchen position is perfect for someone who enjoys cooking and food and wants to learn the ins and outs of a commercial kitchen whilst being a part of the wider camp community. Read the full Job Description here
Capture the spirit of Sonlight in photos, videos, and other media. Your creative vision is required to tell the Sonlight story to parents and camp families. Read the full Job Description here
Support the flow of camp operations by coordinating the behind the scenes work that makes the magic happen. Program setup and takedown, dishes, and most importantly, managing the crew to help you do so. Read the full Job Description here
This experienced kitchen position is perfect for someone who enjoys serving others through serving great food and being part of a larger camp community. Great home prepared food is a priority for Sonlight Camp. Read the full Job Description here
Sonlight’s Camp Nurses are responsible for the healthcare of campers and staff. Current Colorado (or nurse compact state) RN license required. Read full Job Description here
2027 Summer Staff Applications open early November
Summer Dates
Why Sonlight? Our camp is small, and the benefits profound. We get to know kids on a personal level, and our impact is great. Each week is a different age group, so activities, worship and everything we do is tailored to that specific age group of campers. We live the Core Values of Sonlight as we work and play together
When does the hiring process begin? Our application process opens Early November. We usually have all of our staff hired by the beginning of April
Where do your staff come from? All over! Our staff are a diverse group of young people from all over the United States. Some staff are former campers, others found us on Google, and everything in between. We enjoy having a good mix of folks to have a well balanced team
Is this a paid position? Yes. All of our summer staff positions are paid. In addition to your paycheck you also receive room and board, laundry, and worker’s compensation insurance
When does staff training begin? Staff training begins late May, start dates vary depending on position. The summer season runs through early August. A staff commitment is for the entire summer season
What about health insurance? Sonlight offers a small accident / illness insurance policy for summer staff. It does not cover any pre-existing conditions. It is for injury /illness only. It is a small policy, not major health insurance
Is your program of study camp related? You may be surprised to know that you can get academic credit from working at a summer camp! Sonlight is more than willing to work with college students who are interested in utilizing their summer not only as a summer job but as a paid internship or to receive college credit. Many of Sonlight’s summer positions relate to the following fields of study:
If you are interested in receiving academic credit by working at Sonlight, first check with your advisor. Usually it involves a bit of paperwork on your part. Call us 970.264.4379 (main office)
Sonlight Staff Handbook Everything you need to know about being on staff at Sonlight
Staff Application Start the conversation about whether a staffing position may be right for you
Top reasons to work at camp this summer Provided by the American Camp Association From the American Camp Association:
CONTACT INFO
1536 Sonlight Place
PO Box 536 (USPS)
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Be With kids. Show Them God.
Caretaker
Thom’s Sonlight connection began in 1990 when he brought youth from the Phoenix area to ski; that trip continued for the next 18 years every March. He then participated in a handful of adult backpacking trips before extending an offer to volunteer in the off season. After almost a decade of spending chunks of May volunteering he now calls Sonlight home year round serving “wherever is needed”.
Thom holds a BS in Communications from the University of Puget Sound as well as a MDiv from Luther Seminary, which led to his 35 years as a Lutheran Pastor. The initial driving factor of finding the best way to be in service to others was evident in his ministerial work and has translated significantly to his contributions at Sonlight in retirement.
When not fixing things or working on new projects Thom enjoys golfing, cheering on San Francisco sports teams, and playing the guitar. He has three grown children and two grandchildren.
Co-founding Sonlight in 1979 with his wife, Mary, the calling that began simply as a “small, summer only backpacking program” that turned into what so many call home today can be accredited in part to the faithfulness of Winston. His passion to creatively solve problems and find solutions is evident in all parts of camp. An avid backpacker himself, he also enjoys bike touring and has logged over 14,000 on his touring bike. Nowadays, he serves as Board Treasurer and Camps ultimate human resource, providing insight to all things property and Sonlight history.
Winston earned his BS degree in Social Psychology from Colorado State University. He began working for Presbyterian Highlands Camp before deciding to start his own program, with a lot in between it's probably just easiest to say “and the rest is history”!
In his free time Winston enjoys traveling, spending time in the backcountry, and befriending as many furry friends as possible. You’ll find him around camp with a cup of coffee and Truman by his side.
Camp Director
From her middle school years as a Sonlight camper to spending her college summers on Summer Staff to then joining the full-time team as Program Director, Claire can’t imagine any other way to spend her summers! Now, as Camp Director, she continues to bring Sonlight’s vision of creating a community of well-being to life through her gifts of strategic planning, creativity, and intentionality.
Claire holds a BS in Psychology from Regis University, where she spent much of her time involved in University Ministry. She served as a Peer Minister to first-year students and coordinated opportunities for fellow students to discover how they were being called to use their gifts in service to others.
When she’s not immersed in the camp world, Claire enjoys reading, just about any outdoor activity, and spending time with her three-year-old kitten, Frankie.
