Become a Camp Counselor | Earn $15 to $25 per hour

Do you have a passion for guiding, mentoring, and inspiring young people? Imagine shaping lives, fostering friendships, and creating unforgettable experiences as a camp counselor—without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Get paid to work with young campers & teach them new skills.

If you’re ready to bring the magic of camp to the digital world, becoming a remote camp counselor could be the adventure-filled career you’ve been waiting for!

What is Camp Counseling?

Camp counseling is the role of overseeing, guiding, and mentoring groups of children or teenagers during their time at camp, where the focus is on fun, personal growth, teamwork, and community building. Traditionally, camp counselors worked in outdoor settings, such as summer camps or adventure camps, but in recent times, virtual camps have emerged, allowing counselors to lead activities, games, and educational programs from home.

Camp counseling involves organizing and leading activities, ensuring the safety and well-being of campers, resolving conflicts, and fostering an environment where kids can learn new skills and develop their confidence. Whether it’s through team-building exercises, arts and crafts, or virtual outdoor adventures, camp counselors help create enriching, memorable experiences.

What is a Camp Counselor?

A camp counselor is a leader, mentor, and guide for campers, responsible for their well-being, safety, and engagement. Camp counselors design and run activities that inspire creativity, build teamwork, and promote growth. They also act as role models, offering emotional support and guidance when campers face challenges.

As a remote camp counselor, you’ll bring those same skills and enthusiasm to an online platform, running virtual camp sessions. This includes:

• Leading group activities, such as virtual games, workshops, and team-building exercises.
• Facilitating educational sessions on various topics, like nature, science, or the arts.
• Mentoring and providing one-on-one guidance to campers through video calls and chats.
• Ensuring campers remain engaged and active, even in a virtual setting.
• Working with a camp team to organize fun and educational programming.

Who is a Camp Counselor Career For?

A camp counselor career is ideal for individuals who:

• Love working with children or teens: If you’re enthusiastic about guiding and mentoring young people, this career is perfect for you.
• Have leadership and organizational skills: Counselors must be able to manage groups of kids, plan activities, and maintain a positive atmosphere.
• Are patient and empathetic: Working with kids requires patience, understanding, and the ability to manage conflicts or difficult emotions with care.
• Enjoy creativity and outdoor activities: Whether you’re teaching arts and crafts or running virtual scavenger hunts, being creative is a key part of the job.
• Want flexibility: A remote camp counselor role offers the opportunity to work from home while still making an impact on the lives of campers.
• Are outgoing and energetic: You need to be full of enthusiasm, encouraging kids to engage and have fun, even in an online environment.

This career is suited for educators, youth leaders, or anyone with experience working with kids who wants to bring the excitement of camp to a virtual space.

How Much Can You Make?

A Camp Counselor Job Pays: $15 to $25 per hour

As a camp counselor, your earnings will vary depending on whether you work for a traditional in-person camp or a virtual camp. For remote camp counselors, pay is typically based on hourly rates, session fees, or seasonal work.

1. Traditional camp counselor
   • Average earnings: $300 to $600 per week (for seasonal work during summer or winter camps)
     If you work at a traditional camp, earnings can vary based on the camp’s location, prestige, and the counselor’s level of experience.
2. Virtual camp counselor
   • Average earnings: $15 to $25 per hour
     Remote counselors often earn hourly wages, with most camps offering part-time or full-time opportunities for their counselors. The pay may vary depending on the camp organization, the age group you work with, and the type of programming.
3. Specialty or experienced counselor
   • Average earnings: $20 to $35 per hour
     If you specialize in a certain type of activity, such as music, sports, or STEM education, you can potentially command higher rates. Counselors with extensive experience or certifications in education, first aid, or specific camp-related skills may also earn more.

While being a camp counselor may not lead to high-paying year-round income, it’s a rewarding job, often suited for those looking for seasonal work or part-time hours. The experiences and skills you gain as a camp counselor can also serve as a stepping stone to other careers in education, youth work, or leadership roles.

Where to Find Jobs

1. Outschool

Outschool is one of the top platforms for live online classes for kids aged 3–18. As an instructor (similar to a virtual counselor), you can lead interactive sessions in everything from crafts and science to yoga and life skills. You create your own classes, set your schedule, and get paid per student.

Payouts:

Teachers earn 70% of the class fee (Outschool keeps 30%). Rates vary, but many earn $30–$80/hour depending on class size and pricing.

Requirements:

• Must be 18 years+ and pass a background check
• Passion for teaching and leading youth
• No formal teaching degree required

Regions Available: United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.K.

How to Join:

1. Visit Outschool Teach Page
2. Submit an application and course proposal
3. Pass a background check
4. Start creating and leading your virtual “camp” sessions

2. Camp Kinda

Camp Kinda offers virtual summer learning experiences designed for K–8 students. While many sessions are pre-recorded, they hire educators and creatives to develop activities and occasionally lead live sessions or manage online content.

Payouts:

Rates vary by contract, typically $20–$50/hour for live instruction or flat fees for curriculum development.

Requirements:

• Background in education, child care, or youth leadership
• Strong content creation or instruction skills
• Ability to engage kids virtually

Regions Available: U.S. only

How to Join:

1. Visit Camp Kinda and check their About/Jobs page or The Learning Accelerator
2. Apply for seasonal or part-time roles
3. Submit teaching demos or project samples if required
4. Start working remotely on fun, enriching programs

3. iD Tech

iD Tech runs virtual coding, game development, and robotics camps for kids and teens. As a virtual instructor or counselor, you’ll teach STEM topics live in small-group Zoom classes, following a structured curriculum.

Payouts:

Remote instructors earn $18–$25/hour, depending on subject and experience.

Requirements:

• College student or graduate with experience in tech or coding
• Ability to teach programming, AI, game design, or engineering
• Great communication skills and comfort with virtual classrooms

Regions Available: United States and Canada

How to Join:

1. Visit iD Tech Jobs
2. Search for “Remote” or “Online Instructor” positions
3. Complete the application, including technical and teaching assessment
4. Get trained and start your virtual camp counselor experience

4. Connected Camps

Connected Camps offers online camps in Minecraft, game design, digital citizenship, and coding. As a camp counselor (called a “Mentor”), you guide kids in small groups through creative play, collaboration, and tech education.

Payouts:

Mentors earn between $15–$20/hour, with flexible part-time scheduling.

Requirements:

• Must be 15+ to be a junior counselor, 18+ for full positions
• Strong knowledge of Minecraft, Roblox, or tech-related topics
• Great with kids and comfortable leading virtual groups

Regions Available: U.S.-based applicants only

How to Join:

1. Go to Connected Camps Careers Page
2. Fill out the online application
3. Interview and demonstrate your gaming or teaching skills
4. Complete training and start mentoring virtually

5. Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors is an online learning platform offering virtual camps and group classes in everything from writing to STEM and SAT prep. As a “camp counselor” you may work as a live instructor for summer enrichment programs or after-school activities.

Payouts:

Instructors typically earn $18–$30/hour, with performance-based bonuses available.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or progress toward one
• Strong subject knowledge and instructional skills
• Background check required

Regions Available: U.S. only

How to Join:

1. Visit Varsity Tutors Job Page
2. Apply as an online instructor
3. Complete onboarding, assessments, and mock sessions
4. Begin teaching group “camp-style” sessions remotely

6. Camp Wonderopolis

Run by the National Center for Families Learning, Camp Wonderopolis is a free online summer learning platform. While it doesn’t offer live counselor roles regularly, it hires curriculum creators, activity designers, and community moderators on a seasonal basis.

Payouts:

Project-based payments vary—often $500–$2,000 per contract for curriculum or content design.

Requirements:

• Background in education, writing, or STEM
• Passion for informal learning and educational media
• Experience creating activities for kids

Regions Available: U.S. based contractors only

How to Join:

1. Follow NCFL’s Careers Page
2. Look for “Camp Wonderopolis” related contract openings
3. Apply with a portfolio or writing sample
4. Collaborate remotely to build engaging content for kids

Thanks to these platforms, being a camp counselor isn’t just a summer gig in the woods anymore—it’s a flexible, creative, and rewarding remote job you can do from your living room. Whether you love STEM, art, gaming, or life skills, you can inspire kids around the world and get paid doing it.