Welcome, Chestnut Staff!

The Staff Chestnut Essentials have been created to help every member of our team feel prepared, supported, and inspired as we head into the summer. Whether it’s your first year or your fifth, this page will help you get ready to make the most of your Chestnut Lake experience.

The Staff Chestnut Essentials are designed to:

• Provide insight into key aspects of camp life, expectations, and preparation
• Highlight essential steps for completing your staff forms and onboarding
• Offer helpful reminders and resources that will set you up for success this summer

Each Staff Chestnut Essentials section focuses on a theme, making it easy to find what you need when you need it. We hope this collection helps you feel confident, connected, and ready to bring your best self to Chestnut Lake.

Please note that we will be hosting Staff Meetings (virtually on Zoom) for all staff members in the off-season, leading up to the summer. Those meetings are scheduled for:

Reminders will be sent for the meetings, and for those who miss a meeting, a post-meeting recap will be sent to all staff members.

Here are the topics for our Staff Chestnut Essentials (click on the links embedded in the headings to read more on each topic):

LIFE AT CAMP

This page gives staff a big-picture feel for Chestnut Lake — where it is, what makes it unique, and the values and philosophy that drive the community. It also walks through the nuts and bolts of living at camp (housing, meals and snacks, laundry, uniforms, fitness, mail, and daily life) so staff know what to expect from their home away from home.

EXPECTATIONS & GUIDELINES

This page lays out what it really means to work at Chestnut Lake — how to prepare for the summer, what daily life and time off look like, and how staff are expected to communicate, use technology, and care for themselves. It also highlights core expectations around safety, conduct, dress code, professionalism, and attitude so staff understand the standards that create a positive, kid-focused camp community.

WELLNESS & SUPPORT

This page explains how Chestnut Lake supports staff health and well-being, from medical care, medication procedures, and supervision structure to the many leadership and support people available to help. It also offers practical guidance on self-care during the summer and paints an honest picture of the staff experience as intense, meaningful, and deeply supported.

FORMS & ONBOARDING

A step-by-step guide to completing your required forms and employment documents. (See the
Forms Page for detailed instructions and links.)

TRAVEL & ARRIVAL

This page walks staff through how to get to and from Chestnut Lake, how they’ll access essentials like toiletries and supplies once they arrive, and what support camp provides with transportation and shopping. It also gives a snapshot of Staff Orientation & Training, so new staff know how they’ll be prepared, connected, and set up for a successful summer from day one.

COMMUNITY & CONNECTION

This page centers on how Chestnut Lake’s “Bring Out Your Best” philosophy, core values (Confidence, Leadership, Character), and Guiding Triad shape a staff community built on belonging, respect, and genuine relationships. It also highlights how staff can contribute to that community, build friendships that last beyond the summer, and start connecting even before arriving at camp.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Chestnut Lake. In this place, staff not only make camp incredible for our campers but also build lasting friendships, grow personally and professionally, and experience the magic of summer in a whole new way.

Think Camp!