FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Make friendships that will last a lifetime. Develop your leadership skills. Build up your resume. Gain hands-on ministry experience. Grow emotionally and spiritually. Laugh until your sides hurt. Explore one of the most breathtaking corners of creation. Save money from typical commuting costs. Constantly find yourself exclaiming, "We're getting paid to do this?!" We could go on for hours, but we'll let these folks convince you...

Cascades is located 25 miles east of Olympia and Interstate-5 near Yelm, Washington. It's approximately 90 minutes from Seattle and just over two hours from Portland.

The average commitment is between 6-12 weeks, though shorter contracts are available in some cases. Head here for information on specific start and end dates.

We continue to hire until all of our positions have been filled, so there is no official deadline to apply. However, many of our positions do fill up quickly, so we would recommend applying as soon as you can.

Salaries for Summer 2027 will be announced soon!

Cascades offers a summer staff grant that allows summer staff with financial need to apply for extra assistance. This is so finances are not a barrier to working at camp. This grant can be used for travel expenses, like airfare.

We ask that all summer staff have finished high school and are at least 18 years old.

Yes, all lodging and meals are provided. We don't have your typical "camp food" either - our food services team does an amazing job of keeping things fresh, including accommodating for a variety of special dietary needs.

You will receive a short break each day and 24 hours off or more each week. Exact days and times vary by position and department, but the majority of staff will receive their 24 hours off each weekend. Requests for additional time off (for weddings, graduations, etc.) will be considered on a case-by-case basis during the application process.

Clothes – We experience hot, cold, and rain during the summer, so come prepared!Sturdy shoes – You'll want solid tennis shoes no matter which department you are primarily working in this summer.Swimsuit – full coverage swim attire is required (men, no speedos - women, no two pieces where the tops don't touch the bottoms).Laundry soap – We have three washers and three dryers available for shared use. There's also a laundromat nearby in Yelm.Battery powered alarm clock – Cell phones cannot be used as alarm clocks or watches while you’re in cabins with campers.WristwatchToiletries – Don't forget sunscreen and bug spray, as well as the other obvious things like soap, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, etc. You may also want a shower tote/caddy.TowelsBible, journal, pens, & books"Comfort” items – Camp is going to be your home for a couple of months, so feel free to bring your favorite stuffed animal if you so desire. No judgment here!Water bottleFlashlight or headlampBackpack – Your backpack is going to be your closest companion this summer (besides Jesus).Personal medications – Bring enough of your prescription/daily meds for the whole time you’ll be with us this summer. Please come with your own supply of cold/allergy medicine, Tums, Tylenol/ibuprofen for headaches, cough drops, anti-itch cream, Neosporin, band-aids, etc.Bedding – Twin sheets and blankets, or go the sleeping bag and pillow route.Camera – Dust off that old digital camera or buy a disposable one to capture all those memories with your new best friends!Cash – You may want to keep a few bucks on you to spend at the canteen, espresso stand, or gift store. (Though, we also take apple pay and debit/credit cards out here in the middle of the woods!)Spare car key – If you're bringing a car with you, please also bring a spare key for us to keep in the office in case of an emergency.Compact storage drawers/trunks/etc. – There is a really good chance that you will end up changing housing multiple times throughout the summer - especially program staff. Plus, they will help you keep your space clean and organized!Camouflage/dark-colored clothes – We play night games every week, and dark-colored clothing is going to be your friend if you don't want to immediately lose.Team color clothes – Program staff in particular, please bring clothes in team colors: red, yellow, blue, and green. Goofy costumes are highly encouraged!Fancy clothes – Fancy dinner nights are a regular occurrence in the summer. Tuxedos, tacky prom dresses, paper towel bow ties, and tutus are all excellent choices.Spirit clothes – In general, we like to have fun and dress up around here. And if you forget something... – The nearest Walmart is only 15 minutes away, so never fear!

We have two washers and two dryers available for shared use. You are responsible for your own detergent. There's also a laundromat nearby in the town of Yelm.

We're more than happy to chat and see if a position on summer staff will fulfill the requirements you're looking for. In the past, we've had summer staff receive credit for internships in engineering, education, media studies, business, youth ministry, and more.

We want our campers and guests to get away from the distractions of everyday life, and limiting our technology usage as staff is one of the ways we carry this out. With that said, free Wi-Fi is available to staff during off-duty hours.