Spend your summer making a difference
Working at Camp Aranzazu is more than a job—it’s an experience that shapes you.
Our summer activity leaders play a vital role in cultivating a welcoming and inclusive space where everyone feels loved and accepted. They’re the ones leading activities, ensuring safety, and creating special moments full of camp magic for each of our camper. We are currently hiring for our 2026 summer season.
New Activity Leader
Every year, Camp Aranzazu hires roughly 20 college aged individuals with varying skill sets to work as Activity Leaders from mid-May to mid-August. Activity Leaders have the fun and impactful job of cultivating belonging for campers of all ages and abilities by creating accessible, empowering, and intentional camp experiences in Rockport, TX. Activity Leaders facilitate a variety of activities including, but not limited to arts and crafts, archery, high and low challenge courses, sports and games, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, sailing, swimming, nature sessions and more!
This paid position has the potential to satisfy fieldwork and internship requirements in various fields of study.
Due to position availability, spots are limited so please submit your interest form as soon as possible.
RETURNING Activity Leaders
If you have at least one summer at Camp Aranzazu under your belt and you're ready for more, we want you back! As a Returning Activity Leader, your experience means you can hit the ground running, helping us mentor our new team and welcome our 2026 campers with confidence.
While every summer brings its own unique magic, we can guarantee a season filled with plenty of fun, delicious food, and intentional opportunities for you to grow alongside your fellow activity leaders. Submit your interest form today and help us lead the way as we continue lighting the campfire for the next 20 years!
Our Mission
Camp Aranzazu cultivates belonging for campers of all ages and abilities by creating accessible, empowering, and intentional camp experiences in a coastal environment.
A WORLD BUILT FOR BELONGING
Benefits & Opportunities
Weekly stipend with opportunities for raises if you continue employment past one summer and opportunity to continue making money by working in the off-season or applying to be one of our resident activity leaders for the semester.
Our full-time program team members provide personalized mentorship and high-quality letters of recommendation, offering direct connections to camp alumni, internship links, and the American Camp Association job hub.
From May -August, you'll get free housing, free utilities, free laundry and lots of fun camp swag. All meals will also be provided when camp is in session (and our food is delicious!), no need to buy groceries!
Turn your summer into a professional head start by earning internship or practicum credit while gaining the hands-on experience and cross-field knowledge that will make your resume stand out to future employers.
Opportunity to earn a variety of certifications - many that you can take with you to other jobs: lifeguard certification through the American Red Cross (includes CPR and first aid training), Texas Parks & Wildlife Angler Education, Food Handlers certification, and a site specific challenge course certification facilitating our high and low challenge course.
Gain hands-on experience working with diverse populations including those with disabilities, disabling conditions, and other barriers to camping while connecting with CEOs, physicians, specialists, therapists, health care workers, teachers, and more.
Located in Rockport, you'll be just 30 minutes from the beautiful beaches of Port Aransas and a short drive from major cities like Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, giving you the perfect home base to enjoy our rich coastal environment and explore Texas on your time off.
Interested in learning more?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a typical day at camp look like?
At Camp Aranzazu, no two sessions are exactly alike because we design our schedules around the specific needs of our campers and partners. You can expect a high-energy environment that starts early at the dining hall for flag raising and breakfast. From there, you'll be out in the field leading activities scheduled by the program team through the late evening. It’s a full day of impact, but our program team is with you every step of the way to ensure everything runs smoothly. Check out our A Day At Camp page for a sample schedule, and remember that your energy and fun are what make the magic happen!
Wondering who leads our programs?
We can’t wait for you to meet the five full-time staff members who make the magic happen! From your initial training to daily mentorship, these amazing women are here to ensure you have everything you need to succeed. While they each bring unique backgrounds to their work, they are united by a shared commitment to accessibility and a love for sharing our beautiful camp with others. Equally as important, they are passionate about showing up for our activity leaders - serving as your mentors and go-to resources to ensure you feel supported and empowered every single day. Get to know our team below!
Amelia
Amelia Smith, CTRS | Camp Director
Camp is truly in Amelia's DNA. She’s been going to camp since age 9 and has been working or volunteering at camps since she was 15! She officially joined Camp Aranzazu in 2013 as an Activity Leader. After earning her Therapeutic Recreation degree from Georgia Southern University and becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), she applied her expertise in various program roles before being named Camp Director in Spring 2017.
When she's not at work, she can often be found enjoying her favorite spot at camp (a rocker on the dining hall porch or the bird blind) or spending time with her loved ones. She’s also mom to Maren, Mowgli, and Moth (and is married to her camp crush)!
Carleigh
Carleigh Mitchell | Program Manager
A proud Corpus Christi native, Carleigh first found her love of working with the disability community right here at Camp Aranzazu as an activity leader. After earning her BS in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, she honed her skills by coaching multiple Special Olympics teams and working as an Adapted Physical Education Para Educator.
With continued passion for the Coastal Bend community and a curiosity for the intersections of inclusion, Carleigh returned to Camp Aranzazu full-time in 2019 as a Program Manager. She loves that she’s able to be part of creating something so wonderful for our partners and campers, all while supporting the growth and creativity of her incredible team.
When she's not having fun at camp, Carleigh loves to read, dance, talk all things pop culture, and adventure with her husband and friends!
She is a champion of the camp experience and is driven by the greater impacts it brings - “I love being reminded each season that what has been created here is so much bigger than me and will last long after I’m gone- through our campers and team being advocates in their own communities and building spaces of true belonging.”
Hannah
Hannah Heide, CTRS | Program Supervisor
Originally from Macomb, Michigan, Hannah has been part of the Camp Aranzazu family for years, starting as an Activity Leader for two summers before being officially hired as Program Supervisor at the beginning of 2023. She brings a wealth of specialized knowledge, including a Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy from Grand Valley State University, her Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification, and experience as a Lifeguard and Kayak Instructor.
For Hannah, camp perfectly intertwines her love for nature, recreation, creativity, and human connection. She constantly finds moments of awe and wonder here, noting that while the campers are the true focus, she selfishly loves experiencing the goodness and warmth herself!
Outside of camp, Hannah loves pursuing photography, capturing everything from weddings to graduations.
Her photos of Camp Aranzazu have even been featured in the American Camp Association magazine! She also loves to travel to visit friends, attend music festivals, and explore National Parks.
Gill
Gill Murphy, CTRS | Program Supervisor
Gill joined the Camp Aranzazu team as an Activity Leader in 2022. A graduate of Longwood University with a BS in Therapeutic Recreation, she is also a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). She brings a deep passion for working with special populations, particularly children and teens, and loves sharing the importance of recreation through outdoor activities.
Gill's dedication quickly expanded her role, leading to her current position as Program Supervisor, where she actively empowers others.
When she is not at camp, she can often be found finding the best bayfront sunsets and enjoys spending her off time traveling and making memories in nature with her family and friends.
"Camp Aranzazu has touched my heart in so many amazing ways, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to watch Camp grow and see the impact it has on everyone that gets to experience it."
Take a closer look at life at Camp Aranzazu
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