Summer Jobs

Join Us for a Summer of Literature and Camp Fun

Thank you for your interest in working with the Great Books Summer Program. We are now accepting applications for Program Assistants at our literature and experiential programs for our 2024 season. We will be holding online and on-campus sessions in June and July.  Please complete the application here.

Program Assistant Job Description:

Every summer GBSP hires Program Assistants to work alongside our distinguished faculty and staff at each of our program locations. Our PA’s are top college students with a passion for literature, mentoring, and a desire to help foster an intellectual community for middle and high school students. Program Assistants work with their assigned pods of 6-8 students, serving as resident advisors, academic mentors, and participating in other camp-wide roles during the summer.

Qualifications:

Ideal candidates must be responsible, high-energy, compassionate, dedicated, and flexible college students who have completed at least their sophomore year of undergraduate studies. PA’s must be personally reliable and team-oriented, as well as conscious of their responsibilities as role models for young people. A love of literature and intellectual discussion is important. Previous experience working at a summer program or with middle and/or high school students is a plus. All majors are welcome, though the position may have special appeal to literature and education students and recent graduates. Special interests such as music, art, writing, film, sports, debate, theater, etc. help enrich the program experience for students.

Requirements/Responsibilities:

  • Supervise and engage a group of 6-8 middle or high school aged students (supporting their intellectual and social growth, supervising their activities, and exercising concern and care for their physical and emotional well-being).
  • Stay upbeat, energetic, and organized in a fast-paced environment.
  • Lead discussions groups of students on a daily basis. Lead evening informal discussion with your pod and formal post-lecture discussion with larger groups of students.
  • Assist Art Electives- Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Creative Writing- which are taught by our elective faculty. Art Electives culminate in a final showcase performance.
  • Lead students in informal break activities such as touch football, swimming, hikes, and games during the free time slot.
  • Work closely with program faculty to create an exciting, welcoming, and fun learning environment.
  • Write personal, eloquent, and punctual evaluation letters for each of your campers at the end of the week. These letters are addressed to your campers’ families, and may even be included in their college resumes.
  • Attend orientation training at the start of the camp session.

*PA’s are given one day off per session but will be expected to assist with weekend duties and excursions.

How to Apply:

We are now accepting applications.  Please complete the online application and provide three letters of reference, as well as an official or unofficial transcript. Our staffing is done on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. While there is no application deadline, it is strongly recommended that you have your application complete by March 15, 2024 for consideration.

We require three letters of reference to accompany all new applications, although these may be submitted after the application itself. These references should know you well enough to reflect on your character, personality, and commitment (in some regard), and they should not be family members. At least one of your references should be from a teacher in the school you are currently attending, or last attended. Below are the options in which letters and transcripts can be sent to us:

Email to: hr@greatbookssummer.com

Hard copies can be mailed to:

Great Books Summer Program
PO Box 743
Fairfield, CT 06824
Attn: Summer Employment

If you would like additional information about either position or our program, e-mail us at info@greatbookssummer.com.

You can reach us by phone at 203.612.9470 during regular business hours, 9:00 a.m.—5:30 p.m. Eastern Monday-Friday.

Mentors Drive Learning & Help You Find Your Own Best Thinking

Meet Spencer Lenfield, one of the many program assistants at Great Books camps. His goal is to create a welcoming place to communicate a love of ideas. Spencer is a standout role model, as both a Harvard graduate and a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.