Be part of our amazing team devoted to changing the lives of children and adults with disabilities throughout Michigan and beyond. All of our staff, regardless of position, ensure our campers are having a safe, engaging, and welcoming away from home experience. Whether you are helping campers traverse the ropes course, side-walking at the equestrian center, cleaning the bathrooms, putting up platform tents, or serving a meal YOU WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AT CAMP!
I'm Interested in Joining the Fowler Center Team!
Job Openings
we are hiring Respite Staff for our RESPITE seasonS!
SUMMER 2023 APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED!
Camp Counselors
- Provide and assist campers with personal care based upon individual needs. This includes dressing, feeding, toileting, showering, teeth-brushing, etc.
- Provide direct supervision of the campers to ensure their safety and whereabouts at all times
- Guide and assist campers in a range of outdoor activities - nature , crafts, swimming, fishing, sports, games, campfire activities, and more!
Food Service Supervisor
- Manages all aspects of the kitchen for camp and group programming. This includes menus, food ordering, staff schedules, staff supervision, etc.
- Assist with Food Service staff training.
- Assist with Health Department inspections.
- Ensure Food Service Staff are following all departmental guidelines to ensure proper and safe handling of food and kitchen equipment.
- 40/week. Starting immediately. Ends September 24, 2023.
Camp Cooks
- Prepare a large quantity of entrees, side dishes and desserts, according to pre-set menus for up to 140 people while ensuring safe and efficient preparation
- Adhere to and prepare all special dietary requirement including but not limited to chop, puree, allergies, vegetarian, gluten free, diabetic and other special requirements
- Clean, wash and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, pots/pans and all storage areas in timely, appropriate manner
Kitchen Aides
- Set dining hall tables for family style meal service.
- Put away food deliveries and rotate stock as needed.
- Wash dishes and kitchen equipment after meal service.
- Clean kitchen and dining hall after meal service.
- Assist cook in meal preparations as needed.

With the shared experience of working at camp you will form lifelong friendships with those who live in Michigan and around the world.


Working at camp will allow you to strengthen your teamwork, communication, leadership, creativity, and decision-making skills.
Genuine Connection ~ Make a Difference ~ Have Fun ~ Gain Skills ~ Learn Something New ~ Be A Role Model
WHAT TO EXPECT
- To have fun
- To make some of the best friends you have ever had.
- To feel good about the work you have done.
- To learn a lot about yourself and others.
- To find out how strong your sense of humor is.
- To work very hard.
- To laugh.
- To do some of the most embarrassing things you’ve ever done and have a great time doing them.
- To be outdoors – A LOT
- To gain more from the experience than you bargained for.
- To never have thought a camp session could go so slowly and so quickly at the same time.
- To work very long hours.
- To learn.
- To feel needed.
- To cry when it’s time to say goodbye.

Don't take our word for it.....find out what past staff say

Name: Anne Graham
Summer: 2011 - Lifeguard, 2012
Current School/Career: UofM Health System preschool teacher
Favorite Camp Memory: All the evening programs and chatting & joking with campers.
How has working at camp impacted your career/life: Camp has helped me grow my patience so that now I can work well with the kids in my class. My colleagues have often commented on how well I approach situations when kids were experiencing some big feelings. Camp has also helped me embrace the silly and fun in my classroom - those silly camp songs do come in handy some days!
Summer: 2011 - Lifeguard, 2012
Current School/Career: UofM Health System preschool teacher
Favorite Camp Memory: All the evening programs and chatting & joking with campers.
How has working at camp impacted your career/life: Camp has helped me grow my patience so that now I can work well with the kids in my class. My colleagues have often commented on how well I approach situations when kids were experiencing some big feelings. Camp has also helped me embrace the silly and fun in my classroom - those silly camp songs do come in handy some days!

Name: Nicole Lingnau
Summer: 2015 - Lead Cabin Counselor, 2016 - 1:1/Float Counselor, 2017 to present - Summer Administrator
Current School/Career: Special Education Paraprofessional
Favorite Camp Memory: I have many amazing memories from camp but they all include the growth of our campers.
How has working at camp impacted your career/life: Working at camp gave me the patience I was lacking, experience taking care of others, and the ability to adapt anything to meet the needs of most people.
Summer: 2015 - Lead Cabin Counselor, 2016 - 1:1/Float Counselor, 2017 to present - Summer Administrator
Current School/Career: Special Education Paraprofessional
Favorite Camp Memory: I have many amazing memories from camp but they all include the growth of our campers.
How has working at camp impacted your career/life: Working at camp gave me the patience I was lacking, experience taking care of others, and the ability to adapt anything to meet the needs of most people.

Name: James "Jimmy" Nuse
Summer: 2012 - Lead Cabin Counselor
Current School/Career: Special Education Director for Ionia Schools
Favorite Camp Memory: All of the campouts (and meeting my amazing wife, Danielle!)
How has working at camp impacted your career/life: Camp gave me first-hand experience working with children and adults with unique needs; it solidified my passion for special education and reaffirmed my decision to work with kids.
Summer: 2012 - Lead Cabin Counselor
Current School/Career: Special Education Director for Ionia Schools
Favorite Camp Memory: All of the campouts (and meeting my amazing wife, Danielle!)
How has working at camp impacted your career/life: Camp gave me first-hand experience working with children and adults with unique needs; it solidified my passion for special education and reaffirmed my decision to work with kids.
Not Your Average Summer Job
Summer Camp ~ Weekend Respite Camp ~ Fall Camp ~ Winter Camp
The Fowler Center staff members are friends and family to our campers as well as professional caregivers and group leaders. If you are looking for a place where you can make a difference and impact people’s lives, consider joining our team!
The Fowler Center recruits summer or year-round staff from colleges and universities around the country where many staff are studying special education or education, therapeutic recreation, or related fields. The Center also utilizes international exchange programs to bring summer staff from other countries, adding a dynamic world flavor to camp. The Fowler Center is a year-round facility with full-time summer employment and volunteer opportunities, as well as part-time spring, fall, and winter employment opportunities. Many staff members have gone on from The Fowler Center to pursue professions in some of the following fields: education, social work, occupational, physical and recreational therapy, special education, nursing and medicine, psychology, and other related human service professions. For more information, email lseeloff@mchsmi.org.
Internships & Fieldwork: It is possible to gain college credit or fieldwork hours from work experience at camp. Internships at The Fowler Center can also be set up in several different fields including therapeutic recreation, outdoor education, and parks and recreation management. Contact the camp office or your academic advisor for details. For more information, email lseeloff@mchsmi.org
Respite Cabin Counselor
Respite weekends are an opportunity for campers to make friends, participate in new and different outdoor activities all while learning and expanding on their own creativity, problem solving, and life skills. It gives families and caregivers a break as well.
As a cabin counselor, you will work with 2-4 other counselors to ensure all needs of campers in the cabin are met. You will spend the day with your cabin group caring for campers needs and and helping campers engage in activities throughout the day. You will also be living in the cabin with the campers. For more information on weekend respite camps and future respite dates, click here
Summer Camp 2023 Positions - Read here to find out more about each position!
The Fowler Center recruits summer or year-round staff from colleges and universities around the country where many staff are studying special education or education, therapeutic recreation, or related fields. The Center also utilizes international exchange programs to bring summer staff from other countries, adding a dynamic world flavor to camp. The Fowler Center is a year-round facility with full-time summer employment and volunteer opportunities, as well as part-time spring, fall, and winter employment opportunities. Many staff members have gone on from The Fowler Center to pursue professions in some of the following fields: education, social work, occupational, physical and recreational therapy, special education, nursing and medicine, psychology, and other related human service professions. For more information, email lseeloff@mchsmi.org.
Internships & Fieldwork: It is possible to gain college credit or fieldwork hours from work experience at camp. Internships at The Fowler Center can also be set up in several different fields including therapeutic recreation, outdoor education, and parks and recreation management. Contact the camp office or your academic advisor for details. For more information, email lseeloff@mchsmi.org
Respite Cabin Counselor
Respite weekends are an opportunity for campers to make friends, participate in new and different outdoor activities all while learning and expanding on their own creativity, problem solving, and life skills. It gives families and caregivers a break as well.
As a cabin counselor, you will work with 2-4 other counselors to ensure all needs of campers in the cabin are met. You will spend the day with your cabin group caring for campers needs and and helping campers engage in activities throughout the day. You will also be living in the cabin with the campers. For more information on weekend respite camps and future respite dates, click here
Summer Camp 2023 Positions - Read here to find out more about each position!
- Head Counselor
- Lead Counselors
- Cabin Counselors
- Float Counselors
- Program Instructors
- Arts & Crafts
- Challenge Facilitators
- Lifeguards
- Sports & Recreation
- Nature & Garden Activities
- Music & Dance