Seacamp Staff & Leadership
Our Staff
Working with us has many benefits that will last well beyond the summer. Our diverse staff come from all across the United States and abroad. For those of you pursuing careers in Marine Science or Education, the skills you gain here will be invaluable. The certifications and hands-on experience we offer will allow you to diversify your skill set and gain insightful experience in a wide variety of fields. For many of you, Seacamp will offer you some of the most memorable experiences in your life.
We offer many different positions providing tremendous opportunities to lead, mentor and make a difference in our campers' lives. Many of our campers and staff return each year for these and many other reasons. We have positions that require particular Marine Science and water skills but many others that don't. All require a desire to want to be in a child-centric environment.
Our application packet has a list of other employement opportunities included in it.
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FAQ
Where is Seacamp?
We are located in Big Pine Key - 30 miles north of Key West and a 3 hour drive from Miami. Big Pine Key is a laid-back, nature centric area with a few local businesses and modern amenities. Our location is truly one of a kind and situated in close proximity to some of the most impressive ecosystems in the world. Big Pine Key is home to the National Key Deer Refuge as well as surrounded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Our waterfront facility is a prime example of the best the Lower Keys has to offer.
What dates do staff work for the summer?
Depending on your position we'll need you to arrive May 22 and stay until August 31. Our staff training is extensive and we invest a lot of time, expertise and resources in preparing you to help us deliver the best camp experience in our field. You will take this training and certifications with you in addition to many great memories and friendships. Certifications include Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through the American Red Cross, NAUI Skin Diving Instructor, and NAUI Rescue Diver if SCUBA certified. Our training also focuses on fundamental values such as leadership, teamwork, and community living.
What is Seacamp like?
We are a 60+ year old marine science summer camp offering extensive opportunity for environmental education. Our setting is designed to support every aspect of what we do and the pace at camp can be intensive. Our program is ambitious and there is very little downtime. This being said, the atmosphere at Seacamp offers opportunity for immense growth among campers and staff alike. We wholeheartedly believe in community living and practice these values as much as we preach them. Aside from on the job experience, you will also gain invaluable experience in personal growth and life skills.
In 1970, the Seacamp Association, Inc. expanded into a year-round program to include the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute ("NHMI"). NHMI also has marine environmental education as its goal and hosts numerous groups - public and private schools, colleges, and adult workshops - from September through May of each year. The programs are highly flexible, with groups visiting from 3 to 30 days, in addition to one-day programs for local schools.
What are our campers like?
Our campers are boys and girls age 10-17 from all over the US and some international. They come this distance because they have a passion for marine science and our other offerings and are eager to pursue this. If you share this passion you will be working with a lot of kids who may have been a lot like you were. Our campers are looking to learn from you and build bonds with you. Many of our most successful campers eventually become staff.
Do I have to have previous camp experience?
No, but you have to enjoy teaching, coaching and mentoring kids. If you haven't worked at a camp you will find it an amazing environment, unlike anything you've experienced before. You will make a lot of friends quickly - some of whom will be lifelong ones. You will be thrown into an intense atmosphere with an electricity found in few other endeavors in life. Many of our staff come back year after year and aren't shy about telling you they live for the summers.
Where do I live and have meals?
Staff live with campers in Seacamp’s dormitories. Each dorm room has a private bathroom and space to store your belongings. Certain support staff and leadership live in staff-only housing. All of us eat together in our dining hall right on the ocean. This is of course all part of your package with us. We want you to be comfortable, sleep well and eat well as the days require all your energy.
What is the camper to staff ratio?
Overall, there is one staff member for every three resident campers. This close relationship makes it possible to encourage individuality and provide for small group instruction.
What are our values?
We want every person that interacts with Seacamp to walk away with life skills that not only make them better stewards of the environment, but better people. Our four values that guide everything we do are confidence, growth, accountability, and empathy. Through these four values we strive to encourage young people who visit us to make positive changes within themselves that will ripple out to change the world.
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Our Leadership
Reece Spencer, Executive Director
Reece started his journey with Seacamp in a crib in his mother's office at 2 weeks old. Reece has a rich family history with Seacamp starting with his aunt, Irene Hooper, founding Seacamp in 1966. Irene's sister and Reece's mother, Grace Upshaw attended as a camper for the first summer and had been the camp director for over 40 years until her passing in February of 2022. Reece has been a camper and held many staff positions in previous years. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Florida State University and worked at an environmental engineering firm until returning to Seacamp full time in the Fall of 2021. Reece is continuing with the family legacy of teaching today's youth about marine science and environmentalism.
Interview with Director (YouTube)
Judy Gregoire, Camp Director
Judy is from Massachusetts and has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Marine Science from Boston University. She started at Seacamp as a Science Instructor in 1996 and moving up to Intern Coordinator from 1998. She left Seacamp for a few years to pursue a Masters Degree in Science Education from the Florida Institute of Technology. She returned in 2007 as the Director of our school year program, Newfound Harbor Marine Institute (NHMI). She is currently the Camp Director for both summer and school year programs.