Description

We are looking for a  Head Cook ($1,000–$1,200 stipend + lodging + meals) and an Assistant Cook ($700 stipend + lodging + meals) who is comfortable managing both a main meal line and a separate special diets line.

Laurel Family Camp takes place at Laurel Hill State Park (Camp 1) in Somerset County, Pennsylvania from August 1–8, 2026. Kitchen staff arrive on Saturday, August 1 around 2:00 PM to help set up the kitchen alongside Laurel volunteer staff before campers arrive Sunday. Camp concludes on Saturday, August 8, with kitchen teardown and cleanup typically completed by approximately (hopefully early afternoon), depending on volunteer support and camp breakdown progress.

The kitchen serves a traditional main serving line in the dining hall while also accommodating gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and allergy-related needs through a separate special diets setup maintained in the kitchen. The ideal candidate understands how to prepare satisfying, home-cooked style meals for a traditional camp audience while also thoughtfully accommodating dietary restrictions in an organized and safe manner.

Typical meals at Laurel include:

Breakfasts:
Pancakes, eggs, and bacon
Breakfast burritos
French toast and sausage
Breakfast casserole
Oatmeal, cereal, fruit, milk, and non-dairy options daily

Lunches:
Quesadillas (chicken or vegetarian) with corn
Cold cut sandwiches with gluten-free bread available
Pulled pork sandwiches with pasta salad
Hot dogs and macaroni and cheese
Daily salad bar with protein options

Dinners:
Pasta bar and salad
Herb roasted chicken with rice and vegetables
Taco bar / rice bowls
Pizza night with gluten-free and dairy-free options prepared separately
Burgers, fries, and roasted vegetables
Leftover buffet / clean-out night

Desserts and snacks are provided throughout the week, including brownies, cobblers, cookies, fruit, popcorn, vegetables and hummus, and other simple snack options.

Wednesday is intentionally designed to be a lighter cooking day for the kitchen team, including cold cuts/sandwiches for lunch, and delivery pizza and icecream for dinner, with minor cooking of diet sensitive pizza for special diets. Wednesday evening also includes Laurel’s camp talent night.

Laurel Family Camp is held at Laurel Hill State Park (Camp 1), featuring a commercial-style kitchen refurbished in 2024 and a spacious dining hall. The kitchen includes a large flat-top and range cooking area, double ovens, commercial ventilation hood, stainless steel prep tables, and ample workflow space for a small team.

Laurel’s Head Kitchen Director and previous Head Cook are available before camp to provide guidance regarding menus, ordering, kitchen setup, workflow, and what to expect in the Laurel kitchen. Past menus are available to use or adapt as desired. The goal is to provide support and continuity while also giving the Head Cook freedom to run the kitchen in their own style.

Responsibilities include menu planning, food purchasing within an established camp budget, cooking, kitchen organization, supervising assistant kitchen staff, coordinating workflow and meal timing, maintaining food safety standards, and helping coordinate kitchen setup and closing procedures alongside volunteers and campers.

Kitchen staff arrive Saturday afternoon before camp to help set up the kitchen alongside Laurel volunteer staff. Camp runs Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast. Saturday breakfast is intentionally simple as campers and staff begin camp cleanup and departures, and campers assist with dining hall cleanup and kitchen teardown as part of the closing-day camp process.

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Laurel Family Camp is a week-long, intergenerational Christian family camp held each summer at Laurel Hill State Park in Pennsylvania. We host approximately 60–80 campers ranging from young children to grandparents, creating a close-knit and welcoming community for the week.

Laurel is built around simple, meaningful connection—shared meals, music, conversation, and time outdoors. Each day includes optional morning programs, small group discussions, free time, and evening gatherings. Some campers come for the spiritual programming, while others come for the community and traditions that have developed over many years. Both are fully welcomed.

Food is a central part of the Laurel experience. Campers deeply value home-cooked, from-scratch meals and gather three times a day in the dining hall. Meals are hearty, family-style, and thoughtfully prepared, with a strong emphasis on whole ingredients rather than pre-packaged food. Meals do not need to be fancy—just nourishing, consistent, and made with care.

Requirements

•  Experienced cooking and comfortable working in a busy kitchen environment serving approximately 60–80 campers
• Comfortable managing both a main meal line and a separate special diets line
• Ability to accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and allergy-related food needs in an organized and safe manner
• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and cross-contamination prevention practices
• Ability to plan and prepare hearty, home-cooked meals using whole ingredients rather than relying primarily on pre-packaged or heat-and-serve foods
• Strong organization and flexibility in a camp kitchen environment
  Positive, collaborative, team-oriented attitude
• Comfortable supervising assistant kitchen staff and coordinating kitchen workflow and meal timing
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift kitchen supplies and food deliveries
• SafeServe certification appreciated, but not required
• Must be available before camp to help coordinate food ordering, food pickup, restocking, and related kitchen preparation with Laurel staff
• Must be available for the full camp week, including Saturday setup before camp and Saturday closing-day kitchen cleanup alongside volunteers and campers