Intentional Community
The community at Camp Denali is distinctive—and it’s often the reason new staff are excited to join and why many return year after year. Arriving as a new staff member means entering a group of strangers. That anticipation can feel intimidating, but it quickly gives way to connection, because those strangers are also your coworkers, roommates, and neighbors. Research shows that friendships form fastest when people spend meaningful time together—and few experiences accelerate connection like living and working closely through a full season at Camp Denali.
The Rewards and Realities of Our Small Community
Camp Denali’s remote setting—without reliable cell service and with limited wifi—encourages presence and investment in relationships. Stepping away from some modern conveniences can feel like a sacrifice to some and a relief to others, but nearly everyone agrees that the real reward is the strong, supportive community that grows from shared experience.
Living here offers little personal space and minimal privacy. Staff inevitably notice each other’s joys and struggles—heartbreaks, illness, or workplace conflicts—so it can sometimes feel like life in a fishbowl. Most staff come to appreciate the closeness, but it’s important to recognize that everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to being observed and sharing their own lives.
In every group, there will be personalities who keep tabs on others and some who appear more private than they are. Finding a personal balance between being aware of coworkers and being known by them is part of the experience—and respecting others’ boundaries is essential.
About Your Coworkers
Camp Denali staff come from across the United States, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and interests. The first bond is often our shared commitment to Camp Denali’s mission:
To provide active learning experiences and foster stewardship of the natural world through a tradition of community, excellence, and place.
Staff age ranges widely—from 15 to 71, with an average around 36—creating a rich mix of life experience, hobbies, and perspectives.
Community Building
Staff arrive a week before guests for Orientation Week. This time is used for preparing the lodge and cabins after winter, training for jobs, and getting to know one another. Attendance is expected for both new and returning staff, as the week lays the foundation for a successful season and a strong, connected team.
Building community is a shared effort. Staff often lead activities, whether planned or spontaneous, and the company typically sponsors one non-alcoholic social event per month. Examples include:
Talent shows
Murder mystery parties
Scavenger hunts
Field days
BINGO nights
Handmade gift exchanges
Community for a Lifetime
Season’s end is always bittersweet. Everyone is tired and ready for a break, yet saying goodbye to an empty cabin can feel surprisingly heavy. Off-season, staff often reconnect—traveling together, visiting each other’s homes, or attending events that bring former staff together for celebrations like Friendsgiving or weddings.
Working at Camp Denali connects you to a broader network of staff, whether you shared a season or not. For many, those connections last a lifetime.
It was our camp. It wasn't the staff's or the management's, it was our camp together that we were building...It became sort of an extended family, because now we have kids all over the world! Anyone who has ever worked at Camp Denali can go and visit anybody else who worked there. It's a fraternity; it's family, you have to take 'em in."
– Ginny Wood. Boots, Bikes, and Bombers
