Staff Packing List & Tips

Driving directions to camp

Arrival instructions for counselors:

If you are arriving by car, plan to arrive at Hosmer Point on Friday, June 12 at 5:00 PM.

Drive through the entrance to the top of the hill. Staff will be waiting to greet you. We will have dinner for you when you arrive

Arriving by Bus, Train, or Air

Please contact us before buying tickets so we can coordinate picking you up. We are at least two hours drive from all major transportation hubs.

You can either fly into Burlington International Airport or fly to Boston Logan International Airport.

If you are taking the train, you can take Amtrak to Waterbury, Vermont or Burlington, Vermont.

Boston Pick Up: If you are flying to Boston or would like a ride from Boston, plan to be at Boston Logan airport at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, June 10 if you would like us to pick you up. Please tell us if you will need picked up so we can plan accordingly.

Staff lounge wifi password: nokidsinternet

When & Where You Can Use Phones/Computers

Hosmer Point is a technology-limited area. You will be able to check your phone and use your computer while in the staff lounge during your daily off period, after 9:30 PM if you are not needed in the cabin area, and during time off. You will not be able to use your phone the rest of the time, and there is no cell service in the cabin areas. Let your friends and family know that you won’t be immediately available during the day.

Food

-Blackbird Bistro (sandwiches, cocktails)

-Parker Pie (pizza, beer, maple lemonade)

-The Genny in Craftsbury (sandwiches, pizza, snacks)

-The Genny in Albany (burgers, fries, maple creamies (ice cream), poutine (fries with cheese and gravy))

-C Village Store (icecream)

-Whetstone Wellness (smoothies, juice, bowls)

-Village Restaurant (Hardwick Diner)

-Dusit Thai Cuisine (Newport - Thai and sushi)

Activities

Walking distance:

-North Beach (community camping and swimming spot)

-Craftsbury Outdoor Center Gym (check with office for hours and yoga/cross fit class schedule)

-Craftsbury Outdoor Center mountain biking trails

Biking distance:

-Craftsbury Farmer's Market (Saturdays)

-Craftsbury Public Library

-”The Waterfall” (ask Jordan or Charlie for directions)

Half-hour drive:

-Explore Hardwick or Morrisville (thrift shops, coffee shop, book stores, and more)

-Nearest Walmart: Derby, VT

-Bowling at Missisquoi Lanes in Lowell, VT

-Caspian Beach, Greensboro VT (popular sandy beach for swimming and people watching)

-Movie Theaters: Bijou Cineplex 4 in Morrisville or City Cinema in Newport

-Bread and Puppet + Museum of Everyday Life("super weird and super cool" - Carrie)

-Highland Center for the Arts (in Greensboro -performing arts venue and art gallery with coffee shop - check hours before you go)

Hour Drive:

-Elmore State Park (hiking and swimming)

-Hike Mt. Pisgah and swim at Lake Willoughby (there is also a nude beach)

-Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour

-Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, St. Johnsbury (fun for science nerds and people who like weird Victorian taxidermy collections. There is art made out of dead bugs!)

-Jay Peak Tram Rides (ride a tram for epic mountain views)

-Sutton, QC (just across the Canadian border - cute walkable village with food and shops)

-Spa Bolton (Nordic spa with hot tubs and saunas, across the border in Quebec. ~$30-$40 for evening visits)

-Kingdom Trails (epic mountain biking in Burke, VT)

2 Hour Drive:

Head to the big city! Burlington and Montreal are within 2 hours and have excellent food, museums, and shopping options.

Employment Agreement

Employee Handbook

Counselor Handbook

Counselor Job Description

Additional job descriptions for counselor leadership and extra responsibility rolls

Cook job description

Payroll Enrollment

We use Gusto payroll software to get everyone paid. After you arrive, you’ll receive an email with an invitation to complete your payroll paperwork in the Gusto Wallet app or online.

Log-in or download Gusto Wallet app

You must complete all the required forms before we can pay you.

Things you’ll need:

• Bank account information, including your account and routing number (must be for a US bank)

• A passport OR two of the following: US social security card, birth certificate, driver’s license

• How to complete your W4 form (you may want to check with your parents if they claim you as a dependent on their taxes). International staff should usually file as EXEMPT, but you can check with your financial advisor to be sure - especially if you or your parents live or work in the US at other times of the year.

Getting Paid FAQ:

• Staff are paid weekly on Friday for the work they did the previous week.

• Your first pay day will be the second Friday after you start working. For most staff, that means your first pay day will be June 26 (the arrival day does not count as a work day). If your Gusto paperwork was not completed by June 23, you will not get paid until the Friday after your paperwork is complete.

• Your last paycheck will be issued a week after you leave camp. You should be paid nine times if you work for just the overnight camp season.

• Taxes are automatically deducted from your pay. Check in Gusto to make sure the correct amount is deducted.

• Check your Gusto account to make sure your pay rate (before taxes are taken out) matches the Employment Agreement you were emailed.

• If you need help with your payroll forms, talk to the office staff. If you think there is a problem with your pay rate or taxes, talk to Carrie or Ali.

Paying Your Taxes:

Most people who get paid in the US are required to file taxes, which means to submit payment records to the government. International staff also need to file taxes.

• You will receive a W2 form in the mail and in your Gusto account sometime in January. You will need this form to file your taxes. If your parents claim you as a dependent, you should give this form to them.

• Taxes must be filed by April 15.

• It is possible that too much tax was taken out of your paycheck. If this is the case, you will get it back as a refund after you file your taxes.

• You can file your taxes for free, but it may be easier to use a paid service.

• International staff should check with their visa agency for tax instructions and service recommendations.

Your Mailing Address at Camp:

Your Name c/o Hosmer Point Camp

76 Hosmer Point Lane

Craftsbury Common, VT 05827

Camp office number: 802-586-2090

Camp email: office@hosmerpointcamp.org

Carrie’s Cell (in case of emergency): 814-442-0663

Arrival: Plan to arrive by 5:00 on June 12. The first day of camp is June 21.

Time off:

The following days/times are session breaks which will be off for everyone.(Counselor staff will have an additional day off and an additional evening off and kitchen staff will have daily 8-hour shifts and an additional day off each two-week session, but those won't be scheduled until during the summer):

Afternoon of June 19- morning June 21

Afternoon of July 3 - morning July 5

Afternoon of July 17 - morning July 19

Afternoon of July 31 - morning August 2

If you anticipate needing additional days or times off, please let us know as soon as possible!  The more notice we have, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate your request. Also, let the office/scheduling team know about your time off needs after you get to camp.

Departure:

Last day of camp is August 14, and last work day is August 15. Staff should plan to depart the morning of August 16.

Kitchen and garden staff may have a slightly different schedule.

If you are age 21 or older and have five or more years of driving experience, you may be able to drive camp vehicles as part of your job.

You may also be able to borrow vehicles from other staff to use during your time off.

• If you want to drive in the USA, you will need an International Driver's Permit, as well as your driver's license from your home country.

• An International Driver's Permit is a translation of the information on your driver's license into several major languages.

• You can get them from auto associations or government offices (it is different for every country).

Before you leave home, check to see if your bank card from your home country can be used in the United States, and check that exchange rates and fees are reasonable. All of your meals will be provided at camp, but you may wish for smaller amounts of money to go to a restaurant a few times or buy small items during your time off. For reference, a meal in a casual restaurant will cost $15-$20.

Debit cards or Apple Pay are accepted almost everywhere, so there’s no need to exchange money to get cash.

You will need a bank account with a US routing number in order to get paid. If you are from one of the countries on this list, the easiest way to do this that we’ve found is to set up a WISE bank account and request a US routing number. More information here: https://wise.com/us/account/. If you have a Revolut account already, that will work as well.

If you cannot get a WISE account with a US routing number (this includes staff from Mexico and Turkey) you will need to set up a Payoneer “freelancer” business account and request a US routing number. Please follow these instructions. From your Payoneer account you can transfer money to your home bank account or to a WISE account (WISE is often the cheapest way to transfer and exchange money).

Set up your WISE or Payoneer account before you leave home so that you will have easy access to any documents you need, and especially if you want to have a WISE debit card mailed to you. If you don’t want to get a WISE card, you can also transfer money from your WISE or Payoneer account to your home bank and use your existing debit card (if it works in the US). Check your bank’s fees and the WISE fees for your country to see what is the best option.

You will need a US Social Security Number in order to get paid in the United States. You can only apply for a number after you arrive in the US, and it will take around six weeks to receive the number. Generally, we are able to pay international staff before the number is received, but if you are unable to set up a bank account with US routing number before you arrive, a social security number will be required to set up a local bank account and we might not be able to pay you until the account is set up.

• There is wifi in several places at camp, so you can use WhatsApp or another wifi calling app to make calls home.

• Public wifi is less available in the US than in many European countries. If you want to make calls/text when you leave camp, you will probably need a SIM card from a US provider. Most iphones and other newer phones can use an eSim card (a code you buy online and enter into your phone). If your phone requires a physical card, it is cheapest to get a pre-paid SIM card in advance and have it mailed to Hosmer Point.

• There are multiple phone networks in the USA. The GSMA (also known as AT&T) network has the best coverage here, so try to get a GSMA or AT&T SIM card. Check that your phone uses the GSMA network first (most phones from outside the US and all newer iphones do).

• This SIM card from Red Pocket is a good value and works on the GSMA network.