summer camp jobs

Founded in May 2014, The Hive is an established education company focused on Outdoor Learning and Forest School. We offer holiday camps and school workshops for children aged 5-13 in and around London, as well as accredited Forest School training for adults. We recently opened a small Forest School nursery in South East London and are currently developing a residential camp offer to launch in 2026. The Hive is unique in the UK, bringing together outdoor learning, narrative and gamified challenges in a Forest School setting.

Please see our website for more information about our work:

We are currently seeking facilitators to lead and support our Bushcraft missions at one of our outdoor holiday camps, where we deliver a week of dynamic and enjoyable outdoor sessions to children and young people aged 5 – 13 years, in a safe and positive environment.

Detailed Job Description

Our holiday camps are based on the concept of “Hive Missions”: week-long immersive adventures and projects where children and young teens explore, create, problem-solve and collaborate in the outdoors. Our bushcraft missions are designed like mini adventures, with a focus on bushcraft, Forest School and nature skills, alongside gamified challenges and a loose narrative. On a Hive Mission, you might be living as a Viking for the week on Vikingar!, exploring the Amazon rainforest on Destination Jungle, crafting longbows on The Longbow Squad, cooking an outdoor feast on Bushcraft Kitchen, etc… There are 20 different bushcraft missions at The Hive, so no two days are ever the same!

As the Mission Lead or Support Facilitator, you'll be responsible for the overall success of the Hive Mission, supporting our goal to nurture happy, safe and engaged children who are learning as much about nature and the outdoors as possible through a broad range of practical, creative and problem-solving skills.

Our facilitators are a vital part of our team and many stay with us for years, as members of our supportive community. Our small Camp HQ team (our Head of Camps, Logistics Coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator and Team Assistant) are there to support you throughout your time with us. They work on the ground and focus on developing a real sense of teamwork and shared responsibility to help you deliver the best possible camps.

The benefits we offer include fees above the London Living Wage, long-term contracts, access to subsidised external training courses, free breakfast, end of week drinks and social events, discounted training opportunities on our Forest School Training courses, staff discounts for parents, and a fun birthday celebration, should your birthday fall during camp ☺.

Responsibilities

• Lead or Support the delivery of the Mission Flow to a group of young people from 8 – 13 years old, ensuring that the learning objectives are met.
• Engage the group with bushcraft and survival-based activities including shelter building, fire lighting, whittling and wild cooking skills.
• Nurture teamwork and group dynamics, making sure that all children are participating, achieving their goals and enjoying themselves.
• Ensure the safeguarding and safety of the children in your care at all times.
• Ensure close supervision of the children at all times.
• Ensure that you are aware of children’s needs – medical, emotional, learning, etc., using the registers provided, and ensure that you attend to them.
• Supervise some lunch and snack times following a team rota.
• Interact professionally with parents and carers.
• Support the set-up, pack down and maintenance of all mission resources.

Personal Specification

We are hiring both Lead and Support Facilitators. Please see the job descriptions on our website for a full list of job requirements.

The Hive is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are determined to ensure that no applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.

Working hours and time requirements

Before camp: A minimum of one day's training, to be confirmed after a job offer is made. Training usually involves a half day of Induction Training and approximately one - two hours of Mission Training for each mission you run. Training will take place in February 2026, March 2026 or June 2026 (depending on the role offered to you).

Working hours: Our camps run Monday - Friday, from 8am - 6pm (except for Monday, which starts at 7.45am). Your shift will be approximately 8.5 hours and will include a one-hour break.

Camp dates and Locations

As much as possible you will be based at one location in 2026. You will need to be available for at least two consecutive weeks at your chosen location, but preferably more. Please confirm which dates and locations you are available for in your application.

Our Camp locations are:

• Blackheath Prep, Blackheath, SE3 0NJ
• Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood, HA6 2HT
• Dulwich Prep, Dulwich, SE21 7AB
• St Paul’s School, Barnes, SW13 9JT

Our Camp dates are:

February Half-term

• Monday 16th - Friday 20th February 2026

Blackheath Prep and Dulwich Prep

Easter

• Monday 30th March - Thursday 2nd April 2026
• Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th April 2026

All locations

Summer

• Monday 13th - Friday 17th July 2026

Blackheath Prep and Dulwich Prep

• Monday 20th - Friday 24th July 2026

Blackheath Prep, Dulwich Prep and Merchant Taylors’ School

• Monday 27th - Friday 31st July 2026

All locations

• Monday 3rd - Friday 7th August 2026

All locations

• Monday 10th - Friday 14th August 2026

All locations

• Monday 17th - Friday 21st August 2026

All locations

October Half-term

• Monday 19th - Friday 23rd October 2026

Blackheath Prep and Dulwich Prep

• Monday 26th - Friday 30th October 2026

Blackheath Prep, Dulwich Prep and St Paul’s School

There may also be term-time school workshops available on an ad-hoc basis for successful candidates.

Our safeguarding statement

The Hive is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. We expect all staff, freelance contributors, volunteers, and visitors to share this commitment.

All roles are subject to rigorous safer recruitment procedures, including enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, identity verification, and reference checks.

Staff and freelance contributors are required to:

• Adhere to The Hive safeguarding and child protection policy at all times.
• Undertake regular safeguarding training and maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding practices.
• Immediately report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of a child to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

We believe that children have a right to learn and grow in a safe and nurturing environment. Creating a strong culture of safeguarding and protection is everyone’s responsibility at The Hive.

Job Type: Freelance

Pay: £610.00-£760.00 per week

Application question(s):

• Due to our safer recruitment policy, we cannot accept applications without a completed application form. This can be found on our website here: https://thehive-kids.com/pages/jobs

Please confirm that you will read the full job description and complete an application form. Please confirm that you understand your application will not be considered without a completed form.

Work Location: In person