BOLD & GOLD Internship
An Outdoor Leadership Development Program
YMCA of the North’s BOLD & GOLD program offers a paid internship program at our Camp Widjiwagan, Camp Menogyn, and Camp St. Croix locations, for young people ages 16-18-year-old. The Internship Program allows young leaders to develop their wilderness, leadership, interpersonal, and intercultural skills, by participating in a paid training program, followed by co-leading trips alongside camp staff.
What to Expect
Interns will participate in an initial training session to receive group management, experiential education, youth development and wilderness skills instruction. Following their training trip, Interns will co-guide a trip(s) alongside a Widjiwagan/Menogyn/Croix staff member. These co-lead trips will be geared towards the younger campers, and are often introductory experiences. Interns will have a chance to get to know and build friendships with other members of their cohort, and will also receive a gear stipend as a part of the experience.
While the internship is an incredible opportunity for leadership development and experience within our camp settings, we find that all our interns take what they learned in this program back to school and community settings, where they are (or become) leaders in other capacities.
“I was pretty nervous about doing the internship, because I’d never been away from home for that long and I knew it was going to be a very challenging experience, but it ended up being one of the most important times of my life. Yes, it was hard, but I learned so much about myself and the people and world around me, and I found an incredibly fun and accepting community. It’s a challenge, but it’s worth it.” - BOLD & GOLD Intern
Application Process 2026
Individuals interested in applying for this internship position will first need to complete a written, online application, which can be found here beginning December 15th, 2025. This written application will be open from December 15th to January 16th, 2026. We will not accept any applications past the January 16th deadline.
The second step after the written application, is a Zoom interview with the Summer Program Director at either Camp Widjiwagan, Menogyn, or St. Croix. We will reach out after January 16th to schedule interviews for early February, with internship decisions being sent out in early March.
Applicants may apply to more than one site, and preference is given to applicants who can commit to the whole internship time block. While there isn’t an experience requirement, our most successful interns have shown enthusiasm for developing leadership skills, youth development work, and a passion for the outdoors.
Applications for 2026 will open on December 15, 2025.
Dates + Spaces
Menogyn hosts 6 interns each summer. The Internship runs from July 19 to August 14.
Menogyn's intern training includes a backcountry training trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and runs from July 19–24. Following training, interns will co-lead two or three canoe trips, which may include a combination of 5-day BWCA Intro Canoe Trips or 12-day BWCA Canoe Trips.
Widji hosts 6 interns each summer. The internship runs from July 13 to August 7.
Intern training, which includes a training trip in the BWCA, runs from 7/13 - 7/24. Then interns will co-lead one or two trips, either one 12-day Intro to Canoe Trip or two 5-day Pathfinder Canoe Trips. Both end on 8/7. Interns will be selected to lead either the Intro or Pathfinder Trips based on their interest, experience, co-leads, and the needs of camp. We feel that there are valuable learning opportunities to guiding both shorter trips and a longer trip. You do not need prior camp experience to qualify for this position.
Croix hosts 4 interns each summer. The Internship runs from July 12 to July 20.
Intern training will be at camp and on camp trail on the St. Croix River in the Intern's first days at camp. Then Interns will co-lead one to three trips, these may range from an on-site overnight with our youngest group of campers, to weekend trips with our other BOLD and GOLD camper programs. Interns will be selected to lead these trips based on their interest, experience, co-leads, and the needs of camp.