Staff information
All work at Vässarö is carried out by volunteers. Each summer, around 60–100 people make up our staff team, working together to create memorable experiences for the scout groups visiting the island.
Our staff members come from different backgrounds and age groups. Most are between 18 and 25, but our team also includes families and people of all ages. Every summer, we welcome international scouts who bring new perspectives, experiences and cultures to our community.
The staff is divided into smaller teams called patrols, each responsible for different areas of work. Every patrol has a patrol leader who coordinates the work and supports the team. Previous experience is valuable, but what matters most is a positive attitude, responsibility and a willingness to learn and contribute.
As a staff member, you belong to your patrol, but you are also part of the entire Vässarö team. We help each other out whenever needed!
Requirements
We would like you to:
- Speak and understand English.
- Be a member of a Scout organisation affiliated with WOSM or WAGGGS.
- Be between 18 and 25 years old.
- Share the core values of Scouting.
- Be positive, friendly, responsible and willing to work!
Most importantly, we want you to be open to meeting new people, sharing experiences and becoming part of our community.
Practicalities
As a staff member, you will receive:
- Pocket money of 40 SEK per day.
- All meals during your stay.
- Accommodation in one of our staff cabins.
- Bed linen and towels.
- A free Vässarö T-shirt.
Staff members usually share rooms with 2–6 people. We eat together in the dining hall, which is an important part of everyday life on the island.
Working at Vässarö is rewarding, but it is also hard work! There are no fixed working hours, as they depend on the needs of the camp and your patrol. Work usually starts after breakfast and can continue into the evening. We make sure to include breaks, time for fika and, when possible, opportunities for swimming and relaxing.
There is no fixed schedule for days off, but patrols try to arrange some free time whenever the workload allows.
Life on the island
Being a staff member is about much more than just working. You will become part of a close-knit community where we live, work, eat and spend our free time together.
We occasionally arrange staff activities and evenings, which can include anything from games and movie nights to sailing or a campfire on another island. Our international staff members sometimes take the initiative to organise an evening and share something from their own country or culture.
Vässarö is a beautiful island, surrounded by nature and the sea. Life here is quite simple and informal, and we hope you will enjoy both the work and everything that happens in between!
We look forward to welcoming you to Vässarö and hope you will have an unforgettable summer with us!
Camp periods 2027
The summer at Vässarö is divided into two camp periods:
Period 1: 13 June – 18 July
Period 2: 18 July – 22 August
The staff changeover takes place on Sundays.
Period 1 – Midsummer and the beginning of summer
The first period includes one of Sweden’s most beloved traditions: Midsummer! On 25 June, Swedes celebrate Midsummer with flowers, traditional food, music, dancing around the maypole and long, bright summer evenings. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience a very special part of Swedish culture while enjoying the beautiful archipelago.
Period 2 – The heart of the Swedish summer
The second period takes you through the heart of summer and towards the end of the season. The island is full of life, with scout groups arriving from different parts of Sweden and Europe and plenty of opportunities to make new friends and share experiences. You’ll also be part of the team that brings the summer season to a close – something special in its own way!
Joining us for the summer
We encourage international staff members to stay for an entire camp period. This gives you the best opportunity to get to know your fellow staff members, become part of your patrol and experience everyday life on Vässarö.
If you are unable to stay for a full period, we are happy to discuss other arrangements. We recommend arriving at the beginning of a period rather than halfway through, as it makes it easier to settle in, get to know everyone and become part of the team.
Whatever period you choose, we promise you a summer filled with new experiences, challenges, laughter and friendships!
Description of workplaces
Please let us know if there is anything in particular you are interested in doing, according to the descriptions below. However, you must be prepared to step in wherever your help is needed. This applies to all staff.
Program
As a member of the Program Staff you get to guide groups on the Trapper Trail and the Nature Track. You instruct in handicraft and lend/sell material to visiting groups. The Program Staff organize certain activities for the groups and does maintenance work on the trails.
Kitchen
We have two kitchen crews who alternate; you work from lunch to lunch, then you have 24 hrs off. This is the only task where you have scheduled time off. You cook three meals during your 24 hr period, and usually the dining hall will have between 100 – 250 eating guests. There is a cook/chef in charge, a volunteer like yourself, and 4 – 5 other assistants. Some kitchen crews consist of previous groups of friends but most often they consist of ”odd” people who get to know each other well, doing a good job and spending time off together.
Food Supply
We are very proud of our food supply service! It holds a very high standard and our camping groups are usually amazed at what it can do for them! If you work in the Food Supply group, called ”Inten”, you will measure and package food for the camping groups, prepare sandwiches and soup for the new groups arriving and for those who are leaving. You will most certainly be involved in preparing much-appreciated picnics for staff night-out, etc.
Bakers
As a Baker you make all the bread that is consumed on the island, including cookies and goodies. There will probably be 2 – 4 people working as Bakers depending on age and experience. You may have to work the night shift.
Sailing instructor
”Fladan” is the name of our sailing and canoeing harbour. If you work in Fladan you are one of the sailing instructors responsible for the theoretical and practical instructions on land and sea. You will also be working with the maintenance of the boats and the canoes. Priority is given to those with experience in the field. Please make a note on the application form.
Services
Services or ”Lillvärdinnor” (hostesses) as it is called in Swedish. You take care of the communal laundry, of the cleaning of certain buildings (e.g. showers, Chapel, sauna, dining hall etc), you make the flower wreaths for birthdays.
Land transportation
Tractor is what it sounds like, the tractor crew, who take care of all land transportation, be it luggage, food, garbage or latrine. It is often physically hard work. We have several tractors on the island and after you have become acquainted with the arts of driving a tractor on Vässarö, you work in smaller groups, alternating between the different kinds of rounds required. You work close to the Services group.
Communications to and from Vässarö
To Stockholm by air
From Arlanda International Airport, 50 kilometres north of Stockholm, Skavsta (”Stockholms South), 110 kilometres south of Stockholm or Bromma Airport in central Stockholm, Airport Coaches will take you to Cityterminalen, central Stockholm.
To Stockholm by train
If you travel by train you need to go to Stockholm central station.
From Stockholm to Vässarö – from Stockholm city central to Ellans Vändplan
We start at Stockholm central station. You will find yourself at Centralstationen in Stockholm. From either points of arrival, please find your way to the underground (marked with a blue ”T”-for Tunnelbana – on a white background). Take the red line to Tekniska Högskolan where you change from underground to bus. You want to catch bus # 676 to Norrtälje where you change to bus # 637. The bus ride takes almost 3 hours. The last bus stop on the route is at Ellans Vändplan.
To check departures, please visit:
www.sl.se
The last bit
If you travel by your own (bus, car)
You should head for Norrtälje, Älmsta and then Grisslehamn. In Grisslehamn, which is a small fishing village, you will find a sign along the main road that says Singö. Follow that road (on your right) until you reach a sign saying Singö Kyrka (=church). Turn left and pass the church until you reach a crossroad, where you will see the first Vässarölägret-sign. Turn right at that sign and follow the small road until it ends in a parking lot and a jetty/ harbour. You will see our signs. Please drive slowly on the dirt road!
Contact number:
If you need to contact us in any matter during your travel to Vässarö don’t hesitate to call us at: +46 173 370 22. (Telephone closed and you’re travelling and in need of immidiate assistance? Call +46 173 371 19)
