A successful camping season depends on the counselor staff. Nakanawa recruits young women who enjoy camping, have a skill to teach, like the out-of-doors, and, most importantly, give of themselves to the girls. Nakanawa is selective, and the counselors are carefully chosen after formal application and a personal interview. They have successfully completed at least one year of college, and many are college graduates.

The counselor serves, first, as a cabin counselor and, second, as an activity instructor. In Junior camp a counselor will have approximately six girls in a cabin; in Senior camp, approximately eight. Helping girls to live harmoniously as a unified cabin group is the counselor’s first and most important responsibility.