Line Cook
Turn Up the Heat on Your American Summer
Imagine starting your shift with a view of misty mountains and a crystal-clear lake, then stepping into a buzzing professional kitchen where every plate you send out makes someone’s vacation better. That’s daily life as a Line Cook at The Lodge at Schroon Lake, a beautifully reimagined lakeside resort operated by Olympia Companies in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Park.
This is a Summer to Fall position paying $20 per hour for approximately 45 hours per week — one of the strongest earning opportunities in the Work & Travel USA program, with real culinary experience you can put on your CV for life.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Preparing and cooking menu items on your assigned station (grill, sauté, fry, salad or prep) to the chef’s standards
- Handling mise en place: chopping, portioning, marinating and organizing ingredients before service
- Plating dishes with care and consistency so every guest gets a picture-perfect meal
- Following food safety, allergen and HACCP-style sanitation procedures at all times
- Keeping your station, equipment and walk-in coolers clean, stocked and organized
- Communicating clearly with the sous chef, servers and fellow cooks during busy service
- Receiving deliveries, rotating stock (FIFO) and helping reduce food waste
Why Schroon Lake, New York?
Schroon Lake is a classic Adirondack village — nine miles of clear water, sandy beaches, hiking trails, kayaks, campfires and the kind of small-town American charm you’ve only seen in films. You’re surrounded by 6 million acres of protected wilderness, with Lake George about 45 minutes away, Lake Placid within reach, and easy weekend trips to Montreal, Boston and New York City. Summer here means swimming after your shift; early fall means the world-famous Adirondack foliage exploding in red and gold.
What You Get
- $20.00 per hour — excellent pay for a Work & Travel placement
- 45 hours per week, with overtime paid according to New York State law
- Extended Summer to Fall season = more weeks, more savings, more travel money
- Employee meals during shifts and training from experienced American chefs
- A résumé line from a respected hospitality management company (Olympia Companies)
- An international team of colleagues and friendships that outlast the season
- Housing assistance and support from your Work & Travel coordinators
What We’re Looking For
- University students aged 18–25 enrolled in the Work & Travel USA program
- Previous kitchen, restaurant, hotel or catering experience is strongly preferred
- Conversational English — enough to read tickets and communicate under pressure
- Physical stamina: long shifts standing, lifting up to 20 kg, working in a hot kitchen
- Reliability, punctuality and a genuine team-player attitude
- Flexibility for evenings, weekends and holidays — that’s when resorts shine
- A calm head, clean hands and hunger to learn new techniques
Ready to trade the classroom for a chef’s jacket? Apply now for the Line Cook position at The Lodge at Schroon Lake and spend your summer earning great money, mastering a real skill, and living the Adirondack dream. Spots are limited — send your application today!
About New York
New York State runs from the energy of New York City to the Adirondacks, lakes and Niagara Falls. Students work in city hotels and restaurants as well as mountain and lake resorts upstate.
