Tag Archives: camp counselor

How To Get Hired At Summer Camp

November 7, 2022 ASC

There’s no denying that great staff can turn a camp from mediocre to outstanding, which is why camps are making a concerted effort to hire extraordinary staff members every summer. Working at a summer camp entails being accountable for the physical and mental well-being of children, which is a job that no parent or camp professional takes lightly.

Jobs at a sleep away camp are highly sought-after positions, not only because you will have more fun than at any other summer job while also establishing lifelong friends, but also because it looks fantastic on your CV/resume. There’s no better job than camp for anyone expecting to work in education or coaching, or for anyone whose résumé could use some padding in the areas of leadership, team management, communication skills, and organization.

Here are our five most helpful tips for getting a great summer camp job.

1. Research, research, research.

When applying for summer camp jobs, take the time to select a camp that you’re enthusiastic about; this will make the application process and your summer much easier. For example, if you know you want to coach , you should look for a camp that puts a priority on sports programs. Remember that most summer camps have a variety of roles available, so be sure to express your preferences to the staffing manager.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, reach out to your top contender with an unique introductory email. A personalized email as opposed to a scripted email will help you stand out right away and will demonstrate to the staffing director that you are personable, excited, and communicative; all of which are attributes that camps look for in staff. In your email, explain briefly why you’re eager to join this particular program. This is an easy approach to demonstrate that you have spent the time and effort to get to know them.

2. Authentically Sell Yourself

You must demonstrate how you will provide value to the camp when submitting your application or participating in a live interview. Concentrate not only on why you believe you would contribute value to the camp, but also on specific examples of times you have exhibited your abilities. When you say, “I’m a great organizer,” the hiring manager is expected to believe you; however, when you outline your skills through accomplishments such as, “I successfully led a small team by creating and meeting deadlines, delegating tasks, and managing a budget,” you demonstrate what you are capable of offering.

Camps value retention, so if you have the capacity and desire to return for multiple summers, let them know! “I am working towards my degree in communications, so if this is a good fit, I would love to return for the next three summers,” displays confidence and vision while also providing a useful competitive edge.

When it comes to camps, many candidates make the mistake of focusing solely on what the camp can provide them. “This will be a great experience for me,” “I haven’t spent so much time outside in forever, I can’t wait to disconnect,” or “I always wanted to go to camp as a kid” may be TRUE – but your enthusiasm for a job does not demonstrate your ability to do the job well or help them understand the value you can bring to the team. Your best chance is to illustrate how you and the camp would collaborate to provide value to the campers.

Summer camps place a premium on relevant experience. While many people believe that working at a camp will be a fun and simple summer, the reality is that you will rarely have to work longer hours or do nearly as much multitasking. Consider moments when you acted as a leader, followed an idea through to completion, and went out of your way to make childcare a priority in your life. As a general rule, remember that camp is all about the campers.

3. Stand Out From The Crowd

Once you’ve established that you’ve covered the fundamentals, it’s time to let your individuality shine! When you have to command the attention of groups of children, your creativity will get you far, and in most cases, the hiring manager is looking for someone who can not only perform the responsibilities of the job, but also someone who can exemplify the values of the camp while fitting into an established community.

Summer camp is a place where kids feel safe being silly and free to be themselves, and a lot of that is because they look up to their counselors. When you show confidence in yourself and a willingness to be silly, play, and talk freely, you make it easy for the recruiting director to recognize the attributes that the campers would see in you.

4. Be Professional

Remember! This is still a job interview. Don’t overlook the standards of professionalism simply because camp is a “fun job.” Prompt communication, meeting deadlines, and using good spelling and language all should be focused on.

Before applying to summer programs, be sure to tidy up your online presence. Make sure you’re okay with potential employers seeing everything on your social media pages. It’s always a smart bet to set your profiles to private because, in the childcare industry, both parents and children will most likely try to look you up. It’s not that you have anything to conceal or are embarrassed about; it’s simply a more professional appearance.

It’s always a good idea to send a quick ‘thank you’ email after an interview. This serves to remind the staffing director of your qualifications while also providing a respectful and professional courtesy.

5. Practice Makes Perfect!

When you are given the opportunity to participate in an interview, you should prepare a few topics to discuss. Remember, if you go into the interview thrilled about the chance but know nothing about the camp’s mission, culture, or programs, you’re unlikely to stand out as a winning applicant. Simply enough, you must be knowledgable about the camp for which you are interviewing.

Another reason to practice, even if only for a few minutes in front of a mirror, is to become aware of your speech’s pitch and tempo. When we are nervous or eager, we tend to speed up and start talking at a mile a minute. Slow down, take a deep breath, and find strategies to soothe your nerves! Speedy talking often leads to rambling, but if you can resist the need to fill the space with chatter, you’ll help to develop trust with the interviewer by exhibiting confidence and allowing them to speak and ask questions as well.

People also have a ‘phone voice’ that is a few pitches higher than their normal speaking voice. Try entering a camp interview with your typical conversational voice. This simple technique may may put you at ease, making the interview feel more like a casual and friendly chat.

Make sure you have a few smart questions prepared in addition to a quick practice session. I’ve never been to an interview where the question “What questions do you have for us?” was not asked. You might get some of your questions answered during the interview, so be sure you have more than just the fundamentals written down. Having questions prepared will demonstrate that you are taking this opportunity seriously and are committed to make the best decision possible.

Ok, are you ready for the best summer of your life?

Apply to Work at Summer Camp

The Camp Counselor Life

November 4, 2022 ASC

Original article by Molly Green.
Posted on October 19, 2022 in The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

Photo courtesy of Molly Green for The Johns Hopkins News-Letter.
Green recounts her experiences as a summer camp counselor and the joy of mentoring young campers.

June 6 was the day my summer truly began. At 6:30 I woke up, put on my bathing suit and sweats and drove to my favorite place: work. My coworkers and I greeted each other in the parking lot, blinking away the mist of the early morning as we started our trek down the hill to the beach.

Coming down the hill, we could see the bin, a big metal box that sits on the sand for the entire summer, filled with camp supplies. When the bin appears, everyone knows that it’s summertime.

To explain: I have the best summer job in the world. The last two summers, I’ve had the privilege of working at California Junior Lifeguards, a summer camp that most kids from Southern California attend at some point during their childhood. The camp helps kids feel comfortable in the water, teaching them ocean safety and the importance of an active, outdoor lifestyle.

That first day of summer, my coworkers and I set up camp for the first time — raising tarps, hammering boundary flags into the sand, stacking surfboards and sand toys — and 30 minutes later, we had built a magical place that would soon be flooded with hundreds of children.

Each morning we would schedule the perfect day as we anxiously awaited the arrival of our campers. Our activities often included runs, games, buoy swims and surf clinics. Sometimes we would take our campers on special excursions to play kickball at a nearby park or to Shell Beach, a marine-protected cove where we could go snorkeling and explore the wildlife.

Although I loved playing games like Nation Ball or Tanks, my favorite parts of being a counselor were the opportunities that I had to connect with my kids — whether that be eating lunch with them and talking about their hobbies, helping to resolve conflict between campers or watching them succeed at something that they previously had been scared to do.

This last thing is something that I got to experience a lot this summer, and it will always be my favorite part of working with kids. While many kids were excited to go in the ocean, each week there was at least one camper who was scared to do the buoy swim.

I’ll admit, the swim is a daunting one — the buoy is placed far past the impact zone where the waves crash, and for someone who has never swum that far before, it can be very scary. We never force the kids to participate, but we always encourage them to do so. I had so many kids face their fears and complete the swim this summer, and it’s always so inspirational to see this happen.

Often the kids ask me to swim to the buoy with them, and some hold onto my arm the entire way there. When we get to the buoy, though, I always make them let go to touch the buoy on their own because even if they swim next to me the whole time, I want them to remember that they accomplished this — nobody else did it for them.

Each day this summer, I woke up excited to go to work for that very reason. Each day I had the opportunity to help my campers achieve their goals, whether those goals be large or small. I helped them gain confidence in themselves and their abilities, I comforted them when they were scared and I congratulated them when they succeeded. There’s no other way I’d rather spend my days.

As we cleaned up camp for the last time, my coworkers and I said goodbye to each other — some of us for the last time. One of my coworkers said she might get a different job next summer, then shook her head.

“I’ve spent the last 13 summers here — as a camper, as an intern and now as a counselor,“ she said. “There’s nowhere else I can even picture spending my summer.”

When she said that, I realized for the first time how much of an impact I was making on my campers. Many of them would attend Junior Lifeguards every year of their childhood, and some, like my coworkers and me, would work here through high school and college.

As she was leaving, one of my two-week campers ran to hug me.

“I have a present for you,” she said and handed me two bracelets that she had made me. “Thank you for being the best counselor ever! These were the best two weeks of my whole summer.”

I almost cried then and there, overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity I had to impact my campers’ lives. With my second summer at camp coming to a close, I realized just how lucky I was to be there.

Molly Green is a sophomore from Orange County, Calif. studying Writing Seminars.

Being a Summer Camp Counselor

August 12, 2022 ASC

Working at Summer Camp Can Be More Than Fun and Skill Development

March 20, 2021 creativenavadmin

Original article by Robert P. Warner and Victoria Povilaitis for the American Camp Association blog.

In this blog, we briefly summarize some of our recent findings related to the seasonal camp staff experience and our work as part of ACA’s National Impact Study.

Working at camp can be a blast and a great opportunity to make lifelong friends while learning skills useful to life beyond camp. Although a great deal of camp research has focused on understanding the benefits of attending camp for youth participants, we know less about what this experience is like for the staff who make the programs happen. Do not fear! Research about seasonal summer camp staff experiences does exist (see Warner et al., 2021 for a review) and more is on the way!

What We’re Learning

Camp can be a complementary setting for young people’s development. In a recent study (Povilaitis et al., 2021), we looked at how the things first-year staff learned at camp compared to what they learned in school and non-camp work. We found that camp employment can be a great setting for young adults to learn relationship skills, leadership, and appreciation for being present in the moment compared to other settings throughout their lives. Our findings suggest that camp employment can be a fertile setting for development that complements learning in school and non-camp work.
Working at camp is meaningful work. In a recent study (for abstract, see Warner et al., 2020, p. 124, full article in press), we wanted to know if camp staff viewed their work at camp as meaningful work, and if so, what about the work experience made it meaningful. Across two groups of staff (first-year and returning staff), we found that young adults think of camp employment as meaningful and that it was meaningful because they could see the impact they were having on youth, their meaningful relationships with coworkers, and opportunities for personal development. We also found that working at camp was more meaningful than non-camp summer work. Finding meaningful work is important to young adults’ career development and our findings suggest that camp can be a great place for young adults to experience it!
Camp employment can contribute to young adults’ career development. In a recent study (Warner & Povilaitis, 2021, p. 63), we wanted to know how working at camp shaped young adults’ work values — or what they desired in their future work. Through interviews with 76 participants who had worked at a summer camp for at least one summer, we found that camp employment was influential in shaping young adults’ work values. We found that the unique characteristics of camp employment (i.e., social setting, impactful work, live-where-you-work, variety) helped young adults’ understand their desires for doing work that makes a difference, that has a supportive work environment and offers opportunities for meaningful relationships with coworkers, work-life balance, personal development, and variety. Our findings suggest that camp employment can be a setting that nurtures young adults’ career development.
First-year staff return to camp because it’s engaging and they feel like they belong. In a recent study (Warner & Sibthorp, 2021, p. 67), we wanted to know what about staff’s experiences working at camp their first summer were related to their return to the same camp for a second summer of work. We found that staff that were highly engaged and felt like they belonged were nearly three times and two times more likely to have returned, respectively. We also found that staff who did not return to camp for a second summer did not return due to pay, different work, and educational opportunities. By looking at staff’s experiences their first summer and their actual return to camp, our findings suggest that creating engaging experiences for first-year staff and helping them feel like they belong can be critical to getting them to come back for a second summer.

What It Means for Camps

It’s clear that there’s a bunch of existing and upcoming research out there about working at camp. This is great, but what does this mean for people who are working directly with camp staff? What can you do to help support staff and make sure they understand the value of their experience? Here are our takeaway points for camp directors:

Help staff recognize they are learning skills. If you have regular staff meetings, ask staff members to identify what they learned that week and share their responses with others. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification and to prompt staff to think more deeply about their responses. For example, if a staff member comments that they learned how to instruct campers in a new version of GaGa, help them identify the skill they learned in this activity (e.g., public speaking, leadership, creativity). When staff hear what skills their peers are learning, they might be more likely to be able to identify what they personally are learning as well.
Learning and development at camp applies to life beyond camp. Taking this concept of learning skills one step further, ask staff how their newly learned skills will impact them in life outside of camp. For example, in an exit survey or journal reflection, encourage staff to think about how they will use these skills in other areas of their lives. You can also prompt them to reflect on certain contexts (e.g., college, other work, personal relationships) or certain groups of skills, such as social emotional learning skills (e.g., communication, respect, empathy) or career-related skills (e.g., organization, time management, problem-solving). Similarly, you could help staff think about what parts of the camp job they liked and would want in future jobs and careers. For example, if a staff member enjoyed the variety of work and active aspect of their camp job, a desk job might be difficult for them in the future. Alternatively, if they enjoyed how they were able to see the meaningfulness of their work and the direct impact they had on campers, this staff member might want to seek out jobs where they can see their impact.
Encourage staff to return. Camp directors recognize that sometimes staff need to move on to different summer experiences like internships or study abroad programs. Other staff might benefit from another summer working at camp. To help encourage staff to return to work at camp, think of ways to increase staff member’s feelings of engagement and sense of belonging. Engagement occurs when staff are immersed in and enjoy the work they are doing. This often occurs with a role change (e.g., arts and crafts counselor becoming a theatre counselor) or added responsibilities (e.g., overseeing other junior staff members). In addition, always think of how you can increase feelings of belonging among staff, whether that be through group bonding events, one-on-one check-ins, or creating a multicultural work environment that recognizes and celebrates the unique backgrounds of staff. Given that the summer camp industry at-large is working to become more inclusive and equitable, culturally responsive and sustaining methods may be a useful way to support staff from a diversity of backgrounds and life experiences so they feel recognized and valued. Helping staff feel connected and valued can go a long way in motivating them to return.

The National Staff Impact Study continues through 2021, so stay tuned for more staff-based research to come!

This blog was written on behalf of Project Real Job’s efforts to help camps recruit, hire, and retain staff.

Photo courtesy of Oak Hill School Summer Programs in Eugene, Oregon

References

Povilaitis, V., Sibthorp, J., & Richmond, D. (2021). Camp employment as a developmental setting for emerging adults: A national mixed-methods study. Journal of Outdoor, Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 13(1), 64-81. doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2021-V13-I1-10545

Warner, R. P., Godwin, M., & Hodge, C. J. (2021). Seasonal summer camp staff experiences: A scoping review. Journal of Outdoor, Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 13(1), 40-63. doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-V13-I1-10535

Warner, R. P., Povilaitis, V., & Sibthorp, J. (2020). Emerging adults’ perceptions of summer camp as meaningful work. American Camp Association Research Forum Book of Abstracts 2020, 124-127. ACAcamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/2020-Camp-Research-Forum-Book-Abstracts.pdf

Warner, R. P. & Povilaitis, V. (2021). Beyond fun and skill development: How seasonal summer camp work impacts emerging adults’ work values. American Camp Association Research Forum Book of Abstracts 2021, 63-66. ACAcamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/2021-Camp-Research-Forum-Book-Abstracts.pdf

Warner, R. P. & Sibthorp, J. (2021). Why first-year summer camp staff return and do not return to work at camp. American Camp Association Research Forum Book of Abstracts 2021, 67-70. ACAcamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/2021-Camp-Research-Forum-Book-Abstracts.pdf

Robert P. Warner, University of Utah: Robert is a PhD candidate at the University of Utah. He works as a research assistant on projects related to positive youth development through out-of-school time settings, like summer camp and outdoor adventure education. Through his scholarship he seeks to better understand the role of youth recreation experiences and seasonal employment experiences in broader developmental outcomes, as well as increase equitable developmental opportunities for people from a diversity of backgrounds.

Victoria Povilaitis, American Camp Association: Victoria recently completed her PhD at the University of Utah and now works at ACA as a Research Associate. She is a long-time summer camp program director and staffing director. Through her academic work she aims to bridge research and practice and hopes to develop tools and strategies that camp professionals can use when working with campers and staff to facilitate positive experiences for everyone who engages with camp.

Why Work At Summer Camp?

November 5, 2020 ASC

Businesses Should Consider Hiring Former Camp Counselors. Here’s Why.

September 7, 2015 creativenavadmin

10 Reasons Why Businesses Should Hire Former Camp Counselors

Original post by Anne Archer Yetsko on November 20, 2013

When I speak with friends who work in other industries, I always tell them that if you have an applicant who has been a camp counselor and has a positive reference from that camp, they should move to the top of that pile of applications that are overflowing on their desk. A camp counselor is one of the hardest jobs out there. It is not all fun and games. Here is my list of the top 10 qualities you get when you hire someone who has been a camp counselor.

A good communicator: Camp counselors have to be able to communicate well with children, parents, coworkers, and superiors. This is different from any other job because parents leave the most valuable thing in their lives with us, their child. At our camp they have about 10 minutes to speak to the counselors and feel confident in them before they leave their perfect child with them for two weeks. That 10-minute conversation is one that will have a lasting impact on that parent. THEY WILL CLING TO EVERY WORD! If a child is sick or homesick, that same counselor is the one to call the parent to update them on the situation and ensure them that their baby is safe and being well cared for.
A life-long learner: When someone works in a camp setting, they learn that to be successful in camp and in life they have to realize they have a lot to learn not only about camp and their campers but also about themselves. Once they make that transition they are able to approach every situation in life with an “I want to learn more” attitude.
A self-starter: Most camps have between 25-150 cabin counselors. While they are given very good supervision, no one is holding their hand every step of the way. They very quickly learn that as far as their campers are concerned, THEY are the “go-to” person. If one of their children forgets a toothbrush it is their responsibility to get them one from the infirmary.
A resilient individual: Camp counselors can handle anything. Just ask the counselor who has been helping a camper overcome homesickness while teaching their activity in the rain for 4 days straight, only to learn that there is a child in their cabin with lice. When they hear this, instead of curling up in a ball and hiding (the way any normal person would), they grab their gloves, strip all the beds in the cabin, get all of the laundry to the cleaners, and get all the campers lined up outside to check each one for nits. I repeat, camp counselors can, and do, handle anything!
A problem solver: At camp we try to keep things very scheduled and organized, but at the drop of a hat, plans can change. Imagine walking out of the dining hall with 250 campers and staff to play sock war (like capture the flag but you get to throw socks at each other!) when you hear a loud burst of thunder and have to come up with a new plan in an instant.
A creative thinker: When you need a new plan immediately, leave it to a camp counselor to come up with the most brilliant and fun game that anyone has ever heard of. If you think a boardroom of 10 lawyers is intimidating try standing in front of 200 children who are expecting to have the most fun they have ever had and your plan that you have been working on all week just got rained out.
A detail-oriented worker: Remember, camp counselors are responsible for THE most important thing in a parent’s life. Each and every detail is unbelievably important! Did a child have enough to eat at breakfast, drink enough water, make a new friend, skin their knee, play soccer, miss their mom, have wet shoes, lose their sweatshirt . . . ? Now multiply this by a whole cabin of campers!
A leader: It does not matter if you consider yourself a leader or not, the moment children arrive on property their counselor is their leader and their biggest role model. They watch their counselor’s every move. It is amazing how quickly camp counselors learn how to take on this role and own it. The way these children talk about their counselors when they leave is a testament to what great leaders they are.
A team player: Camp counselors are some of the best team players you will ever meet. They have learned that they cannot do it all on their own and that the best product is produced when you have a team working on it. In a camp setting, you need all different personality types to be able to meet each and every child where they are. To come up with the most fun game, camp counselors know it won’t come from one person but an army of people working toward the same goal. Most people come into this job thinking they can do it all, but it does not take long for them to realize that this job is physically impossible alone.
A solid work ethic: It is very difficult to explain to someone who has never been a camp counselor how hard this job really is. These college students work 24 hours a day for 3 months with very little time off and they do all the things mentioned in 1–9 with a smile on their face.

Employers who themselves have been camp counselors understand the qualities required to successfully do this job and, consequently, often seek these individuals out when filling positions. But now the secret is getting out and having “Summer Camp Counselor” on a resume can make a potential employee much more desirable!

Anne Archer Yetsko is the associate director of Camp Merri-Mac in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She has worked for Merri-Mac for 12 years and is also a recent graduate of Touro University’s Camp Administration and Leadership master’s program. This blog was originally posted on the Merri-Mac blog, and later re-posted on American Camp Association blog.