If you love dealing with kids, have a confident attitude and love of the outdoors, crafts and games; being a summer day camp counselor could be the perfect job for you personally. Flexibility is a big plus in this type of job, as you never know what your day will throw at you, and you’ll need an upbeat, can-do attitude. Whether you’re supervising lakeside activities, wearing a wacky outfit and doing the chicken dance or mediating a squabble between campers, you will have to bring on your best game. Here are some tips for obtaining the summer job of your dreams.
What Do Camp Counselors Do?
Typically, counselors are hired to do something as recreational leaders supervising overall camp operations or teaching various special activities. Swimming, archery, horseback riding, crafts and nature education are just a few of the myriad fun-filled outdoor activities you’ll enjoy right along with the kids at day camp. You will need plenty of patience, creativity, leadership skills and most importantly, a sense of humor.
Apply Early!
This is extremely important as camps often begin looking for staff in the wintertime months. If you’re a little late, don’t worry; many programs still have openings in-may and June. Have good references readily available and remember that some sites will request you to create a YouTube video to accompany your application.
Looking Locally
If you’re searching for a job near your geographical area, contact local day camps, YMCAs, town recreation departments along with other youth organizations to see if they are searching for summer camp staff. You may know other people who work there and be able to use these connections.
Look On-Line
There are a number of websites listing summer camp jobs including Camp Channel, Camp Depot and Camp Page. Cool Works, a summer job site, also offers some interesting opportunities.
IS THERE Educational Requirements?
While there are not specific educational requirements for summer camp counselors, it can help to possess CPR and First Aid certification and it may even give you an edge over other applicants.
Be Creative with Previous Experience
OK, maybe you haven’t been a camp counselor, but perhaps you have been a camper. On your own application, emphasize your summer camp experiences and how you would like to carry the fun forward by becoming a counselor yourself. If you’ve spent a summer or two at a camp as a counselor-in-training, you have actual on-the-job experience dealing with campers from the counselor role.
Use Your Camp Connections
Many counselors were once campers at the very same camp to which they’re applying. Naturally, this would offer you a leg up in the hiring process because you already know the camp culture, traditions and songs, and best of all; you’ve got a real and infectious love of the camp itself.
Get Experience Working With Kids
Although you may not have specifically worked at a summer camp, it is possible to accumulate other experience working with youngsters. Tutoring younger kids, volunteering at afterschool programs, assistant coaching on kids’ teams and babysitting are invaluable experience with children. Ask guidance counselors, coaches or teachers for suggestions.
Emphasize Your Positives
Even if you’ve never set foot in a summer camp, your individual characteristics may position you nicely for employment. Approachability, empathy, leadership ability, creativity and enthusiasm are traits that directors are looking for within their staff… and a little goofiness doesn’t hurt! If you’re responsible, caring and have the capability to put others before yourself, you’ll be a good candidate.
Do You Have a particular Talent?
If you have a particular talent or area of expertise that fits in with the camp’s programs, be sure to highlight this on your own resume. Camps that emphasize the arts, for instance, may be thrilled with your expertise on the violin or experience with musical theater production, while wilderness camps may zone right in on the truth that you may spend years in Boy Scouts or spent summers camping together with your family. summer camp counselor video in camp-related areas may also be important.
So, get working on that resume! Be sure you emphasize the positive, list all related experience volunteer or paid and put your enthusiasm and love of kids’ front and center.
No Responses