Young adults will be heading to summer camp this year, for many camp will be their first job. I am the owner of Swift Nature Camp and here are a few ideas to help you determine if summer camp is right summer job for you.
Camps jobs are more than just being a camp counselor, living with the children. Camp positions include: sport instructors, lifeguards, kitchen staff, cooks, and more An advantage to any applicant is experience with kids, teaching or babysitting. At our camp no experience is needed but it cam help. Summer camps are open with the age of hires. We only hire over 18 but some higher high school folks.
Summer Camp Counselorjobs are some of the most popular and rewarding jobs for college students and recent graduates. But you have to be full of compassion and who truly like to work with young children. Most camps hire applicants with out experience. Ya just gotta like kids! Free time is limited, Counselors are nearly always on duty, organizing activities, keeping campers safe, and acting as supervisors and mentors. At many camps, some counselors do double duty as lifeguards or instructors.
Other specialist jobs at Swift Nature Camp include sports and nature instructors. Sports instructors are often college athletes, and science and nature camps often offer assistant instructor positions to science majors with an interest in education.
Camps start rehiring in the fall and plan on being fully staffed by April. So start early Many overnight camps will have a phone interview which might take hours to complete. Be prepared reviewing information and websites.
So how do you find these jobs? As with most things these days…the internet. You can look at individual Summer Camp websites. Or you may look at a website that consolidates many camp jobs in one place and has little bits of information about each camp, prior to going to the camps website
Non-U.S. citizens desiring to work in the U.S. at a summer camp should research the staffing agencies that recruit and hire staff for hundreds of American camps.
Most Summer Camps do not require a resume or cover letter, all you have to do is complete the online application. This makes life so much simpler except that you must fill out many applications at different websites.
Summer camp is based on FUN, do not treat the interview to casually be professional even if its a phone interview. Be honest convey your enthusiasm and personal traits. A camps goal is to hire fun, safe, responsible, interesting counselors.
Remember not every job is for every person so pick an appropriate job that fits your skills and experiences. For example, don’t apply for lifeguard jobs unless you are a lifeguard or are planning on getting the training. At Swift Nature Camp we train our staff to be lifeguards and even offer a bonus. We also provide ten days of job training.,If you have certifications it does make you all the more desirable as a staff member.
Swift Nature Camp has an age requirement of 18. Other camps do hire teens from high school and younger. Be sure to read the job description and you will have less wasted time.
Be Personable it is the most important factor - At Swift Nature Camp we are looking for mentors of children which means the interview is your opportunity to show that you are responsible, positive, fun, patient person. Camp hours are very long work, with limited time off. One should look a position of camp counselor as a way of life not a job. Most camp staff are on call 24/7.
At Swift Nature Camp we interview nearly twice as many folks as we hire. Applications do not always get interviews, but don’t get discouraged. If you are qualified and have a good application. If you convey your interest for children and desire to live at a summer camp during the interview, you will find a amazingly rewarding summer ahead.
Swift Nature Camp hires 20 young folks each summer as camp counselors. If you want to be a mentor this summer to a child please fill out an application at our website.
About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the directors of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed overnight Summer Camp located in Northern Wisconsin. To learn more about be Camp Counselor Positions see our website
