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Summer Camp Jobs
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What kind of person makes a good Camp Counselor?
Of course, securing a job as a camp counselor is a great way to experience the US, and many people use it as the springboard to further adventures across the country, but it needs to be stressed that the camps are about the children who attend them. It’s their time, and their place, and it’s up to you, as a camp counselor, to make their stay at the camp the most memorable experience possible. As such, you need to go into the role as a camp counselor with the attitude of genuinely wanting to make a difference in a child’s life.
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Obviously, to be a camp counselor you need to be able to communicate with children and be comfortable around children. You will need to be prepared to get involved in all the activities at the camp, even if you are expecting to be primarily involved in one or two particular aspects. You should always have a ready smile for the children, and be prepared for long hours and hectic days. Enthusiasm, stamina and motivation are required in bucket loads and, generally speaking, the more you put into the role the more you’ll get out of your summer camp experience.
Life at the camp is all about team spirit, so you need to be a team player. You’ll be working alongside other counselors from possibly all around the world, so you will have a great chance to make life-long friendships with other staff members, but you’ll also need to be aware of cultural differences from the camp’s other staff members.
Applicants should be aged between 18 and 35, although the age criteria might vary depending on if you apply directly or go through an agency, and from camp to camp. It helps if you have prior experience with working with children and you should be able to provide suitable references to back up any claims you make in that regard. Experience can include babysitting, being part of a large family with younger brothers and sisters, teaching, community work with children, and anything similar that shows you have experience dealing with children.
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You will need to be completely available to work throughout the entire duration of the camp, which is normally around nine to twelve weeks (from June through August) depending on the camp. You must be able to speak English fluently, have no criminal history (you may be required to produce a police-certified character assessment) and be a non-smoker. If you do smoke you will be expected to refrain from doing so on the camp grounds at all time.
If you have a particular skill or talent in fields such as the arts or sports then your skills will be in high demand. The particular skills that are in demand will differ depending on the camp you are applying to but generally speaking skills in water sports, first aid and the outdoors will always be in high demand. While there are normally plenty of summer camp counselor jobs available, it might be worth undertaking a first-aid course in your local community before applying, especially if you have a particular camp or area in mind.
As is the case when dealing with children anywhere, things don’t always go smoothly. You should therefore feel comfortable and confident in being able to deal with belligerent children, homesick children and even conflicts between campers. Diplomacy and reason will be useful allies at times.
A camp counselor has the unique opportunity to make a real difference in the life of the children he/she comes into contact with, but the benefit is not just one way. A good counselor would be hard pressed not to come away with lessons learned and memories gained that too will stay with them for a lifetime.
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