Want to Be a Camp Counselor?

If you’ve already got childcare experience, you’re ideal to take on the role of a Camp Counselor. You’ll be taking constant care of the kids throughout the summer. This includes waking them up in the mornings, joining in with their full day of activities and then making sure they go to bed at night. You’ll be keeping them organised and safe, making sure they listen to instructions (and follow them…) and also serving as a key source of fun and entertainment throughout the day!

Summer camps are always looking for general counselors who can make sure their campers enjoy the best summer ever.

By approaching every day and every activity with enthusiasm and fun, you’ll make sure your campers feel the same way too. They’ll be much more willing to step out of their own comfort zones and embrace new experiences, especially if they’re first-time campers who might already be feeling a bit unsure or nervous.

From sunrise to lights out, you’re likely talking to someone, somewhere. From your campers themselves, to other counselors and staff members, you’re going to need your communication skills to be in tip-top shape.

With the campers, you need to be able to strike the balance between understanding and following rules and expectations, and creating incredible memories of one of the best summers they’ll ever have. Although, remember communication isn’t just about talking - you’ll need to actively listen to any problems or concerns, and make sure campers feel valued and heard.

With other counselors and staff members, you’ll also be building a network of hugely supportive relationships at camp, and likely developing new friendships you’ll have for years and years to come. Communication becomes one of the most important aspects of the teamwork you’ll need to make sure each day runs smoothly.

From keeping to camp schedules to making sure you and your campers have everything you need for the day ahead, organisation is so important at camp. Your campers are going to rely on you to make sure they have all the information and equipment they need to have the best time at every activity. It’s on you to make sure you don’t let them down!

You’re going to spend a minimum of 9 weeks working with kids of varying ages at camp. They’re going to be excited and energetic, and you just wait until the sugar in those s’mores hits their system!

Patience is a hugely valuable skill to have in your remit. By being patient you’ll be able to let the campers express themselves to their fullest, all the while retaining control, maintaining the fun and being as supportive as you possibly can. When a challenge arises, patience can help you navigate it with ease.

Camp life and kids are unpredictable, so having some flexibility is going to help you out a lot in daily camp life. Joining this together with some problem-solving skills, you’ll be able to navigate plenty of tricky situations.

From changes to the schedule, handling bad weather or dealing with unexpected events, being flexible will help you handle a changing camp environment in a way that means your campers likely remain oblivious to the fact that this wasn’t the plan all along. The more enthusiastic you are about new plans, the more on board your campers will be too!

You don’t need to be an expert in any sport or activity in this role as you won’t be expected to lead any sessions, but it’s always useful if you have a general level of experience in a range of sports and activities as you’ll be helping out and getting stuck-in to all areas of camp life.

If you do have particular talents, make sure you also check out our other camp jobs – you might find other camp jobs that match your skillset!