For those that love to work with children, sleep away camps provide opportunities that produce the rewards of teaching in a fun, active environment. There are thousands of jobs across the country at camps like these, and with growing numbers of campers, (10% annually according to the American Camping Association) there is the need for more hired help each summer. Most positions at these camps target younger students and even old campers, but as an older applicant you should not be deterred; there are numerous supervisors needed to ensure proper operations.
It may be hard to decide whether you would like to work for a sleep away camp or just a day camp. However, sleep away camps have several benefits over those of day camps. Resident camps often pay lower wages, but counselors are able to earn more over the course of the summer for longer hours and increased commitment to the children (counselors are essentially on duty twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, for the summer season). The personal rewards that come about from working with children are also greater. Sleep away counselors are able to connect with campers and make a difference in their lives, more so than counselors that are only with the same group of children for several hours a day. Lastly, resident camps offer counselors benefits including housing, transportation and meals, which may also offset the lower wages.
Sleep away or resident camps provide an assortment of activities to entertain young attendees including: horseback riding, arts and crafts, swimming, tennis, kayaking, sailing and archery among many others. As a sports or specialized counselor you can choose to concentrate your efforts on a single activity while general counselors often spend more time with a single group of children and create closer bonds.
Camp jobs are a popular source of income for young adults and have become part of a very competitive market. While extensive experience with children is not necessary, it does help to show the ability to communicate and interact with young adults and children alike. Baby sitting, volunteer work and coaching are all ways to express your interest, and experience working with kids. However, even without a proper resume, it is possible to win over camp directors with a positive, enthusiastic attitude and a hard working spirit. Camps are very dynamic environments and if you assert yourself, you can be sure to fit in.
Not only is it important to communicate properly with children, but also it is often crucial that applicants are comfortable and enjoy the outdoors. Many sleep away camps are located in the wilderness near mountains, lakes and rivers. The environment becomes a large attraction and part of many activities including instances when campers go on hikes, make fires, pitch tents for the night and go swimming in the lake. This is why employers want to know you are ready to take on the rustic environment while managing a group of children. Some camp directors may ask if you feel comfortable leading hiking trips of several miles in the sun or if you are comfortable sleeping under the stars among animals, insects, trees, weeds and pollen. Make sure you are comfortable with these surroundings before making a commitment.
