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.

Working at a Camp Provides the Opportunity to Work with Kids in the Outdoors

Choosing a job is a matter of matching your individual personality and interests with the position that you choose. From corporate to retail to restaurant positions, not every job is right for every individual. Interestingly, summer camps tend to offer a number of perks which are great for any person who gets along well with kids and enjoys working in the outdoors.

Summer camps come in all different forms. From generalized outdoor activity camps to specialized sports and arts camps, choosing the type of camp to work at is a matter of matching your interests and special talents with the summer camp that you choose. If you are interested in theater, for example, there are a number of drama camps that you could choose to work at. If you are an athletic individual, it may be best for you to choose to work at a sports camp that specializes in the sports that you play.

In addition to the choice between the specializations of the summer camp, it is also important to consider if you want to work at a sleep away camp or at a day camp. Working at a sleep away camp typically requires you to live on site while working at a day camp usually requires that you find your own room and board. If you are looking to live away from home and be totally immersed in the camp experience, a sleep away camp may be the place for you. If you would like to work at a camp while still residing at your home, working at a day camp may be a better choice. Both of these options are appealing in their own ways depending on what you are looking for in a camp.

If you love working with children, working at a summer camp could be a great job for you. Working as a teacher requires a great deal of schooling and experience while a job at a summer camp is often an entry level position that can allow you the opportunity to work with kids without the years of schooling and training required to become a teacher. Babysitting, coaching, and other volunteer experiences can provide the background in working with children necessary to succeed in a job at a summer camp.

Another great reason to work at a summer camp is to be able to spend the summer working outdoors. Most summer camps hold almost all of their activities outdoors. Thus, if you are looking to get outside and enjoy the natural environment during the summer months, working at a summer camp could be a great opportunity for you.

Ultimately, working at a summer camp can be a great job for a person who loves working with kids and working outdoors. If these two things interest you, then working at a summer camp may be a great choice for you as a future job. The final choice to be made is to decide the type of camp that you would like to work at and whether you would like to work at a sleep away or day camp.