Different Jobs at Summer Camps
When conjuring up the idea of a summer camp job, you likely imagine the stereotypical camp counselor – brightly-colored staff shirt, whistle, tie-dye bandana, impressive tan-lines, and the biggest smile you’ve ever seen. Trust us, you’re probably not too far off from what most people envision, but did you know that there are many different types of camps and that the theme/philosophy/overall structure of roles will vary depending on the camp? In general, the role of a counselor will be pretty consistent across the board, but there are many other positions and roles for those interested in working at a summer camp! From the kitchen to coordination and support, we’ve got an outline of some of the other camp jobs to help you find the perfect role for your talents and interests!
We can, and will, talk at length about what it means to be a camp counselor, but here is a quick rundown of just a few of the things that are typical to this role. At its very core, in the role of a counselor, you will be tasked with the oversight and care of a group of children and your day-to-day will involve being with them as they play, laugh, learn, struggle, and grow. Supervision of your campers will include ensuring both their physical and emotional safety. In addition to the responsibilities that come with leading a cabin, most counselors will also take on the responsibilities of teaching activities and clinics. Some camps will have you choose one specialty that you will run all summer and others will train you to lead several different clinics, so make sure that when you choose a camp, you know which of these styles you would prefer. Most camps offer some kind of evening programming, which you will also be participating in, whether as a chaperone, mentor, audience member, actor in a skit, or participant! Your days will be scheduled and packed from sun-up to sun-down, and you will most likely spend your nights in your cabin with your campers, so if you have a strong need for alone time, being a camp counselor may not be for you. On the flip-side, if you have a need to contribute, mentor, support, or give back, being a counselor may be a great way for you to fill that need.
If you enjoy the idea of nourishing others while working with a small but close-knit team, a job in a camp kitchen might be right up your alley! With responsibilities like food prep, presentation, service, cleanup, and inventory, some experience working in a kitchen might be helpful, but is not always required. Camps vary greatly in the quality of food prepared, as well as the demands, compensation, and opportunities of the kitchen staff. A camp may keep kitchen staff completely separate from all other parts of camp life, or kitchen staff may be invited to be part of the evening campfires or any other part of the camp as time allows. In a camp kitchen, you will be spending more of your time working with other adults and may have some more time to yourself and with peers than a counselor might have. That said, you will also most likely spend long hours on your feet doing repetitive tasks and operating under some intense deadlines. If you are interested in working in a camp kitchen, find a camp that offers food you are interested in preparing and offering to the community. Depending on the camp, you could be preparing something more akin to cafeteria-style offerings, or you could be working with a menu structured around nutrition, or you might end up making family-style home-cooked meals! Find a camp that works for your skills and interests to ensure that you get the most from your summer.
Many intermediate leadership positions exist at summer camps. These roles are often filled by experienced camp counselors with significant communication, organization, and operational skills. These are the people who schedule activities, run training sessions, plan programming, lead the counselors, and lend support and expertise wherever it is needed. Some camps hire program-specific leaders who take on the responsibility, care, and development of one activity or program, like Equestrian, High Ropes, or Waterfront. Depending on the camp and the role, these may either be seasonal jobs or year-round roles.
Every camp has at least one. The camp director provides the overarching vision and direction for the camp and is accountable for everything at camp. If the camp is a non-profit, the Director likely reports to a board of directors, and if privately owned, it may be the owner or someone hired by the owner/corporation to run the camp. If you are passionate about camp and wish to make a life of it, you may someday choose to seek a position as a camp director.
One of the many types of camp jobs may fall into the category of a support role. A lot goes into making a camp run smoothly. Each camp will come with its own host of responsibilities that require staff in areas like maintenance, program development, administrative work, finance, HR, registration, parent communication, and more. If there is something you are passionate about or have experience in, you may find a camp where you can use your skills while still getting to work in a unique, fun, and outdoorsy camp environment. There are often many roles that operate in a more ‘behind the scenes’ way that may offer you more time to work on solo projects or within a small team as opposed to working directly with the campers all day. If you prefer more task-based work and like to help with the operational side of things, consider looking for a camp job in a support role!
Camp nurses provide a vital service within the summer camp world. They are responsible for administering medication to campers and staff, monitoring known conditions, and providing both routine and emergency care to sick or injured campers or staff. Most camp nurse jobs will be a mix of routine and on-call work, with the nurse needing to be available at any hour of the day. Make sure you check each camp to learn their individual requirements for this role.
One final thing to keep in mind is that in addition to the many different positions and roles at summer camps, there are also many different TYPES of summer camps. Whether your personal and professional interests lie in athletics, emotional development, wilderness trips, working with special needs children, robotics, theater, or play, there will be a camp for you, so make sure that your search for the perfect summer job takes this into account.
Want to learn more? We make it our mission to gather all the necessary information to help you find your perfect camp job.
Camp Counselor
We can, and will, talk at length about what it means to be a camp counselor, but here is a quick rundown of just a few of the things that are typical to this role. At its very core, in the role of a counselor, you will be tasked with the oversight and care of a group of children and your day-to-day will involve being with them as they play, laugh, learn, struggle, and grow. Supervision of your campers will include ensuring both their physical and emotional safety. In addition to the responsibilities that come with leading a cabin, most counselors will also take on the responsibilities of teaching activities and clinics. Some camps will have you choose one specialty that you will run all summer and others will train you to lead several different clinics, so make sure that when you choose a camp, you know which of these styles you would prefer. Most camps offer some kind of evening programming, which you will also be participating in, whether as a chaperone, mentor, audience member, actor in a skit, or participant! Your days will be scheduled and packed from sun-up to sun-down, and you will most likely spend your nights in your cabin with your campers, so if you have a strong need for alone time, being a camp counselor may not be for you. On the flip-side, if you have a need to contribute, mentor, support, or give back, being a counselor may be a great way for you to fill that need.
Camp Kitchen Staff
If you enjoy the idea of nourishing others while working with a small but close-knit team, a job in a camp kitchen might be right up your alley! With responsibilities like food prep, presentation, service, cleanup, and inventory, some experience working in a kitchen might be helpful, but is not always required. Camps vary greatly in the quality of food prepared, as well as the demands, compensation, and opportunities of the kitchen staff. A camp may keep kitchen staff completely separate from all other parts of camp life, or kitchen staff may be invited to be part of the evening campfires or any other part of the camp as time allows. In a camp kitchen, you will be spending more of your time working with other adults and may have some more time to yourself and with peers than a counselor might have. That said, you will also most likely spend long hours on your feet doing repetitive tasks and operating under some intense deadlines. If you are interested in working in a camp kitchen, find a camp that offers food you are interested in preparing and offering to the community. Depending on the camp, you could be preparing something more akin to cafeteria-style offerings, or you could be working with a menu structured around nutrition, or you might end up making family-style home-cooked meals! Find a camp that works for your skills and interests to ensure that you get the most from your summer.
Camp Coordination and Leadership Roles
Many intermediate leadership positions exist at summer camps. These roles are often filled by experienced camp counselors with significant communication, organization, and operational skills. These are the people who schedule activities, run training sessions, plan programming, lead the counselors, and lend support and expertise wherever it is needed. Some camps hire program-specific leaders who take on the responsibility, care, and development of one activity or program, like Equestrian, High Ropes, or Waterfront. Depending on the camp and the role, these may either be seasonal jobs or year-round roles.
Camp Director
Every camp has at least one. The camp director provides the overarching vision and direction for the camp and is accountable for everything at camp. If the camp is a non-profit, the Director likely reports to a board of directors, and if privately owned, it may be the owner or someone hired by the owner/corporation to run the camp. If you are passionate about camp and wish to make a life of it, you may someday choose to seek a position as a camp director.
Support Roles
One of the many types of camp jobs may fall into the category of a support role. A lot goes into making a camp run smoothly. Each camp will come with its own host of responsibilities that require staff in areas like maintenance, program development, administrative work, finance, HR, registration, parent communication, and more. If there is something you are passionate about or have experience in, you may find a camp where you can use your skills while still getting to work in a unique, fun, and outdoorsy camp environment. There are often many roles that operate in a more ‘behind the scenes’ way that may offer you more time to work on solo projects or within a small team as opposed to working directly with the campers all day. If you prefer more task-based work and like to help with the operational side of things, consider looking for a camp job in a support role!
Camp Nurse
Camp nurses provide a vital service within the summer camp world. They are responsible for administering medication to campers and staff, monitoring known conditions, and providing both routine and emergency care to sick or injured campers or staff. Most camp nurse jobs will be a mix of routine and on-call work, with the nurse needing to be available at any hour of the day. Make sure you check each camp to learn their individual requirements for this role.
Specialty Camps
One final thing to keep in mind is that in addition to the many different positions and roles at summer camps, there are also many different TYPES of summer camps. Whether your personal and professional interests lie in athletics, emotional development, wilderness trips, working with special needs children, robotics, theater, or play, there will be a camp for you, so make sure that your search for the perfect summer job takes this into account.
Want to learn more? We make it our mission to gather all the necessary information to help you find your perfect camp job.