Sunday Snippet: Camp Is Good For Your Career!
It may seem a bit early to talk about camp jobs for next summer, but it is never too early to consider what experiences will enhance your future career options. More and more research is revealing that working at camp for a summer or more, can provide an excellent opportunity to hone one’s soft skills, that is one’s ability to work effectively with others. Camp is much more than making s’mores and learning how to set up a tent. It is about helping build an effective and supportive community to help campers grow and discover their talents and gifts. It is about learning to work with people different from you (geographically, socio-economically, culturally, philosophically, etc.) by finding the shared commonalities and appreciating the uniqueness each person brings to the table. It is about learning to meet people at their level to help them learn new skills and about helping them (as well as yourself!) successfully navigate conflict and challenges with others. Like I said, it is about community with a major dose of relationship development. And it is fun!
Levo contributor, Jessica Renee Sauer, penned a wonderful post entitled 13 Reasons Why Every Career-Driven Millennial Should Work At Camp For A Summer. Here are just a few of the reasons Jessica shared:
You get to be a role model.
For however long you have the opportunity to interact with the campers, you quickly become one of the coolest (and most influential) people in their lives. Camp counselors especially have the opportunity to impact campers because of the amount of time spent with their kids. True bonds can form when you least expect them to: at the high dive at the pool, at the top of the zip line, tubing on the lake, or in the cabin late at night when homesickness sets in.
Boost your resume.
Through the experiences you have working for a camp, you will be able to proudly put on your resume that you not only survived a summer working for a camp but thrived in the environment as well. Here you can find 10 Reasons Why Businesses Should Hire Former Camp Counselors. What made the list? Former camp counselors are great communicators, life-long learners, leaders, team players, and creative thinkers, just to name a few.
You truly make a difference.
There are so many benefits to working at a camp, including making a difference. Check out The Camp Counselor vs. the Intern from a New York Times blog, here.
“What I do there matters,” she insisted. In several conversations, she told us about helping a camper cope with her mother’s debilitating depression and comforting others whose parents were fighting or separating, about aiding 11- and 12-year-olds who were coming to terms with their sexuality, battling anorexia, confronting body fear. She talked about the many hours devoted to water-skiing lessons, about instilling the confidence needed by awkward, gawky, painfully self-conscious 8- and 9-year-olds to stay prone in the water, hold on to the rope, then rise up and stay on their feet as the boat pulled away. “What’s more important than that?” she asked. I had no answer, because I couldn’t come up with anything more important.
Life-long friendships.
Within just a few days of arriving at camp for the beginning of the summer training sessions, you will meet some awesome people. Just think, your co-workers are some of the best, simply by them being there: they gave up their summer (just like you) to learn, grow, and impact others’ lives as well. Life-long friendships are bound to develop as you live and work alongside other college kids for three solid months.
Interview material.
After spending a summer at camp, you will surely find out some strengths and weaknesses for you to talk about in an interview, not to mention the crazy stories you can share!
Peer networking.
Not all of your co-workers will be elementary education majors. In fact, you will meet a plethora of majors who have done the same thing you have: sought out a beyond-the-typical summer job. An awesome time to expand your peer networking to individuals from all over the country and from all walks of life.
Fresh air.
Believe it or not, the great outdoors can give you a sense of relaxation and recharge. Finding time to enjoy a more leisurely life by embracing the early sunrise and sitting up late under a sky full of stars can do more for you than you might have ever imagined.
You hone your leadership skills.
There are plenty of opportunities to improve your leadership skills by working for a camp because, at one point or another, you will be asked to lead. Whether you are leading other staff members or a handful of campers, you will be looked up to for direction and wisdom.
You will learn so much about yourself.
As awesome as camp life is, it also is challenging. You may not know how to deal with a situation with a camper, your co-counselor for the week might not be the most compatible with your sense of humor, and some days might seem like they drag on forever—is it lights out yet?! However, it is moments like these where your true colors shine. You will learn so much about yourself and, at the end of the summer, will be able to look back and be proud of all that you made it through.
The camp counselor experience is packed full of challenges and opportunities that will equip you with the skills to succeed in nearly any career endeavor. And employers know that – check out this article, 10 Reasons Why Businesses Should Hire Former Camp Counselors (Anne Archer Yetsko, ACACamps.org, Nov. 27, 2013). It’s not just for educations majors or those who plan to work with kids. If you are a college student (or know one!), consider working at camp next summer. It’s not too early to apply. WeHaKee is already accepting applications for our 2019 Staff Team. Click HERE for more information!
Thank you and have a great week everyone!
