8 Reasons Camp Jobs Beat Retail, Fast Food, and Office Work for College Students
Picture this- fresh air, adventure, leadership, and lifelong friendships… all while getting paid!
During the summer, most college students will pivot to retail, office jobs, or fast food, but working at a camp for the summer offers them unrivaled personal and professional growth- all while having a blast.
In this brief article, we’ll dive into what makes a camp job so special, why it’s the best summer job for college students, and an opportunity for students to launch their careers at a unique advantage.
Real Leadership Experience
So many students want to be leaders; leaders in their classrooms, their communities, their organizations down the road. Summer camp gives students the opportunity to lead from the very first session of camp. Instead of spending the summer restocking shelves, folding shirts, or making coffee, camp offers a better alternative.
From the very first session of camp, summer camp jobs have big responsibilities. Kitchen staff are responsible for creating and delivering delicious meals in a timely manner. Lifeguards are responsible for keeping campers safe at a critical time. Counselors are effectively parents for an entire week! Right from the get-go, camp leaders trust staff with big responsibilities.
Not only are you learning to guard a pool or lead campers through the high ropes course, you’ll learn the soft skills so many employers look for and will help you succeed all throughout life. Conflict resolution skills are sharpened each time campers get into a disagreement. Decision-making skills come into play when your afternoon activities are rained out. Problem-solving skills come into full effect when you need to sub ingredients in the kitchen. Ultimately, the added responsibility and flexibility of a camp role gives you real leadership skills you can use.
Personal Growth & Confidence
In camp, we have a well known system of zones for outdoor adventure activities: The Comfort Zone, the Growth Zone, and the Panic Zone. When we lead campers through activities, we’re always trying to keep them in the growth zone. Campers aren’t the only ones who experience that though, staff find themselves there too!
In a camp role, you’ll quickly learn the ability to think on your feet, become resilient, and develop the confidence that comes with overcoming challenges. With the nature of work changing so rapidly, adapting to changes will be a huge part of career success in the future. A summer at camp prepares you for just that- by being able to quickly learn new skills, build new relationships and pivot from previously made plans when the situation calls for it.
At Wesley Woods, our staff not only learn how to do their jobs during staff training, but personal growth is at the forefront of our training objectives as well. We include activities like the high ropes course, an evening camping trip, and more to help our staff step into growth and build the confidence they need to succeed in the summer and beyond.
Time Outside (Not in the Cubicle)
Wouldn’t it be great to trade fluorescent lights for sunshine? A summer camp job can give you just that. Most summer jobs will have you in a cubicle for the majority of your day, when you’re not on coffee runs of course. Working at any camp will get you out in nature, experiencing the many health benefits of time around green spaces. Camp isn’t just good for campers- it’s good for staff too!
One complaint about summer jobs in college is that they can be repetitive. Clocking in and doing the same tasks each and every day for three months. At summer camp, you may be doing similar functions throughout the summer, but each day and each group of campers are different. Instead of being locked into a monotonous routine- you get to interact with a fresh group of guests (and tasks) each week.
Lifelong Friendships & Community
Camp is a powerful bonding tool. Some people say that a day at camp is like a week in the rest of the world- and it makes sense! You spend the day with folks in an environment that focuses on fostering relationships. Working at camp doesn’t just get you a team of coworkers, but often builds friendships that extend past the summer years.
Personally, I’ve been in the party of multiple weddings of friends I’d worked at camp with over the years. One of the greatest joys of a camp director is when staff make an effort to stay connected not only during the summer, but get together after the summer has concluded as well.
Built-In Resume Boost
What do hiring managers want to see in resumes nowadays?
Sure, you need the technical or “hard” skills, but you often learn those during training or role specific internships later in college. More and more they want to know you can learn quickly, handle pressure, and are a joy to have on their team.
Luckily, camp is an incubator for all of those soft skills. Working at a summer camp teaches you leadership under pressure. There’s nothing quite like the demands on a camp counselors towards the end of the summer, leading a tired group of campers through the challenge course and keeping them engaged. Everyone who’s worked at a camp has at least one story of having to lift up other colleagues who were having difficult weeks. All of these skills translate no matter where your career takes you.
Another big booster is taking initiative. During out in-depth staff training, staff learn not only how to do their jobs, but how to think critically about their role. Instead of simply memorizing standard operating procedures, staff learn how to think intelligently about what their really at camp to do and how to maximize the camper experience. These skills, and the ability to talk about them, stick out to any hiring manager- no matter the industry.
No Rent!
When I worked at a camp in college, I remember a good friend decided not to join us again so he could make more money working for a concrete company. It wasn’t a bad job, and he certainly got paid more, but at the end of the summer- the difference between our bank accounts was minimal.
He was going out with friends, paying for gas, paying rent, and all of the other little things that add up. Sure, the rest of us were making less money, but we also spent far less as well. Camps pay for room and board for staff in addition to their salary. While it may not sound like a lot, factor in the cost of:
Three meals a day
Snacks
Gas
Going out
At the end of the summer, several of us actually had more in our bank accounts than our friend. Working at camp can actually save you money.
While at Wesley Woods, we include the benefits of room and board, it’s important to check with you camp director in the interview process. Some camps operate by deducting room and board from staff pay on the contract. While these camps usually pay on the higher end of the scale, it’s always important to crunch the numbers first.
Fun!
Okay, it may seem obvious.
But working at a summer camp is an absolute blast!
Not only do you get paid, but you’ll also be having fun while making money. You get to work with like-minded people, share your summer with a group of incredible teammates, and make memories around the campfire that last a lifetime.
Not only do you get to play outrageously fun games, you’ll get to swim in the pool, ride ziplines, go on hikes, camp out and more!
Besides the built-in fun, you’ll laugh harder than you ever will by cooking fries or folding clothes. You’ll leave the summer with memories you’ll look back on fondly for years to come.
Making an Impact
Finally, the more sentimental reason: the impact you make.
Few summer jobs give you the opportunity to step into someone’s life and immediately make a difference. A summer camp counselor role does just that. It gives you the chance to invest in campers, while growing yourself. Can it be challenging at times? Absolutely. It is rewarding beyond words? Absolutely.
While all of these are great reasons to work at a camp this summer– this may be one of best. If you’re asking yourself, “Should I work at a camp this summer?” consider the impact you’ll make on countless lives, including your own.
Looking for a camp team to join this summer?
You can click the link HERE to check out our staff page and see if our roles could be a good fit for you. If not, there are plenty of camps out there that could be a fantastic fit for you and what you want to accomplish during the summer.