The brightest of individuals continually look for experiences that will enrich their lives. Meeting new people, gaining new skills and attaining worthwhile experience is a huge part of one’s maturation.
This is what makes becoming a camp counselor such a worthwhile experience. Not only does the role give you an amazing opportunity to provide safety and enjoyment for members of our younger generation, it also helps to ensure a brighter future for yourself.
Here are 7 ways that being a camp counselor can brighten your future:
1. It will get you the experience you need to land a strong career opportunity.
Your parents are continually telling you to hit the books, right? There’s no question that getting an education is incredibly valuable.
But as post-secondary school graduates all over America have realized, one’s experience in his or her chosen field of work is often considered just as valuable as a diploma or a degree – sometimes more.
Working as a camp counselor will demonstrate an amazing skill set that incorporates leadership skills, being a team player and showing dependability. This goes a long way with employers.
2. It will provide you with valuable parenting skills.
You’re not likely thinking of becoming a parent any time soon. But the valuable experience you’ll have working with children will go a long way when the time comes for you to change your first diapers.
Being a camp counselor offers you the unique opportunity to learn how to demonstrate patience, understanding, nurturing and perhaps, above all, responsibility.
Is there anything more important than being responsible for the life of a child?
3. It will help you to become a great problem solver.
There’s nothing quite like the camp counselor position to provide you with on-the-job training in the world of life skills.
Undoubtedly, there will be moments when you’re expected to step in to resolve a conflict between two or more of your young campers.
Discovering ways to settle problems, reunite friends and console those who have been emotionally pained will enrich you with an incredibly valuable life skill.
4. It will make you worldly.
Now, what exactly do we mean by “worldly”? We’re not talking about just having any old experience here. Your role as a camp counselor will definitely bring you to places you’ve never been before.
In the camp setting, you’ll likely encounter such tasks as starting camp fires, learning how to canoe, setting up tents and tying complicated knots – all of this in addition to the traditional preparation of meals and playing of various games that all come with the territory.
Your experience, to put it plainly, will not be boring!
5. It will demonstrate your ability to work around the clock.
Your experience as a camp counselor will convey that you possess a very valuable trait. It showcases that you have the tenacity to work a 24/7 job.
Therefore, it has been strongly suggested that the camp counselor role be highlighted in cover letters to employers.
As a camp counselor, it is not unlikely that you’ll be asked to spend some time overnight on the camp grounds. Your on-duty-24-hours-a-day experience will attract employers in ways that the average job will not.
6. It will give you a ton of great stories to tell.
How is being a great storyteller a future-brightening benefit?
Consider the fact that every job that you are ever considered for will require a job interview. Don’t think for a second that your ability to converse openly and articulately about your experiences won’t matter.
Even with the most professional of résumés, your job interview will be your “make or break” moment in the job acquisition process.
With a vast array of experiences as a camp counselor, you’ll easily be able to answer such questions as “Is there an incident in your life that you can speak to that demonstrates that you were a valuable member of a team?”
7. It will give you great time management skills.
Not only does a camp counselor role insist upon you having early mornings, it will also often require you to get a group of youngsters to rise and shine themselves. Following a schedule on a daily basis is certainly a skill set that is practiced and therefore, strengthened when you work at a camp.
Don’t forget that you’ll also often be responsible for ensuring that your campers adhere to the “lights out” rule after an exciting day.
Being able to manage both your time and the time of others is a talent that will prove very beneficial in any job setting – not to mention your life as a young adult in general!
Isn’t it time you signed up to become a camp counselor? The USA Camp Association welcomes you! Submit your application today!