Why Camps Look Good On Your Resume

Why Summer Camp Looks Great On Your Resume

Working at a summer camp can be an incredibly rewarding experience, with lots of learning and growth opportunities. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood by those who lack the experience, and it can be hard to explain exactly how camp-related skills can be useful in the ‘real world’. When employers hear that you’ve been a camp counselor, they might be envisioning the characters from movies like Wet Hot American Summer or The Parent Trap – someone who is a bit of a goofball, who doesn’t shower and who will bring strange games and songs to staff meetings. But the skills you gain at camp – organization, leadership, problem-solving and more – are invaluable and can be applied to a wide range of environments.

If you’re on the fence about taking a summer camp job, it’s important to consider all of the potential benefits of working at camp. In addition to the fun and friendships that are sure to come, you will also gain valuable skills and knowledge that can be a real asset when you’re ready to enter the workforce. When properly outlined on your resume, your summer camp experience will truly set you apart from the competition. From problem solving to communication, camp provides a unique opportunity to learn and practice a variety of skills that are highly sought after in any workplace. For more information and helpful examples, be sure to check out our article, Summer Internships.

Spending the summer at Camp Augusta is an excellent way to gain skills and knowledge that are not found in a classroom or office setting. Working at camp offers the opportunity to learn skills and gain experience that will be of great benefit to employers and in your own life. While camp language can make it difficult to accurately describe the scope and magnitude of a camp job, here are some tips to help translate camp skills to your resume and/or job interview. Employers today are looking for concrete examples of your skills, and camp gives you the opportunity to provide them. With the knowledge and experiences you gain from working at camp, you have the tools to show employers that you have what they are looking for.

Skills and Characteristics Gained (that employers will be interested in):

Psychology of child development
Rational-emotive behavior therapy
Nonviolent communication training
Neuro-linguistic programming training
Emotional intelligence awareness and cultivation
CPR
1st Aid
Lifeguarding
Living in community – responsibility and awareness
Negotiation and consensus building
Teambuilding
Group development, facilitation, and debriefing, both large and small group
Knowledge management and learning organization training and experience
Event management
Theater training, character, improv, and scene shorts
Working with emotional emergencies, angered/unbalanced people
Responsibility and integrity development
Leadership and power dynamics training
Explicit and tacit knowledge educational theory
Training/teaching techniques
Social networking
Organizational skills
Public speaking
Curriculum development
Emergency preparedness and risk management models, and execution
Innovation development principles, understood and practiced
Communication skills – written and oral
Lifelong learning
Self-starter/intrinsic motivation
Resiliency
Problem solving
Creative thinking
Detail orientation
Leadership
Teamwork and cooperation
Work ethic

Hobbies and skills resume section will be a conversation starter!

Strong resumes are easy to read, so a simple format is key. Keep your resume to one page. Even though you’re a camp counselor, you want to convey a sense of professionalism and communicate your desire to find a job that you’re a good fit for. Have someone else proofread your resume and give you feedback. Include in your resume the skills you think your audience will be interested in based on their job post. Knowing what the reader is looking for will help you convince them you are the ideal candidate as you can tailor your resume and choose what to include for each job you apply for. Choose the most relevant skills from the table below depending on what job you are applying for.

Living and Working at Camp Augusta Requires:

Flexibility (responding to quickly changing schedules and needs)
Stamina (on the job 24/7, working in a physically demanding environment that requires the utmost care and attention)
Communication skills to people of all ages and backgrounds (fellow staff, children, and parents, including those from other countries)
Patience and compassion (working with children and staff)
Conflict resolution (other staff as well as children)
Ability to work in stressful situations (very tight schedule, high expectations, rapidly changing environment)
Ability to react quickly and stay calm in high stress environments (accidents/injuries, high-stress cabin group)
Ability to work with and relate to people of various ages (child-adult)
Program and curriculum creation/development/evolution/assessment/improvement (new clinic creations, evening program creations, etc.)

Training: Over 300 hours each summer of focused, dedicated, specialized, on-site training (including instruction from outside experts). The longest training with the most diverse curriculum of any camp or outdoor center in the USA. Before staff training, on-the-job learning begins with a 300+ page staff manual focused on child, community, and personal development. In addition, knowledge of child, social, and cultural development expands from over 30 hours of video documentaries. When camp is running, you’ll receive real-time training from a dedicated mentoring structure.

The above is useful to include in your cover letter.

Some things to keep in mind when creating your resume:

strong resume phrases use action verbs, the active voice, and highlight your specific responsibility, creativity, and innovation from your experience.
the employer will know it is you writing the resume, so there’s no need to use first or third person language.
Be as specific as you can as this demonstrates leadership, management, and personnel skills, as well as your engagement with the role.
Use specifics from your summer(s) — this will offer more details and examples that will stand out.

Strong resumes are easy to read, so a simple format is key. Keep your resume to one page. Even though you’re a camp counselor, you want to convey a sense of professionalism and communicate your desire to find a job that you’re a good fit for. Have someone else proofread your resume and give you feedback. Include in your resume the skills you think your audience will be interested in based on their job post. Knowing what the reader is looking for will help you convince them you are the ideal candidate as you can tailor your resume and choose what to include for each job you apply for. Choose the most relevant skills from the table below depending on what job you are applying for.

A Table of the Skills, Knowledge and Experienced Gained From Working at Camp Augusta (and how to phrase them to include them on your resume):

Skills	Action Verbs	Sample Resume Sentence
Leadership	Led, spearheaded, initiated, drove, implemented, directed, introduced, managed	Implemented a streamlined new process for activity training that saved camp 100 hours of time during staff training. Led a weeklong backpacking and hiking trip with a group of 7 teenagers. Introduced new camp store process to minimize excess stock. Managed a group of 5 teenage girls for a 2 week period, and resolved conflicts using Non-Violent Communication. Acted as primary caregiver and “go-to” person for 5 teenage girls per week for 9 weeks.
Communication	Communicated, identified, managed, discussed, delivered, lectured, mediated	Mediated conflicts between 5 teenage boys using communication tools such as NVC and success counseling Identified needs of disengaged campers and helped them reconnect with the joy of being at camp Facilitated camp-wide consensus discussion about transportation at camp Discussed homesick camper’s feelings and needs, resulting in her finally enjoying her camp experience.
Problem Solving	Brainstormed, identified, solved, fixed, improved, clarified	Identified broken process for medical emergencies and clarified the order of actions to be taken Brainstormed ideas for cabin activities and used testing leadership style to trial each idea Improved evening program activity to be more engaging for the campers and documented the changes
Delegation	Organized, supervised, managed, delegated, led, assigned	Assigned roles to 30+ staff to coordinate camp-wide evening activity Supervised five 9 year-old boys while they each solved part of a team building challenge Managed a group of teenage girls as they engaged in cleaning up the camp grounds
Teamwork	Facilitated, collaborated, consulted, participated	Collaborated with 6 other staff to coordinate a 2 hour village activity Participated with 5 teenage boys to complete an 8 element ropes challenge course Consulted with other staff members to brainstorm memorable activity selling skits Built community within a 7 person village by initiating weekly breakfast meetings. Lived in a close-knit community of 60 staff for three months Consulted with entire staff to achieve consensus around community food guidelines Worked with 30 other staff to facilitate several hour long evening programs to entertain 100+ children
Program Planning	Planned, developed, organized, scheduled, facilitated, prepared	Created and developed and hour-long evening program to entertain 150 people Prepared and facilitated 20+ detailed evening discussions for boys aging from 11-16 Organized staff trip outing for 60+ staff within a limited budget Created detailed set-up and break down lists for 30+ separate activities during an evening program
Customer Service	Engaged, served, liaised, entertained, helped	Liaised with parents and children during weekend-long family camps Entertained adult and child guests through performance at campfires Helped guests find their way around the camp site, and make purchases from the camp store
Initiative	Initiated, investigated, spearheaded, forecasted, suggested, instigated	Suggested changes to Camp Augusta’s fire safety policy to improve the safety and consistency of fire use Spearheaded revisions to the staff manual to increase its relevancy and impact Instigated multiple village-wide activities to entertain 25 teenage girls.
Responsibility	Led, supervised, mentored, oversaw, prepared, managed	Supervised fellow staff and reinforced their commitment to the agreements they made with camp Mentored 5 teenage boys, 24 hours a day for two weeks and oversaw their physical, mental and emotional well-being Supervised the safety of campers with valid CPR certification Managed injury and illnesses at camp with 1st Aid certification Oversaw all water-based programs and ensured camper safety with Lifeguarding certification Prepared detailed risk management processes for a variety of activities with different risk levels. Managed time in keeping a tight schedule involving facilitating activities, supervising 5 teenage boys, writing parent letters, crafting cabin awards, planning wake-ups and embers, brainstorming and facilitating cabin activities, and ensuring campers are on time for all activities. Supervised 5 campers each week for 9 weeks, ensuring they brushed their teeth, bathed, ate adequately, were hydrated, took their medications and got enough exercise.
Critical Thinking	Analyzed, critiqued, discussed, explored, troubleshot	Analyzed camp policy on flat hierarchy and challenged its effectiveness Critiqued and suggested improvements to camp’s mountain board program through the process of knowledge management Troubleshot camper ideas for cabin activities, analyzing them for risk, practicality and engagement.
Empathy	Empathized, listened to, heard, reframed	Led cabin groups of five campers for two weeks; empathized, motivated, befriended and disciplined cabin members when necessary; feedback from direct supervisor indicated position of top performer and role model on staff. Listened to homesick camper and reflected his feelings and needs through active listening and Non-Violent Communication. Empowered campers to make more powerful choices through using the tool of Success Counseling. Empathized with fellow staff member who was struggling to connect with her cabin by being in rapport and reframing what she was saying in a more positive light.
Hard Working	Demonstrated, persevered, committed to, contributed	Worked with emotional emergencies, including angered people with a range of complaints about fairness or inclusion. Demonstrated patience through working with children who have more diverse, complicated and unique personalities than adults, which required adaptability and strong understanding of rapport (physical, vocal and emotional) Worked 24 hours a day for 3 months straight, tending to the various physical, emotional and mental needs of campers and staff
Public Speaking	Presented, performed, addressed, displayed, enacted	Performed in several campfire skits and songs Addressed the 150+ camp community with an inspirational speech at the end of Session Two, 2011. Displayed confident public speaking through facilitating 100+ activities throughout the summer
Creativity	Brainstormed, edgecrafted, created, developed	Innovated new activity for camp based on my previous passion for acrobatics and yoga Created and performed in several campfire skits Developed several fictional characters for special wake-ups each morning Created and developed a completely original, 90 minute evening program with 25 characters Brainstormed and edgecrafted 10+ brand new camper’s choice activities throughout the summer
Child Development	Taught, facilitated, grew, mentored, instructed	Facilitated the growth of 5 teenage boys through educational praise and setting them challenging goals Taught 5 girls about teamwork by instructing them on a 25 element ropes challenge course Mentored a 17 year-old Junior Counselor through direct scaffolding and success counseling Created dozens of meaningful learning experiences for multiple age groups ranging from 8-16 boys and girls.

When thinking about what to include on your resume to help present yourself in the best light for that job, it can be helpful to ask yourself some questions, to ascertain what experiences you are most proud of and how you’d like to present them:

In what ways did I adapt my contributions to new circumstances, roles, tasks and responsibilities?
How did I navigate the different wants and needs of the people I worked with?
How did I encourage contributions from all members and find consensus among people with different values?
When did I respond to the needs of specific campers, and how did I make sure they were met?
When was I at my most creative, and how did I express that creativity?
How did I manage my time to ensure all my responsibilities were met within my agreements?
What learning experiences did I have and how did I seek out opportunities to expand my knowledge?
How did I plan activities, evaluate their skills and supervise them when they were in progress?
What tools did I use to help other people solve problems, and find the root cause of their problems?
How did I inspire and motivate others?
In what ways did I foster teamwork and cooperation amongst the campers and staff I worked with?
What were occasions I encouraged participation and growth in campers, while adhering to our Challenge by Choice philosophy?

Sample blurbs for a resume:

Child Development Specialist, Camp Augusta

Responsibilities include: in a 140+ person community, primary caretaker for five 9-11 year-olds with 24-hour responsibilities that include rational-emotive behavior therapy, experiential education, child development, understanding of group dynamics, teambuilding, wake-to-sleep hygiene and care, group facilitation, diverse skill transfer, and some downright fun; participation in over 300 hours of training in emotional intelligence, nonviolent communication, CPR and 1st aid, lifeguarding, child psychology, teaching techniques, emergency preparedness, and communal living.

Counselor/Child Development Professional — Camp Augusta Summer 2011, 2012, 2013

Coordinated and facilitated activities, and supervised five 9- and 10-year-old boys at a traditional overnight camp in Nevada City, CA. Designed and led adventure programs on a 26-element low-ropes course, debriefed team-building activities and taught over 20 different activity areas. Contributed new ideas for camper’s choice activities on a regular basis.

Village Leader—Camp Augusta Summer 2010

Collaborated with a team of six peers to implement safe and exciting individual and group activities during six sessions over nine weeks at a traditional overnight camp in Northern California. Mentored, supported and evaluated seven counseling staff and liaised with parents and campers in a variety of contexts including: medical emergencies, behavior management issues, homesickness and counselor letters to the parents.

Master of Fun and Games – Camp Augusta 2008, 2009

Created and developed several all-camp programs designed to entertain 150+ people for 90 minutes at a time. Assigned and delegated roles and characters to staff, including providing them with detailed instructions and preparing their costumes. Implemented positive changes to programs on a daily basis through the process of Knowledge Management and suggested several ways to reduce cost and minimize environmental impact.

From Past Staff:

Core Staff, Camp Augusta May 2008 – May 2012,Nevada City, CA

Design Lead
Lead manager of digital media and all graphical needs including promotional materials, on-site signage and mapping, wide spread apparel design, print resources for all-camp games,
Gala fundraisers as well as creation and maintenance of various camp websites.

Master of Fun and Games
Orchestrated the planning, preparation and execution of nightly all-camp games. Each game
involved the creation of an imaginative world that required extensive set up and break down
logistics plus micro and macro management of material and human resources.

Child Development Specialist and Support Staff
Living within a closely-knit +140 person community and acting as a primary caretaker with
24-hour responsibilities including behavior therapy and child development. Skills include extensive
group development / teambuilding facilitation and debriefing, non-violent communication,
performance arts, 1st aid / emergency preparedness and experience in teaching over 50 activity areas.

Our staff are the life-changers at Camp Augusta, creating magical and memorable experiences for the campers who come here. The time and energy we put into training our staff is not only for the campers, it is also intended to help our staff both thrive at camp and in their lives outside of camp. And while it is sad to say goodbye to the amazing people who work for us, we understand that they need to move on and find new opportunities to make a difference in the world. Below is a list of useful links we have compiled to continue to help our staff make a difference in the world at other organizations.

Interview Tips
Interview Questions Decoded	This article gives you an inside look at what interviewers are really looking for when you answer their questions.
Three Key Job Interview Questions	Focus on the three big questions behind nearly all interview questions so you can be prepared to tell the interviewer what they really want to know.
How To Answer What Is Your Greatest Weakness	This article helps you prepare to navigate what can be a potentially tricky question.
The Perfect Job Interview In 8 Simple Steps	A simple how-to guide to impress during interviews.
How To Survive A Terrible Job Interview And Still Get The Job	An article on expecting the unexpected from your next job interview.
Top 10 Tips For Acing Your Next Job Interview	Useful tips and reminders for your next job interview.
How You Succeed At Every Job Interview	More tips for successful interviewing.

Interview Tips Even more interview tips.

Selling Yourself In Person
6 Questions To Ask During Your Interview That Will Make An Employer Want To Hire You	Another article with advice on smart questions to ask while you’re interviewing for a position.
5 Questions Great Job Candidates Ask Interviewers	Some insightful questions to ask next time you have an interview and want to know more about the company you’re applying to.
Steve Martinﾒs Advice For Building A Career Your Love	Some simple advice on making yourself indispensable.
How To Develop The Hireable Skills You’ll Actually Need	Some useful tips to help you present yourself in the best possible light.
How To Craft A Job Search Elevator Pitch	Learn how to summarize yourself into 30 seconds to catch the attention of your interviewer.

Building a Resume
Update Your Resume And Get A Better Job This Weekend	An article about what a strong resume looks like and how to tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for.
7 Cool Resumes We Found On Pinterest	Inspiring resumes to remind you that you’re a Camp Augusta, you can think outside the box too!
11 Things You Should Never Put On Your Resume	An article on things to avoid putting on your resume.
Turn Work Experiences Into Measurable Achievements On Your Resume	Advice on how to turn abstract tasks and experiences into quantifiable data that prospective employer’s will be interested in.
Top 10 Ways To Rock Your Resume	A list of the Top 10 things you can do to improve your resume.
7 Camp Counselor Resume Examples for 2023	Some great examples for including your experience as a Camp Counselor in your resume.
Translating the professional value of camp	A short video on how you can translate your camp counselor skills.

Writing Great Cover Letters
How To Write A Great Cover Letter That Employers Will Actually Read	Learn how to make your cover letters stand out from the crowd and what quirks are acceptable to include (handy for a camp counselor).
The Best Cover Letter	An article to remind us of the value of humility and sincerity when applying for jobs.

Searching For Jobs
Job Tips	Tips for finding jobs in the current economy climate.
Know A Company’s Narrative Before Applying For A Job	Advice on making sure you know what the company you’re applying to is looking for.
Top 10 Ways To Get A Better Job	10 useful tips to help you search, find and land a job you’re excited about.
Job Hunting In The 21st Century For Students	A fun slideshow on the realities of the job market in the current climate.
Finding A Job After College	Some helpful tips of searching for jobs after finishing your studies, and how to set yourself apart.
8 Sure-fire Signs You’ll Fail At A Job Search	An article on being more prepared and smarter about searching for jobs.

Useful Online Tools and Search Engines
Rezscore	Use this free online resume assessment tool to get useful feedback on how to improve your resume.
Human Workplace	Lots of useful and interesting resources to help you find a job with other humans!
Career Bliss	A search engine to put you in touch with companies you’d be delighted to work at.
CV Maker	An online resume building site.
Glass Door	Another search engine to help you find a job that suits you.
The Simple Dollar	Understanding your student debt, and much, much more on personal finance

Self Publicizing and Networking
5 Best Professional Nameplate Sites	This article explains the concept of “nameplates” and provides links for sites for you to create your own.
How To Shape Your Facebook Profile To Help You Land A Job	An article to remind you of being mindful when using social media, and how it can help you land the job you’re interested in.
Emphasize Your Potential Rather Than Your Accomplishments	An article advocating for potential over performance, and where creating a vision of a successful future can be helpful.
Why You Need A Social Resume And How To Build One	An article about the perks of using social media to enhance your resume and your public profile.

General Career Advice
Do What Steve Jobs Did: Don’t Follow Your Passion	An article that invites us to rethink what we value when considering choosing a career.
Flexibly Persistent Career Planning Is Not About The Color Of Your Parachute	Finding your passion is important, but so is having a back-up plan, this article advocates.
Cultural Fit Can Trump Qualifications	An article on the importance of being a good fit for the workplace you’re applying to.
Venn Diagram Of Wants And Needs	An article to help you follow your bliss.
Congratulations You Have No Skills	An article encouraging you to communicate what makes you, you.
Should You Send A Hand-Written Or Email Thank You Note After An Interview	A reminder of the value of a small courtesy in helping you land your dream job.
5 Minutes With Meg Jay	An article reminding us of the importance of acting now for the future we want.

Summer Camp Or Internship
Ask The College: Summer Camp Counselor Or Summer Internship?	Some advice on making the right choice for you when deciding between working at camp or pursuing an internship for the summer.
Skip The Internship: Go To Camp	This article discusses the advantages of working a summer as a camp counselor rather than doing an internship.
The Camp Counselor Vs The Intern	Another article the highlights the value of spending your summer at camp, and where those skills apply to other jobs.
This One Time At Summer Camp	One man’s article about how much impact his experiences at summer camp have had on his career and life.

Our staff are the life-changers at Camp Augusta, creating magical and memorable experiences for the campers who come here. The time and energy we put into training our staff is not only for the campers, it is also intended to help our staff both thrive at camp and in their lives outside of camp. And while it is sad to say goodbye to the amazing people who work for us, we understand that they need to move on and find new opportunities to make a difference in the world. Below is a list of useful links we have compiled to continue to help our staff make a difference in the world at other organizations.