A camp counselor supervises children or adolescents as they participate in daily activities that are dictated the camp’s nature or theme. She is the person who the campers usually look to for advice, and they trust her to look out for their safety and well-being. Because camp typically includes a variety of scheduled events and activities, the camp counselor is expected to keep her campers on schedule and prepared to participate. She could work at a day camp or a camp where campers spend days or weeks in cabins or tents.
A camp counselor’s job is often different each day in a general camp setting with no particular theme or educational focus. One day might be dedicated to learning to play musical instruments, while the next might be devoted to arts and crafts. The next day could be spent doing water activities like swimming or canoeing. Being a camp counselor at this type of camp necessitates a high level of leadership in a variety of activities.
Camps frequently have a theme or focus on a particular hobor interest. These camps frequently have themes that focus on developing skills in specific sports, such as tennis or baseball, or on fitness in general. Some camps focus on computer science or music education, while others have a religious theme. Counselors at specialized camps are usually expected to be experts in the fields in which their campers are participating.
A camp counselor is usually expected to represent positive and constructive personal attributes and characteristics, regardless of the camp’s focus. Honesty, fairness, discipline, and compassion are examples of these characteristics. A typical expectation of a camp counselor is to lead example.
A camp counselor’s job often entails providing basic first aid, maintaining the grounds and cabins, and answering a variety of questions from campers, in addition to being a mentor and guide. A camp counselor is usually trained to expect the unexpected because her campers are typically young and unpredictable. She is traditionally expected to be able to respond appropriately to the campers’ ages and comprehension levels.
A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required for general camps that do not have an educational, religious, hobby, or sports-related focus. If the camp focuses on a specific subject or area of learning, the counselor will almost always be required to have related education, training, or a combination of the two to be considered for the position. Prior to the start of camp, some sponsoring organizations provide counselor training.