If you haven’t started yet it’s time to get serious if you wish to secure a summer camps job for the upcoming 2007 season. Summer Camp positions are ideal jobs for teenagers

Thousands of students across the country are searching for summer camp jobs and the savvy summer job seekers understand that getting those applications in early means more chance of getting the camp job you really want in the location you prefer. The earlier you begin your job search the better your chances that you can find your ideal job, and close to home as an added bonus!

Recent statistics indicate that camp enrollment is increasing by 10% annually according to the American Camping Association so there are more jobs than ever available in the United States and even more opportunities in other countries.

You may wonder if you have the background and qualifications to secure one of the many summer camps jobs open today. Just what do camp directors and administrators look for in prospective councellors?

• Do you sincerely enjoy working with children and display an enthusiasm when dealing with them on a continuous basis? Remember overnight summer camp means you’ll be dealing with these children 24/7

Have you any experience working with children and under what circumstances?
While it is often not absolutely essential to have extensive experience with children the Camp Director will likely expect you to have done perhaps baby-sitting, coaching, volunteer work, or other supervisory interaction with kids. Obviously the more experience you have the more serious consideration your application will receive.

• Do you enjoy being and working outdoors??
  While there are some indoor summer camps, even academic and specialty camps usually incorporate an outdoor element such as hiking, swimming or camping. Most camps will outline what to expect in the application. Applicants are often asked if they can handle hiking up to a certain distance so a certain level of fitness is required and expected. Applicants need to understand that sleeping outside means dealing with close proximity to trees, grasses and pollen so allergies may be a consideration.

Do you have a preference as to the type of camp you want to work at? Residential camps will allow you to live on site and usually provide lodging and meals as part of your contract. Day camps normally pay more but you will be responsible for your own lodging and some meals. It’s also important that your values are in coordination with the camp you will be working with. Some camps stress competition among councellors while other camps emphasize cooperation and teamwork. Specialty camps may have other unique philosophies you must mesh with. Find out ahead of time because if you are not a good fit your employment may be difficult and challenging rather than a rewarding experience.

Many job seekers wait far too long to submit applications for the upcoming summer camp season. It’s a fact that many summer camps are aware of new staff requirements right after the season ends and so to put yourself in a position to secure the best available jobs you should apply now.

The summer camp 2007 season will be upon us very soon and so now is the time to decide where you want to work, what type of position interests you and start the process of submitting your applications either online or via the mail.

Summer Camp Jobs by Eriani Doyel

Teenagers and young adults can benefit in more ways than one if they take one of the many summer camp jobs available to them. It is a great way to earn some money for college and it also can give them some valuable skills and knowledge which will prepare them for the future. One of the best things about summer camp jobs is that there are wide varieties to choose from. A lot of these types of jobs really cater to the young adult and teenager market. If you are considering getting a job at a summer camp, you should think about where you want to work, what type of skills and abilities you have, and how to go about the job search and interview process for summer camp jobs.

The first thing that you should do is to think about where you went to summer camp. If you went to summer camp, this may be the first place that you should look for summer camp jobs. Not only are you familiar with the camp and the routines, but you may also know some of the people in the camp leadership who do the hiring and if you had a good reputation there, they will be more likely to hire you for summer camp jobs.

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I had an email which was asking about the possibility of using summer camp job experience as a stepping stone to a full time, year round career in the summer camp field. The answer is yes there are careers in many capacities dealing with summer camps and my recommendation would be to use the American Camp Association Jobs website where you can post your resume, sign up for the email job alerts, find out about local summer camp job fairs and much more relevant data related to the summer camp career path.

You will also find information here as to what employers are looking for in their summer camp staff as well as educational options directly related to summer camp for positions such as:

Camp Administration
Environmental Education
Experiential Education
Leisure/Recreation Program Delivery
Natural Resources Recreation Management
Outdoor Education
Therapeutic Recreation

There is a lot of seasonal and even year round employment available at summer camps. The qualifications for the jobs vary but many entry level positions are usually available and you can work your way into more responsible and senior positions if you apply yourself.

If you are flexible in terms of location you can look for summer camp jobs nationwide or if you prefer to stay in your own locale you can limit your search to city or state. Summercamps for kids have become increasingly popular and the job opportunities are growing at a fast pace.

Traditional summer camps are still the most popular but since there are many more special needs and specialty camps now available you can narrow your search to a specific type of camp such as “Christian summer camp jobs” remembering to be creative if you are using the internet for your search you should include variations in your search terms. In the previous example “summer camp jobs christian” may turn up more results.

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