Do you have what it takes to be a Summer Camp Counselor?

What is a Summer Counselor:

Many college aged young adults think that being a summer camp counselor sounds like a fun summer job.  Hundreds of counselor’s applications flood into Camp Director’s email boxes every year.    They dream of an easy summer job.   The real work of a camp counselor is much more difficult, but can be very rewarding.  The magic that is camp happens when the camp activities, program, and staff come together.   When they work together they provide campers with positive impressions that in turn result in growth in the camper’s life.   The reality is that every activity or program only happens through the dedication of the staff that run them.   Any Camp Director will tell you that a camp is only as good as the staff in the cabins and the activities.    True counselors are positive role models that campers inspire to be like in their own life.   Counselor’s actions, words, and behaviors are closely scrutinized by campers.    At Circle F Dude Ranch Camp, we have seen campers attempt to dress like counselors, talk like counselors, and even change their hair style to match counselors.    On a deeper level, we see campers demonstrate compassion, kindness, and respect as they have seen modeled by counselors around them.These things do not happen overnight.   They happen because of the counselor’s 24-hour caregiving and modeling.   Counselors at Circle F Dude Ranch Camp find themselves working days that start at 7 AM and end around 10:30 PM.   They all sleep in cabins with campers, along with their co-counselor.   There are very few jobs that college students hold that require that length of time and dedication.   During those days’ counselors find themselves as caregivers, coaches, big sisters, big brothers, and guides.    Their attention to their children ensures that each camper has a wonderful experience. 

Traits of a Great Summer Camp Counselor:

The traits of any great counselor start with a deep passion for working and educating young people.    This must be translated into the willingness to work long hours and a dedication to their campers.   An ability to take initiative when they see things that need to be addressed.   Camper will model the behaviors they see.  Every counselor must demonstrate a lifestyle that allows them to be engaging and worthy role model for the camper. As a Florida Summer Camp, we work with Universities and Colleges across Florida, the United States and World.  We seek to attract counselors with the right mindset.   Circle F often hires staff with major’s in education, hospitality, psychology, and exercise science.  Further more most camps are open to all college majors, and in recent years we have seen majors that span from business to astrophysics applying to camp.  The key factor is not the major but always the individual’s personal desire to provide positive impacts on kids’ lives.

Becoming a Summer Camp Counselor:

CIT or counselor in training programs are great opportunities for younger individuals.  It provides experience in working in a cabin without all the pressures of being the full-time caregiver.   Circle F started a CIT program several years ago, that helps to train 17-year-old campers the skill sets needed to step into a counselor role at 18.   A camp counselor is more than being a summer baby sitter it is truly a youth development specialist.   One will work long hours in the outdoors.   Need to love working with children.  Most important, Counselor must want to make difference in the world.  If one is willing they will find there is no job more rewarding then summer camp work.    Do you have the right stuff to be a counselor?    Join our team.   We encourage you to check out our website and apply.