Being a Counselor

As a leader, role model, friend, instructor, big brother or sister, cheerleader and hero to campers varying in ages, your primary responsibility is overall supervision. You're there to ensure their well-being and safety, and make their camp experience more fun and rewarding.

Most Camp Counselors live in a cabin or platform tent with a Co-Counselor and 8 - 12 campers. You will be with your campers 24 hours a day. You make sure they eat meals, attend day and evening activities that you lead or assist in, clean cabins, and even get them to sleep at night.

During the day

You will fill the role of an Activity or an All-Round/General Counselor depending on your skill level, ability, experience and certification. In either role, you will lead or assist campers of all ages in one or more activities. Your willingness to try everything and anything will be a great asset.

Working Hours and Time Off

Participants are expected to work a minimum of eight weeks. During this time, there will be at least six full days off from work and a few hours of free time every evening.

You do not need to be an Olympic athlete!

The skills and knowledge you already have doing activities in a team, through your school / university or socially with friends are enough to teach at camp. It is sometimes more about the experience of being at camp for the campers than the specific skill being taught.

Additional training

Why not improve your skills by enrolling in a refresher course in your home country so you will be able to use these skills and your knowledge to a better degree at camp. Are you a strong swimmer? Then why not consider signing up for a Lifeguard or swim instructor's course. There are Crisis Intervention certificates you can earn that offer valuable experience at many camps. Many camps may offer certification in a number of skills, consider taking them to further advance yourself professionally.

Activity Counselors Skills

Land Sports

American Football Archery Baseball Basketball Fencing Field Hockey Football/Soccer Golf Gymnastics

Lacrosse Martial Arts Roller Hockey Rugby Skateboarding Softball Tennis Yoga

Waterfront

Boat Driving Canoeing Diving Fishing Kayaking Kneeboarding Lifeguard (Surf and/or Pool) Sailing

Scuba Diving Surfing Swimming Waterskiing Wakeboarding Windsurfing Whitewater Kayaking Whitewater Rafting

Arts & Crafts

Batiking Cartooning Ceramics /Pottery Graphic Arts Jewelry Making Leather Work Nature Craft Painting

Photography (Film/Digital) Rocketry Screen Printing Sculpture Stained Glass Tie-dyeing Woodworking

Performing Arts

Ballet/Dance Campfire Singing and Performing Choreography Circus Costume/Set Design Drama Guitar

Magic Music Piano Radio Amateurs Singing Theater/Stage Direction Video Production

Outdoor Skills/Adventure

Abseiling/Rappelling Backpacking Camping/Hiking Farm Animal Care Farming Go-carts Horseback Riding (Western/English)

Low/High Ropes Mountain Biking Orienteering Outdoor Cooking Riflery Rock Climbing Scouting

All-Around/General Counselor Skills

If you have skills or prior experience in a number of the categories above or a willingness to learn or gain these skills prior to camp, then a camp may choose to place you in this position.