A summer camp job can be a great place for an internship for several reasons, not just if you’re interested in fields like education, youth development, recreation, psychology, or social work. There are many skills you can learn from a camp environment!
Here’s why:
1. Hands-On Experience with Youth
Summer camps provide direct, real-world experience working with children and teens. This allows staff to develop skills in managing, mentoring, and guiding young people in various activities. If you can lead a group of 6-17-year-olds in an activity AND have fun while doing it, you can do just about anything!
2. Teamwork and Leadership Development
Camps are often team-oriented environments where staff can learn how to collaborate with peers and supervisors. Staff also get the chance to take on leadership roles, whether by leading activities, managing groups of campers, or solving unexpected challenges.
Support is also a big part of the camp community, but here at Starfish, it is built in to our culture. Any time you need to take a break or talk to someone, there is someone there to support you. Between directors, administrators, and our on-call social worker, support is only a walkie call away!
3. Soft Skills and Personal Growth
Summer camp staff develop critical soft skills like communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and conflict resolution. These are highly transferable to many career paths and are sought after by employers. In an environment like Starfish, you learn to further develop your emotional intelligence, including skills like decisiveness, social and self-awareness, relationship management, and self-management.
At Starfish, you focus less on the technology in front of you or the way you look and focus more on the social interactions and genuine relationships you build within the camp community. While most camps do improve your social skills, Starfish one-ups that and takes away mirrors, and encourages staff and campers to just be yourself! You’re at camp! No one cares what you look like!
4. Diverse Roles and Responsibilities
At a camp, staff often wear multiple hats: counselor, mentor, teacher, coach, or problem-solver. This variety offers a broad range of experience that might not be available in more specialized internships.
Of course, there are those unfavorable hats, too, that may not feel great at the moment but, after some reflection, can build a lot of self-confidence! Changing a light bulb or figuring out how to use a fuse box isn’t what you expect to learn, but now you have those skills to take home with you!
5. Creative and Active Learning Environment
Camps often promote creativity and active engagement, making them ideal for people who enjoy a dynamic, nontraditional learning environment. Staff engage in outdoor activities, team-building exercises, and fun, interactive teaching methods.
If you are looking for a way to engage a group, or even one on one, you will have games and conversation starters that you will hold onto for a life time!
6. Networking Opportunities
Working at a camp can help staff build a strong professional network with peers, supervisors, and camp directors. Many former camp counselors and interns often stay connected in professional networks, leading to future job opportunities.
Coming into camp, you may also be undecided – and that’s okay! What might happen is that you figure out what you want to do and find your dream career! There are so many diverse people from all over the world that you will now be connected to! Some random jobs and professions Starfish staff have gone into include: social work, clinical research, speech pathology, occupational therapy, doing TED Talks, being on the Great British Bake-Off, teaching in other countries, and so much more! The possibilities are honestly endless!
7. Building a Strong Work Ethic
Camps often require long hours and the ability to handle various responsibilities, which helps build resilience and a strong work ethic—qualities that are valuable in any profession.
From the start, we know that a summer camp job won’t be easy. Resilience alone is required to even consider it! To get hired and sit at training, we know that you can do it; you are here for a reason!
8. Specialization in Certain Fields
Many summer camps are specialized (e.g., camps for children with special needs, sports, the arts, or STEM fields). If you, as an intern and staff member, have a specific interest, you can choose a camp that aligns with your career goals, providing a more focused experience.
9. An Overall fun experience!
What you take away from the experience can vary, but as you find yourself going home from spending your entire summer at camp, you may be singing camp songs and repeating little catchphrases. You get the power to spread the joy of camp to your friends and family!
All in all…
For someone pursuing careers in fields like youth counseling, education, social work, or any job related to working with children, a summer camp internship is an excellent way to gain practical experience, improve interpersonal skills, and make a meaningful impact on young lives.
Most jobs look for these listed qualities, and what is better than learning and perfecting them while having an amazing summer? On top of an already incredible experience, you will do it all with your new best friends!
Camp Starfish’s internship program has been going strong for several summers. If you are looking to progress your work here at Starfish and your experience, we have a Fellowship program as well. Throughout the internship, you take concepts learned during training and apply them throughout the summer in your work with campers. At the end of the summer, you have a journal in which you have documented your experience and shown the work you have done here to make a difference.
You can take this journal and apply it to your resume, research, etc., to show off your experience with first-hand examples.
Looking to have an unforgettable summer AND make a difference in the lives of youth?