When I look at a young person’s resume and see “Summer Camp Counselor,” I pay attention.
And I don’t say that just because I run Hiram House Camp.
I say it because I was one.
I started working at Hiram House in 1991 when I was 16 years old. Over the next several summers, I worked as a Day Camp Counselor, Overnight Camp Counselor, Junior Day Camp Director, and eventually Day Camp Director. I left camp in 1997 and went on to college, graduate school, and a career in nonprofit management.
Then, in 2015, I came back to Hiram House Camp as their Executive Director.
Looking back, I can see just how much those early summers at camp prepared me for the career I have today.
And that’s why I believe “Summer Camp Counselor” is one of the most underrated jobs you can put on a young person’s resume.
Camp Teaches You How to Lead
As a counselor, you’re responsible for a group of kids.
They look to you to make decisions, keep them safe, solve problems, teach them something, and hopefully make their summer pretty awesome.
You don’t get a management degree before your first day of camp.
You learn by doing. And doing and doing and doing!
Years later, as an Executive Director, I can see how those early experiences helped me become comfortable leading people, managing staff, making decisions, and taking responsibility.
You Learn to Solve Problems, Quickly
If you’ve ever worked at summer camp, you know one thing:
The plan will ALWAYS change.
It might rain. An activity might cancel. A camper might have a difficult day. A staff member might call off. The schedule might get completely rearranged.
You learn to think on your feet and pivot.
You learn not to panic.
You learn to figure it out.
Those are skills that transfer to just about every career.
You Learn How to Work With People
Camp counselors work with kids, parents, coworkers, supervisors, and people with completely different personalities.
You learn patience.
You learn communication.
You learn how to listen.
You learn that sometimes you have to change your approach to reach someone.
I have spent much of my career working with people in social services, the YMCA, and now at Hiram House. Looking back, those first lessons in communication started at camp.
You Learn What It Means to Show Up
Camp isn’t always glamorous.
It’s early mornings, long days, hot afternoons, rain, mud, tired kids, and sometimes tired staff.
But you show up.
And you do your job.
You learn that other people are depending on you, and that your attitude matters—even when you’re exhausted.
That work ethic is something every employer wants.
You Learn to Be Part of a Team
One of the things I loved about camp—and still love today—is that nobody does camp alone.
Counselors depend on each other. Specialists depend on counselors. Directors depend on their staff. Everyone has a role, and everyone has to work together.
That teaches you how to lead when you’re the leader and how to follow when someone else is leading.
That’s a pretty important skill in the real world.
And You Might Discover What You Want to Do With Your Life
This one is especially important.
A summer job doesn’t have to be directly related to your college major to be valuable.
My camp experience helped me discover that I loved working with people, leading programs, solving problems, and making a difference in the lives of young people.
Eventually, that led me into nonprofit management and social services and, ultimately, back to Hiram House where it all started.
Your first summer job might not tell you exactly what you want to do.
But it might help you figure out what you’re good at.
So, Employers, Don’t Overlook the Camp Counselor
When you see Summer Camp Counselor on a resume, don’t just see someone who spent their summer playing games with kids.
See someone who has:
- Led a group.
- Managed responsibility.
- Solved problems.
- Worked as a team.
- Communicated with parents.
- Handled difficult situations.
- Adapted when plans changed.
- Worked long days.
- And showed up.
Those are real-world skills.
And they don’t necessarily come from sitting in a classroom.
I Know Because I’ve Been There
I started at Hiram House as a 16-year-old counselor.
I had no idea that those summers would eventually lead me back to the place where I started and loved and this time as the Executive Director.
I didn’t know then that the skills I was learning would become some of the skills I would use throughout my career.
I thought I was just working at summer camp.
Turns out, I was learning how to work.
So to all of the college students and young adults thinking about what to do this summer: consider camp.
You’ll make friends. You’ll make memories. You’ll probably get really tired and really dirty.
But you’ll also build leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and responsibility skills that you can take with you long after summer is over.
And someday, when you’re sitting across the table from an employer, that little line on your resume that says “Summer Camp Counselor” might mean a whole lot more than you think.
Written by:
Courtney Nicolai, Executive Director
