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What is a camp counselor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.

While your summer camp will most likely be quite different than summer camps at Camp Crystal Lake from "Friday the 13th," being a camp counselor can be fun. Especially when you're not being chased by Jason.

This is a great job to have if you've received your high school diploma, as you'll be in charge of designing and leading activities. The majority of your day will be spent in recreation centers and parks. So basically, if you like being in charge of groups of people, being active and spending some of the day (if not all) outside then you'll fit right in!

What general advice would you give to a Camp Counselor?

Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D.Dr. Tommy Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Dr., Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Vanguard University

Opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are still out there. Whether you are seeking to land a job in education or the non-profit sector, you will need to familiarize yourself and get used to all things digital, for the sake of communicating effectively. The younger your student or service partner's mindset, the more digitally savvy you will need to be, especially in the classroom and in the non-profit world.
ScoreCamp CounselorUS Average
Salary
1.9

Avg. Salary $24,340

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.1

Growth Rate 10%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 5.09%

Black or African American 13.08%

Hispanic or Latino 15.23%

Unknown 5.56%

White 60.38%

Gender

female 57.62%

male 42.38%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress Level
9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.5

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Camp Counselor career paths

Key steps to become a camp counselor

  1. Explore camp counselor education requirements

    Most common camp counselor degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.2 %

    High School Diploma

    16.2 %

    Associate

    9.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific camp counselor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Kids28.68%
    CPR22.12%
    Summer Camps8.65%
    Role Model6.75%
    Child Care4.57%
  3. Complete relevant camp counselor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New camp counselors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a camp counselor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real camp counselor resumes.
  4. Gain additional camp counselor certifications

    Camp counselor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific camp counselor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for camp counselors include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor and OSHA Safety Certificate .

    More About Certifications
  5. Research camp counselor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage camp check-ins by assembling and assigning check-in teams, and helping implement opening day camp check-ins.
    • Guide and nurture campers by accompanying them to and assisting with camp activities, and lead hiking and canoe trips
    • Mentore kids using healthy conflict resolution techniques.
    • Organize group activities to facilitate communication between children with various health needs ranging from common allergies to severe developmental disabilities.
  6. Prepare your camp counselor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your camp counselor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a camp counselor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Camp Counselor Resume templates

    Build a professional Camp Counselor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Camp Counselor resume.
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  7. Apply for camp counselor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a camp counselor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Camp Counselor Job

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Average camp counselor salary

The average Camp Counselor salary in the United States is $24,340 per year or $12 per hour. Camp counselor salaries range between $16,000 and $35,000 per year.

Average Camp Counselor Salary
$24,340 Yearly
$11.70 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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