Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Camp counselor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.,

Kacie Blalock Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical camp counselor skills. We ranked the top skills for camp counselors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 28.7% of camp counselor resumes contained kids as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a camp counselor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 camp counselor skills for your resume and career

1. Kids

Here's how camp counselors use kids:

Provided underprivileged kids an opportunity to develop a musical talent,
Worked with new kids every week and taught them basic sports skills, while also giving them valuable tips for life.

2. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how camp counselors use cpr:

Staff training included CPR certification and seminars on working with children with disabilities and identifying abusive situations.
Supervised children in their activities -Communicated difficulties and problems with parents -Trained in CPR and first-aid procedures

3. Summer Camps

Summer camps offer a variety of programs to campers, usually children and young adults. They organize and coordinate different recreational activities that develop the campers' interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Some of the activities can occur in an indoor or outdoor setting, including playing various games, attending different classes, and even meditating.

Here's how camp counselors use summer camps:

Acted as Environmental Education resource for summer camps, providing curricula and facilitating instruction.
Volunteered at two-week educational summer camps for 250 urban underprivileged kids

4. Role Model

A role model is a person with desirable qualities who inspires other people to emulate their example.

Here's how camp counselors use role model:

Identified children's needs by observing with care, being a role model, and responding quickly with respect and affection.
Job description: Being responsible for campers, helping campers cope with issues, and being a role model for the campers

5. Child Care

Child care means the care, supervision, or guidance of a child by a person other than the child's parent, guardian, or custodian for periods of less than 24 hours. Childcare could be either center-based such as a daycare or a nursery or home-based care such as nannies or family daycare.

Here's how camp counselors use child care:

Delivered an unparalleled child care experience to children of diverse backgrounds, effectively communicating progress to parents.
Developed and advanced Child Care experience in a Culturally Diverse environment.

6. Incident Reports

An Incident Report, in a medical facility such as hospitals and nursing homes, is a type of paperwork filled out immediately after and in the case of an incident of some sort, with the goal of describing the incident and its consequences, as well as the measurements taken after or during the incident, as well as any other information relevant to said incident. Such an incident might be a patient acting out or a patient being injured.

Here's how camp counselors use incident reports:

Prepared written incident reports for camp director to review regarding escalation to parent notification* Ensured proper supervision conducted during bathroom usage.
Referred youth to appropriate on-site counseling resources and completed detailed incident reports for military and program staff.

Choose from 10+ customizable camp counselor resume templates

Build a professional camp counselor resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your camp counselor resume.

7. Core Values

The core values are those values we consider as the foundation on which we conduct ourselves and perform tasks. They are the practices we should ideally use while making all decisions. Core leadership values play an important role in steering decision-making processes and operations and they help you grow both personally and professionally. Having a solid core values helps build respect and trust towards a leader.

Here's how camp counselors use core values:

Provided educational and recreational experiences for participants that focused on core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Created educational activities to enforce positive core values.

8. Leadership

Here's how camp counselors use leadership:

Provided assistance to other camp counselors and administrative leadership by supervising campers at all times to ensure safety and amusement.
Planned and implemented leadership camp for middle and high school students Developed experiential content and facilitated hands-on learning VOLUNTEER

9. General Safety

Here's how camp counselors use general safety:

Facilitated group games; coordinated aquatic activities; ensured general safety of children; and organized diverse childcare center
Entrusted with the general safety and development, growth, and skill achievement of the participants in young adults ages 11-15.

10. Skill Development

Skills development is the process of understanding the gaps in your skills, then sharpening them. Developing your skills is important because your skills can determine your potential to accomplish plans with success. Without the right skills, you could spend time working on a project ineffectively or start with the wrong approach. If you take the time to hone your skills, you can find a great job, earn more money, and improve your life.

Here's how camp counselors use skill development:

Worked in collaboration with other counselors and directors to maintain safety and skill development.
Facilitated team-building activities that promoted skill development, cooperation, problem solving and risk-taking.

11. Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is an often necessary skill in business, employed for processes such as contract negotiations, legal matters, and even personal, emotional situations and conflicts. It is the ability to find and create an appropriate and peaceful solution to some sort of dilemma or argument in which two or more parties are involved. The resolution itself must benefit and satisfy all parties and this is what makes it so difficult to reach a peaceful point sometimes.

Here's how camp counselors use conflict resolution:

Entertained and organized different student activities, observed and assessed student performance, kept records of progress, and conducted conflict resolution
Conflict resolution, consensus decision-making, and effective communication skills developed used throughout the planning and implementation of each camp session.

12. Safety Guidelines

Safety guidelines are regulations or rules governing procedures, actions, or devices with the aim of reducing the occurrence or risk of loss, injury, and danger to properties, individuals, or the environment. To adhere to the safety guidelines and be able to make the best possible decisions to ensure everyone at the workplace is safe, you should possess a wide range of skills.

Here's how camp counselors use safety guidelines:

Planned, coordinated and supervised overnight camping trips ensuring adherence to all safety guidelines.
Identify and respond to behavior issues and enforce/follow safety guidelines and emergency procedures.

13. Emergency Procedures

Here's how camp counselors use emergency procedures:

Observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
Coordinate drop off/pick & enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures up in accordance with County regulations.

14. Ropes Course

Here's how camp counselors use ropes course:

Handled high-risk and emergency situations regarding high-ropes course/climbing/zip-lining at course exceeding 45ft high.
Coordinated ropes course that encouraged teamwork, communication and cooperation.

15. Safety Rules

Principles or regulations that ensure the protection of people, objects, or the environment are called safety rules. These rules can be governing actions, devices, or procedures that help in minimizing the risks of loss, injury, or damage.

Here's how camp counselors use safety rules:

Enforced safety rules and reporting system to track campers at all times* Supervised camp activities and developed recreational plans
Provided first-aid and implemented safety rules and regulations.

5 Camp Counselor resume examples

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 5+ resume templates to create your camp counselor resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Camp Counselors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young camp counselors need?

Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.

What hard/technical skills are most important for camp counselors?

Kacie Blalock Ph.D.

Associate Professor; Director, Master of Counseling, Louisiana State University at Shreveport

It is important that counselors are able to effectively take notes and summarize progress, interpret assessments, memorize and recall information, and keep clear yet concise records.

Do you want to know more?

List of camp counselor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a camp counselor resume and required skills for a camp counselor to have include:

Kids
CPR
Summer Camps
Role Model
Child Care
Incident Reports
Core Values
Leadership
General Safety
Skill Development
Conflict Resolution

Safety Guidelines
Emergency Procedures
Ropes Course
Safety Rules
Allergies
Safety Procedures
Develop Opportunities
Emotional Support
PowerPoint
Physical Disabilities
First Aid Training

Developmental Disabilities
Recreational Facilities
Art Projects
Camper Behavior Issues
Skill Achievement
Healthy Environment
Summer Program
Non-Core Programs
Bible

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs