How to hire a camp counselor/lifeguard

How to hire a camp counselor/lifeguard, step by step

Here's a step-by-step camp counselor/lifeguard hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a camp counselor/lifeguard job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new camp counselor/lifeguard
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The camp counselor/lifeguard hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a camp counselor/lifeguard to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a camp counselor/lifeguard that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of camp counselor/lifeguards and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Camp Counselor/Lifeguard	Description	Hourly rate
   Camp Counselor/Lifeguard		$9-16
   Swim Instructor	As the name entails, swim instructors teach both children and adults how to swim. They help people develop their swimming ability through proper swimming techniques... Show more	$8-16
   Lifeguard/Swim Instructor	The primary job of lifeguards and swimming instructors is to keep an eye and teach swimmers at both private and public beaches, pools, private resorts, public parks, and summer camps. They implement local laws and regulations of the facility and provide help to swimmers who are in need... Show more	$10-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Rules
   • Water Safety
   • Lifeguard Certification
   • Cleanliness
   • Kids
   • Head Lifeguard
   • Safety Regulations
   • Swim Lessons
   • Safety Procedures
   • Role Model
   • Child Care
   • Rescue Techniques
   • Safety Standards
   • First Aid Training

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead canoe trips, songs, and campouts.
   • Learned aspects of team work, leadership, patience, and responsibility while supervising young campers.
   • Supervise youth camps swimming in the pool, lake, canoe trips, and creek hikestest chemicals of the pool
   • Encourage leadership development among campers.
   • Learned and understand any special medical conditions and/or relevant medication needs and allergies.
   • Attend manifestation and IEP meetings whenever necessary.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your camp counselor/lifeguard job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A camp counselor/lifeguard salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, camp counselor/lifeguards' average salary in indiana is 46% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level camp counselor/lifeguards earn 41% less than senior-level camp counselor/lifeguards.
   • Certifications. A camp counselor/lifeguard with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a camp counselor/lifeguard's salary.

   Average camp counselor/lifeguard salary

   $12.88hourly

   $26,797 yearly

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   Entry-level camp counselor/lifeguard salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a camp counselor/lifeguard job description

   A camp counselor/lifeguard job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a camp counselor/lifeguard job description:

   Camp counselor/lifeguard job description example

   This Lifeguard (In Training) will shadow certified lifeguards while working to obtain required certification up to but no longer than 90 days of hire date. The incumbent will provide excellent customer service in a safe, enjoyable, and positive atmosphere that promotes member safety and satisfaction in accordance with the YMCA policies and procedures.
   2. Essential Functions:
   
   * Shadow and assist lifeguards and learn programming and emergency procedures.
   * Know, understand, and consistently communicate policies and procedures for the pool, body of water and whirlpool.
   
   3. Relationships:
   
   This position reports to the Sr. Coordinator/Aquatics Director who reports to the Branch Management. The incumbent interacts regularly with their supervisor, staff, volunteers, and participants.
   
   4. Qualifications:
   
   Required
   
   * Minimum age of 15.
   * Certification required within 90 days of hire.
   * Patience and the ability to communicate with all ages and levels of swimmers.
   * Demonstrated ability to swim in shallow and deep water, and tread water (Stage 5 level swimming skill) or physically able to perform all skills required for a lifeguard.
   * Dedicated to member safety and the mission and philosophy of the YMCA
   
   5. Work Conditions:
   
   * Must remain in the pool area at all times.
   * Ability to support child or adult body weight in the water.
   * Must be able to remain alert with no lapses of consciousness in a warm environment with air temperatures of 80 degrees or higher.
   * Demonstrated ability to recognize and remedy hazardous/dangerous situations.
   * Ability to recognize and react calmly and effectively in hazardous/dangerous situations.
   * Perform all physical aspects of the position, including walking, standing, bending, reaching, and lifting up to 50 pounds at a time in a warm pool environment.
   * Communicate verbally, including projecting voice across distance in normal and loud situations.
   
   6. Additional Notes:
   
   This job description represents the major functions of the position but is not intended to be all-inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for taking direction from branch representatives in completing projects or performing duties deemed necessary for the branch or Association's success.
   
   Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pledge
   
   The Y of the North is committed to the work and everyday practices of eliminating disparities and eradicating of unjust systems to become a multicultural, anti-racist and anti-oppressive organization. YMCA of the North team members and volunteers must exemplify the association's mission, vision and values of caring, equity, honesty, respect and responsibility.
   
   The YMCA of the North continues to develop plans and strategies to ensure team members and volunteers reflect the demographics of the communities we serve. We will continually conduct institutional racism and oppression review of our policies, procedures and practices in recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a multicultural, anti-racist and anti-oppressive work environment and culture that promotes equity and respect for the human dignity of all. We value and respect this diversity and choose to be inclusive through our acceptance of all.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right camp counselor/lifeguard for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with camp counselor/lifeguards they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit camp counselor/lifeguards who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your camp counselor/lifeguard job on Zippia to find and recruit camp counselor/lifeguard candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit camp counselor/lifeguards, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new camp counselor/lifeguard

   Once you have selected a candidate for the camp counselor/lifeguard position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new camp counselor/lifeguard first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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