Summer Staff Recruiting is the most important role we have in the months leading up to Summer Camp as Camp Directors. And while on the recruiting trail, we hear many reasons why a potentially awesome Camp Counselor can’t serve at camp. The primary response we hear over and over is:
“My parents want me to get a real job this summer”
And it’s very hard to refute their response, but I came across a list from our friends at Camp Danbee up in the New England area. They use this list encourage every College Age Student to consider working on staff with them… and it’s just too good to not pass it on to y’all!
8 Transferable Skills & Experiences From Camp To Today’s Workplace
1. Constant Communication
Camp will stretch your communication and observation skills to the max. This is likely the foundation to most roles at camp.
2. Self Directed Team Experience
Opportunity to work in small teams with guidance and at times, independence. Today’s workplace is made up of many self directed teams.
3. Testing Ground For Leadership Development
Try out your leadership instincts outside of an academic or organized sports environment. All levels of an organization today are expected to lead people and be LED… even if you are not the supervisor.
4. Meaningful Problem Solving and Decision Making
Collaborate in problem solving on matters that impact other people and the organization.
5. Experience Conflict From All Sides
Resolve conflicts from 3 perspectives; receiving, confronting, and mediating. One of the best life and work skills you could ever learn from camp.
6. Bottom Line Contribution
A chance to “do” something that impacts the camper’s and camps success directly.
7. Discipline
Practice the skill of “Showing Up” everyday.
8. Listening To And Learning From Feedback
Experience, possibly for the first time, a Performance Evaluation Process.
And the list could go on… the skills you will learn while being a Camp Staff Member will last for a lifetime, and not to mention, the life-long friendships you will create! I highly recommend applying today!!!
***List provided by Camp Danbee, and Transfer 8: Excerpted from True to Life Training, Jay Frankel, www.truetolifetraining.com
