Can Working at Camp Be a Real Career?
You're scrolling through camp job listings, dreaming of canoes, campfires, and warm sunny days — when that nagging voice shows up: “Get a real job. Join the real world.”
Sound familiar? We hear it all the time. Whether it's coming from a well-meaning parent, a skeptical professor, or your own inner critic, let's put this one to rest: camp jobs are real jobs, and they can lead to real careers.
Camping Is a Real Industry
Just like finance, education, or tech, the camp industry has professional associations (like the American Camp Association), conferences, certification programs, career ladders, and yes, even its own acronyms. There are over 12,000 camps in the U.S., serving millions of children every year. The only difference? We skip the cubicles and replace them with beaches and forests.
There's a Real Career Path
Many camp careers start at the camp you grew up with, but they don't have to stay there. You might begin as a counselor and work your way up to program director, assistant director, or camp director. Or you might move between camps, picking up different experiences — some seasonal, some year-round, some more educational, others more recreational.
Some camps serve the general public; others focus on specific demographics or needs. Some are part of larger networks (YMCA, Scouts, faith-based organizations); others are independent. The variety means there's almost always a next step if you're looking for one.
It Supports the Good Life
Here's what people who've been around a while almost universally say gives life meaning: healthy relationships, a sense of purpose, personal growth, and being part of a community. Camp delivers all of those in abundance.
Yes, the hours are long and sometimes unpredictable. Yes, it can be emotionally intense. But camp people consistently report a deep sense of fulfillment that's hard to find behind a desk.
The Skills Are Marketable Everywhere
The work that camp people have been doing for decades is now being dressed up in corporate buzzwords like “emotional intelligence,” “human development,” and “adaptive leadership.” Companies want people who can collaborate, solve problems creatively, handle uncertainty, and lead teams. That's literally what you do at camp every day.
This means camp simultaneously offers you a path to an amazing career in camps and prepares you for success anywhere else. Camp experience translates into roles in marketing, risk management, training, HR, healthcare, education, and more. Read our full guide on camp as a resume builder.
So What Do You Tell the Skeptics?
Tell them you work in a billion-dollar industry that serves millions of families. Tell them you're developing leadership, crisis management, and communication skills that Fortune 500 companies pay consultants to teach their executives. Tell them you're building a career in one of the few industries where the work genuinely makes the world better.
And then go enjoy the sunset from your office.