What Is Working at a Summer Camp Actually Like?
You've seen the brochures. You've heard the stories. But what is working at a summer camp really like? We've spent years in the camp world — as staff, as directors, and as the people who help connect camps with great candidates — and here's the honest truth.
Community Is Everything
In most jobs, you work with your coworkers and go home. At camp, you live with your coworkers. There's no “after work.” There may not even be weekends in the traditional sense. You might be hours from the nearest city, with spotty cell service and no Wi-Fi in your cabin.
For most people, this ends up being the best part. You build relationships deeper than anything you'll find in a typical summer job. The friendships you make at camp have a way of lasting decades.
Get Ready to Play
Camp is fun. Whether your camp focuses on competitive sports, creative arts, outdoor adventure, or imaginative free play, your job literally involves playing. Bring your costumes, your silly voices, your inner child, and your willingness to look ridiculous. It's one of the best perks of the job.
Get Ready to Grow
Camp isn't an amusement park. Beneath all the laughter are powerful opportunities to learn, develop new skills, and test your limits. You'll try things you've never done before. You'll lead when you didn't think you could. You'll discover strengths you didn't know you had. The personal and professional growth at camp is real, and it transfers to any career.
The Hours Are... Different
Let's be real: camp isn't a 9-to-5. As a counselor, you're a role model around the clock. You might be comforting a homesick camper at midnight, leading a sunrise hike at 6 AM, and running an evening campfire program after a full day of activities. It's a lot — but it rarely feels like “work” in the way a desk job does.
That said, burnout is real. Good camps build in time off and breaks. Make sure you ask about it before you commit.
It Can Be Rustic
Don't expect a hotel. Many camps feature screen doors, shared bathrooms, bugs, dirt floors, and limited electricity. Some have canvas tents instead of cabins. Cell service? Maybe. High-speed internet? Probably not. This is part of the charm for most camp people — but it's worth knowing what you're getting into.
There Are a Lot of Moving Parts
Camp is a small city. Someone's cooking meals for hundreds of people. Someone's handing out band-aids. Someone's planning a canoe trip. Someone's mediating a friendship conflict. It's dynamic, fast-paced, and never boring. You'll wear a dozen hats in a single day.
So Is It Worth It?
Ask anyone who's done it. The answer is almost always the same: camp was one of the best experiences of their life. It's hard, it's intense, and it will push you. But it will also fill you with a sense of purpose and joy that's hard to find anywhere else.