Camp Leader Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a camp leader. Feel free to use our camp leader job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a camp leader.
Who is a Camp Leader?
A Camp leader is also known as a Camp Counselor who fulfills a range of duties at various camps including spearheading group games, supervising campers, completing admin tasks, and assisting with other activities in the camp. The overall safety of the campers is the sole responsibility of the camp leader. They also perform duties such as teaching children and teenagers outdoor and recreational skills and overseeing and planning camp activities. They also implement emergency protocols to ensure the safety of campers. Camp leaders usually have a passion for creating a positive and friendly environment.
A camp leader can work in summer camps that have special themes (e.g. drama camp, space camp, and, sports camp) and the summer camp activities will largely depend on the theme of the camp. The camp leaders’ activities differ across different camps and they also promote social interaction between campers.
A successful camp leader must demonstrate excellent stamina and leadership-friendly skills and also a positive attitude. An excellent camp leader possesses a developmental or growth mindset and also are team player. Camp leaders feel comfortable addressing large groups of people, interacting with young children, and also multitasking. Other roles they play are; delegating tasks and educating campers about health and safety activities and above all making the camp the best place to be.
Camp leaders play the role of entertaining children and teaching them new skills. They do this by brainstorming creative activities such as; swimming, fishing, hiking, and camping. Camp leaders also acquire training in first aid and CPR to treat any camper that is injured or bruised in the course of the camping activities. Other responsibilities greeting campers as soon as they arrive at the camp, giving the campers an orientation about camp rules, and also providing emotional support to those struggling so hard to adapt to the camp environment.
A good camp leader act as a mentor or strong role model to the children they work with. The campers usually learn from the camp leader and so the camp leader is always expected to show good examples to others. A camp leader must always be professional with his words and actions because others are looking up to him. Camp leaders should always be accommodating and give room for offenses; there are people in the camp with bad attitudes and so camp leaders must know the appropriate measures to put in place to maintain order in the camp. A good camp leader must also be strong to overcome challenges he may encounter in the course of his duties.
Camp Leader Job Description
Below are the camp leader job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a camp leader job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a camp leader include the following:
- Overseeing groups, giving instructions to campers, and implementing those instructions
- Working with other camp staff to plan activities
- Communicating rules, regulations, and campers with special needs
- Greeting new campers as they arrive at the camping facilities
- Greeting parents and guardians of campers
- Organizing and scheduling daily activities
- Communicating with parents and giving them updates about their children
- Explaining facility rules and safety measures
- Authorizing tasks and drafting rosters
- Assisting with a range of administrative duties
- Encouraging and inspiring campers to participate in camping activities
- Explaining the rules of the game or recreational activity and dividing campers into teams when necessary
- Settling conflict resolution and maintaining order in the camp
- Working with counselors and campers to organize social events
- Ensuring campers learn in a safe, fun, and stimulating environment
- Setting a good example for campers and staff
- Answering all questions and inquiries from campers in a professional manner
- Assessing emergencies promptly
- Administering first aid when necessary
- Contacting medical assistance if the situation is critical
- Supervising the proper development of the camp
- Explaining the use of specialized equipment
- Providing counsel and advice to campers
- Ensure the camping site is clean and that campers don’t dirty recreational areas or nature
- Keeping accurate incidents logs
Qualification
- Ability to administer first aid and CPR to respond to minor injuries or illnesses
- Health and safety knowledge to keep all campers safe
- Excellent communication skills to convey camp procedures and instructions to visitors
- Leadership skills to guide and motivate campers throughout their stay
- Interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with campers under their care
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Experience in mentoring or supervising children
- Ability to act in stressful situations or work under duress
- Multitasking abilities
- Good judgment and strong moral and ethical standing
- Patient and reliability
- A love and passion for children
- Familiarity with camping outdoor activities
- Organizational and communication skills
- Ability to meet physical demands of the job ( strength and stamina to do strenuous activities like hiking, running, crouching, or carrying children)
- You may also need to pass a drug and background check that is criminal record free.
Essential Skills
Camp leaders must possess the following skills and competencies:
- Good Team Players: camp Leaders work with other employees in the camp to draft the daily activities of the camp. It is, therefore, necessary for camp leaders to be able to collaborate with other employees of the camp for the smooth running of the camp. In addition, camp leaders with campers organize group games and other activities; team spirit is highly paramount to ensure there is cooperation and harmony in the camp.
- Communication and Listening Skills: communicating is one of the major aspects of camping. Camp leaders must be able to communicate perfectly for campers to comprehend what they are saying. The camp leader must give the campers orientation about camping rules and regulations.
In addition, camp leaders must be good listeners; they must be able to listen to complaints and inquiries from campers. the camp leader must respond to these issues professionally.
- Interpersonal Skills: Camp Leaders must build a relationship with campers to make the camp environment a conducive and friendly environment. Campers should feel very free to access the camp leaders and also discuss any issue with the camp leader. Camp leaders must also be very humble and diligent while performing their responsibilities to ensure a steady camping environment
- Leadership and Organizational Skills: a camp leader as the name implies has the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the camp. He must ensure that campers observe all the camping rules to make the camp very organized.
In addition, a camp leader organizes all the activities of the camp which include sporting and recreational activities. A camp leader must possess organizational skills to make sure every activity in the camp is well organized.
- Conflict Resolution: In a camp, there are people of different caliber and there might be a conflict or dispute between campers. It is the responsibility of the cam leader to ensure that there is peace and orderliness in the camp. The camp leader must put disciplinary measures in place to make sure that everyone is law-abiding in the camp. If there are campers who insist that they want to constitute a nuisance to the peace and orderliness of the camp; the camp leader can expel such campers from the camp.
- Good stress and decision-making skills: a camp leader must be capable of reacting to emergencies in a calm manner such as when a camper is injured or bruised. He must also possess decision-making skills by contacting medical assistance for severe injury.
- Reliability and Integrity: A Camp leader must be a dependable fellow; because parents bring their children to camp believing their children will be safe during the summer camp. A camp leader must prove that he can be relied upon and this means that he must never fail in performing his duties.
A camp leader must also have a strong moral standing; he should be someone with charisma and honesty.
How to Become a Camp Leader
Any individual considering being a camp leader must do the following:
- Obtain a High School Diploma
An individual considering a career as a camper must at least possess a high school diploma or postsecondary qualification. A camp leader that has a high school diploma and an experience in leadership roles while at school will be considered for the position of a camp leader.
- Get Experience
Although most camp leaders’ roles do not mandate experience applicants who have a history of working with children will be more considered. Camp leaders who want to perform specific activities at camp horse riding, or leading a football class must have experience in such areas. Camp with a specific agenda such as education may require their camp leaders to have experience teaching their subject specialty such as math, although some employees will still employ without all these experiences.
Most camps provide training during which camp leaders will lead how to lead activities, understand the camp schedule and get some insight into child development. Specialized camps may require camp leaders to have experience in some areas such as drama qualifications or training in athletics. Camp leaders need to also have safety training experience and they must be willing to learn safety procedures such as first aid and CPR. It is necessary because some activities in the camp may cause injury to a camper. It is also very important for cam leaders to have experience working in roles that mandate paying attention to detail because the safety of the camper is in their hands.
Camp leaders who want to advance in their career can enroll for a degree in leisure and tourism or a related field.
- Research Camps
The next step to take is to research camps to determine the kind of camp you want to work with or perhaps the camp that is hiring camp leaders. If you will prefer a day camp, research summer or holiday camps in your location. Consider research at your local parks and recreation department and any large organization. If you prefer residential camps or research camps in your location you will love to work. Get the camp guide and read about their requirement to see whether you fit in.
- Make your Resume Marketable
A good camp leader’s resume should sell him or her to potential employers. One quality of a camp leader’s resume is that it should show the ability of the camp leader to organize activities. As a camp leader include creativity in your resume to show that you can come up with new activities and also teach campers valuable skills.
In addition, include the experience you have working with children in your resume because as a camp leader you will spend the majority of your time interacting with kids and helping them conquer personal or emotional challenges they are facing. Your resume should contain the following:
- Contact Information
- Skills
- Work experience
- Education
- Certifications
- Volunteer experience(optional)
- Hobbies
- Write Cover Letters
It is very essential to write a cover letter for each camp. Cover letters you a first0hand opportunity to explain why your skills fit into such camps. Try to briefly highlight your personality and also your professional experience. In addition, include the responsible decisions you have made in the past that brought a drastic change in the camp. Consider writing a cover letter to each camp that matches your area of specialization because it will help you get the job.
- Apply for Open Positions
One of the final steps is to submit applications for the preferred camp of your choice. Applications may inquire for reference letters of recommendation so you need to be fully prepared. Ensure sure you make contact with colleagues or your teachers before sharing their information on your resume. You have to also be timely and meet up with the application. If you are applying to several camps; you can use a computer to keep track of all your applications ( such as an organized spreadsheet or folder)
Where can a Camp Leader Work?
Camp Leaders usually work in camps such as; summer camps, residential camps, or camps for specialized. They can also be employed in a recreational center or during a sporting competition in a stadium.
Camp Leader Salary Scale
- In the United States, the average camp leader earns $25,350 per year and $13 per hour. An entry-level camp leader earns $21,854 per year while experienced camp leaders can earn up to $36,224 per year