Articles

From the Cabin to the Boardroom

WORKING AT CAMP IS NO LONGER A SUMMER JOB TO PASS THE TIME AND EARN SOME SPENDING MONEY; IT IS A "REAL, LIVE" CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE WHERE LIFE-LONG SKILLS ARE LEARNED, PRACTICED AND STRENGTHENED.

By Steven Killeen

internship (if lucky to land one) or a sales position at a retail store in the local mall. These are basically jobs where the students are told what to do by someone else, with little, or no, opportunity to provide input or make their own choices and decisions. For me, working as a cabin counsellor, program specialist or unit leader at camp can be compared to running your own company. You are part human resource manager,part nurse, part coach, part teacher and part psychologist - all while learning indispensable organizational and people skills in a safe and nurturing environment.

The transferable skills people acquire at camp are something they do not realize they have until you discuss them within the framework of a résumé. When examining the job responsibilities and situations camp staff face on a daily basis, it is easy to see the strong leadership, communication skills and flexibility any potential boss would want from a college graduate.

At camp, staff are continually challenged - from organizing campers' schedules, to dealing with homesick children, to supporting the winners and losers in a camp tetherball tournament. Presented correctly on a résumé, a future employer views all of these situations as developing the skills of compassion, confidence, leadership, and inter-personal skills.

Good communication is vital at camp, whether it is discussing issues with the camp director, offering reassuring words to a concerned parent or resolving an argument between two campers. In an interview, young adults can show the ability to tailor their tone and choice of words depending on the situation and who they are speaking to, and that they can articulate opinions and ideas. Talking about camp is also a great way to make you stand out from other applicants. It shows that you can have fun, see the big picture and not "sweat the small stuff."

Camp staff members are also responsible for many people and wear many "different hats." From health forms and risk management to written reports and evaluations, paperwork is a component of the job. With this comes an appreciation of time management and deadlines and the opportunity to hone important communication skills.

Acquiring these skills does not have to start when one is old enough to be paid. Most OCA camps have Leader and Counsellor-In-Training programs where older campers can learn skills, such as activity programming and behaviour management, all in preparation for the day they become camp staff themselves. To help the entire learning process experience at camp, the OCA provides a multitude of training and development conferences, skills weekends and résumé boosting opportunities for young staff to gain experience and qualifications. From CPR and first-aid training to interactive workshops, future camp leaders are provided the opportunity to learn from experienced camp professionals and practice networking skills while making new friends. By the way, you should not underestimate making new friends at camp. From such a diverse spectrum of people, you never know who will be the next CEO of a renowned company! There is no happier medium between professional development and having a summer of fun than working at camp - all while making a difference in the lives of children. So now that you know all of this, it is time to get a real job: at an OCA accredited camp.

Steven Killeen is the camp director of Hidden Bay Leadership Camp in Parry Sound, Ont.