It's a job with benefits -- an idyllic rural setting, sailing and unlimited craft supplies, to name just a few. Not surprisingly, camp counsellors say there is no better way to spend a summer.
Being a camp counsellor is one of the most fun and challenging experiences you can have, said former camp counsellor Nancy Coyle, 25. "You're getting paid to play with kids outside."
But those hoping to land a summer job at a camp should know it isn't all fun and games. Most camps require would-be counsellors to have at least basic first-aid knowledge and many require a police background check.
Would-be counsellors will also have a better chance at landing a job if they're at least 18. In some provinces, the law requires that everybody who takes this kind of supervisory job has to be of legal age.
Teens as young as 13 can start preparing for a camp job by studying for first-aid and earning swimming certification.
These kinds of job requirements aren't surprising, considering counsellors are several steps removed from the average babysitter. Not only are they expected to look after many kids at a time, the job is 24 hours a day and can last an entire nine-week summer.
"You don't do it for the money. You do it for the kids," said Coyle, who now works as assistant director of the Vancouver-area YMCA summer camp, Camp Howdy.
Counsellors can expect to receive as little as $1,500 to more than $5,000 for a full summer's work, depending on the camp. Some places offer bonuses of up to several hundred dollars to staff who have achieved certification in such areas as life-guarding, first-aid or sailing.
In addition to a paycheque, most sleepover camps also include room and board, but don't expect luxury. Although counsellors' living arrangements are sometimes a notch step above those offered to campers, they are typically pretty rustic.
And if the idea of getting close to nature seems unappealing, there is a range of alternative camp job options out there.
For those who love the idea of working with kids, but who aren't as keen on the idea of a season outdoors swatting flies, plucking leeches from between toes and camping out on the dirt, there are still camp options. There are as many types of camps as there are kids' interests. The list includes hockey and computer camps, robot building sessions, drama workshops and even magic lessons.
Many facilities offer their own counsellor-in-training programs, so trainees can learn on the job. Participants should expect to pay for the opportunity to learn how to be a counsellor, although the fee is typically lower than the standard camp rate. Camp directors say while it isn't necessary for counsellors to have completed a training program, it does give applicants an edge. At some facilities, entrants into these training programs must undergo screening that's almost as exhaustive as the one for actual counsellor.
"They fill out a full application and survive a rigorous interview. We want to make sure they're good candidates for future staff," said Skip Connett, director of Canadian Adventure Camp in Temagami.
But Coyle said it's worth it for the personal rewards alone.
"I think you figure out more who you are when you're pushed a little," she said.
Another big plus: Prospective future employers look kindly on a resume showing summer camp experience.
"Other jobs, once you go on, really like to see that on a CV because if you've been a good camp counsellor, you can deal with many various situations and get along with your peers," said Maya Willis, who, along with her husband, runs Camp Wilvaken in Magog, Que.
She said it also shows "you can multi-task and that you're a leader."
Camp directors typically begin hiring for the coming summer in January, but there are nearly always late openings for last-minute summer job seekers.
CHECK LIST
Would you make a good camp counsellor? Check this list of personal characteristics camp directors are looking for.
Enthusiasm: Can you motivate and entertain groups of kids -- for weeks at a time? What's your energy level? Can you make anything look fun, even after a long day or several long days?
Compassion: Campers will hurt themselves, get homesick or have problems fitting in during their time away from home. How will you do if you have to step in as a surrogate parent and offer comfort to kids who are struggling with camp life?
Leadership: Will you set a good example and be able to encourage kids to follow your lead? With so many children under your care, it is important for counsellors to take the job seriously, even while having fun.
Athleticism: Are you up for for midnight games of capture the flag or boys-against-girls baseball tournaments? You don't have to be able to run a marathon, but you should be able to keep up in a race to the mess hall.
Creativity: Can you think on the fly? Will you be able to come up another fun plan when thunderstorms cancel canoe lessons? Camps draw heavily on staff to improvise.
