Every year ample young kids and teens head towards summer camps, not as camper but as junior camp counselors. This is an exciting opportunity for them to find their passion, learn the details of the trade and also get enriched with the intricacies of camp life from another side. Many teens take these summer gigs while in their gap year or to add credibility to their own experiences. Summer camp counselor role speaks very highly of any teen and their enrichment.
Though the general age to become a camp counselor is 18 years on June 1st of that year; across US, but junior camp counselors can begin as early as age 15. Despite an average summer camp counselor age goes at 18, but we may find ample places where age 15 or around take up assisting jobs as junior camp counselors. Wondering how old you have to be to be a junior camp counselor, well theres no fixed age. As it may be anywhere from 15 to 18 or even near to this range.
What is a junior summer camp counselor and whats a summer camp counselor age:
A junior camp counselor is an assisting role, where junior counselors help in lending a supportive hand to the camp counselors. They may not be leading but yet they are fulfilling every other aspect of a summer camp counselor role. Some of the roles of junior camp counselors are:
1- These junior camp counselors help and interact with campers and encourage them also support them.
2- Junior camp counselors are the right hand person for camp counselors as they lead all the activities for the day in terms arranging for them
3- These serve as the greater role model for they are the closest in age to the counselors
4- These junior camp counselors help in making the activities more fun and fulfilling
5- Junior camp counselor programs may require some fees to be paid, for the experience is counted extremely well
Junior summer camp counselor requirements and qualifications:
There are ample qualifications and requirements specific for every summer camp. Some of these include:
1- Qualifying of a certain grade specific to the camp requirements
2- Previous attendance of a summer camp as a camper
3- Recommendation letters from teachers
4- Statement of purpose highlighting why the junior camp counselor program inspires the young kid
5- Interview and other discussions
6- After selection a pre camp training is mandatory to get acquainted to the skills
7- Helping in registration process
8- Being available at least one week more than the camp during summers, say for an 8 week summer camp these junior camp counselors need to be available 9 weeks or more.
9- Fee for attendance of junior summer camp counselor program may be charged by most of such summer camps
10- They may or may not get a refund on their summer camp junior counselor program fee after the completion of the summer camp.
Benefits of attending a Junior camp counselor program:
Age 15 or 16 teens must attend junior camp counselor programs as these programs help in:
1- Building up leadership qualities
2- Helping the teens acquire essential life skills and survival skills
3- Learning the most necessary skills like communication, critical thinking, decision making, problem solving and more
4- Preparing themselves for a more wonderful career ahead
5- earn to bring out their behavioral competence as well
6- Mentoring relationships with senior counselors and camp staff
Counselors in training programs:
There are ample summer camps where counselors in training are offered for 16 year olds. These programs help in becoming summer camp counselors in future. These programs are around 3-4 weeks of summers and have a curriculum designed to enrich teens in learning about the necessary skills for the trade.
These counselor in training programs are more camper kind of, just that you will be learning leadership skills and become more responsible on how to carry out summer camp programs.
The next assignment comes where you are placed with a camp counselor and you as a counselor in training assist and help in their day to day activities. This is more one on one with counselor directed work process. This is a hand on learning experience and gives deeper insights into being a counselor.
How old you have to be to be a summer camp counselor:
Rather tricky for every summer camp has different guidelines, but moreover most camps keep the minimum age for being a camp counselor as 18. Some more requirements to be a camp counselor include:
1- 18 or older as on June 1st of the year
2- very good english language skills
3- At least 9 weeks availability during summers
4- No criminal background
5- Valid passport until at least 6 months ahead
6- Good credentials with some expertise in the activities they will instruct
7- They must physically fit and in good health
The above compilation on How Old Do You Have to Be to Be a Camp Counselor, is to help all parents and teenagers in benefitting from these exclusive and wonderful career building programs. These are definitely a way to enhance your career skills.
Check campnavigator resources for more details and insights. Share ahead ahead and keep writing for more.
By Minu Manisha
