A Camp Experience That Will Shape Your Future – Not Just Your Summer
At some point after school or university, most people face the same question: what comes next? Do you take a gap year, travel, work, study more, or try to get a foot on the career ladder straight away?
There’s no right answer. But one thing has become increasingly clear in recent years: experience matters just as much as qualifications. When employers are choosing between candidates with similar academic backgrounds, it’s often real-world experience that makes you stand out - especially experience that shows responsibility and independence.
Summer camp work experience as a camp counsellor is often talked about as a “fun summer”. And whilst this is true - it’s so much more. A summer at camp can have a much longer impact than people expect, and make a tangible difference to your future, once you return home.
The real value of experience
Depending on what you want to do professionally, qualifications and grades still matter. But they’re not the be all and end all. Employers are looking for people who can communicate clearly, adapt to new situations, take responsibility, and work well in a team. And you can’t develop these skills with your nose in a book.
You can learn these skills through work experience, and that level of responsibility and independence is amplified with a summer at camp - which is essentially a job abroad. Living and working abroad shows that you’re willing to step away from what’s familiar, handle uncertainty and take initiative. It also suggests a level of maturity that employers value, particularly for entry-level roles where potential matters as much as experience.
Summer Camp work experience: what will you learn?
Working at an American summer camp is all about the people. It’s a structured environment and – at times - it’s demanding. You’re not just there to participate, you’re there to support and manage real responsibilities (and children) every day.
You’ll work as part of a team, often with people from different countries and backgrounds, learning quickly how to compromise and communicate clearly. You’re responsible for children’s wellbeing and their safety, which requires consistency and emotional intelligence on your part!
You also develop leadership skills in a practical, hands-on way. It’s not leadership in theory; you’ll make decisions, handle unexpected situations, and set an example. Sometimes under pressure. Expect to resolve conflicts, adapt an activity because something isn’t working, or support a camper who’s struggling. Your ability to problem-solve on the spot, will be far more practiced by the end of the Summer.
Living away from home adds another layer of experience. You’ll have to manage your own routines, relationships, and responsibilities independently, in a new cultural setting that’s unknown to you. That adaptability and self-reliance tend to stay with people long after the summer ends but leads to a better sense of self and confidence in your own ability.
These are all transferable skills and ones that you can apply to almost any future role.
How employers view the Camp experience
From an employer’s point of view, Summer Camp work experience tells a clear story. And it’s a suitable opportunity for students, school leavers, and graduates alike.
It shows that you’ve handled responsibility, worked hard, pushed yourself out of your own comfort zone, and committed to something. It demonstrates teamwork, communication and leadership, an appetite to learn, all in a real working environment. And because it’s international, it also signals cultural awareness and independence.
When hiring managers are choosing between candidates with similar qualifications, Sumer camp is precisely the kind of experience that can be the deciding factor. It gives them concrete examples to ask about in interviews and shows that you can translate experience into action.
Importantly, it’s not just what you did, it’s how you talk about it. Camp gives you real, lived experience to draw from as you answer interview questions whether you’re applying for a job, an apprenticeship, further study or another opportunity abroad.
Camp compared to other gap year options
Travel and volunteering both have value. They can be enjoyable and worthwhile in different ways. But they don’t always provide the same structure or clarity when it comes to future applications - and they never tend to pay.
A camp counsellor role offers something distinct: paid international work experience with defined responsibilities. You have a job title, a team, a supervisor and clear expectations. You’re working for pay and that makes it easier to explain what you gained and why it matters.
For students and parents thinking about long-term outcomes, this structure is important. It turns a summer abroad into a coherent experience with tangible results; one that employers and institutions understand and respect.
A springboard for what’s next
Anyone who views USA Summer Camp as a ‘jolly’ is wrong. Yes, it’s fun, but it’s hard work. And for many people, camp becomes a turning point in their lives. It’s an opportunity for self-discovery that often helps young people to clarify their career interests and build confidence. Many express having a renewed perspective and clarity around what they want their futures to look like.
Summer camp work experience isn’t just a break from routine. Done properly, it’s an investment in future you and one that continues to pay off long after the season ends. If you’re considering a gap year, a summer abroad, or your first step after school or university, it’s worth thinking about the long-term value of what you choose - and Summer Camp is a great option that will see you earn, too!
If you want to understand more about becoming a camp counsellor or explore how a summer at camp could shape your future arrange a call with our team!