How to Describe Camp Counselor Experience on a Resume
On your resume, describe your camp counselor experience in the same way you would describe your campus
involvement or work experience. What was your role at the camp? How would your supervisors, campers, and
other counselors describe you? Focus on your accomplishments. Select the skills that are transferable to your
career interests and demonstrate the qualifications required for the desired position, organization, or industry.
You can list your counselor experience under Experience, Related/Relevant Experience, or Leadership
Experience on your resume. Include a few short bullets highlighting your achievements, and describing what you
did, how you did it, and any results. Your camp counselor experience can show your:
• Communication, counseling, and leadership skills
• Work ethic that can set you apart from other candidates
• Collaboration, team building, and conflict resolution skills
• Empathy, humor, and persuasion to gain respect of campers
• Activity planning and oversight
• Organization and program administration
Below are a few examples of various ways to include your camp counselor experience on your resume:
EXPERIENCE
Camp Counselor, Timberlake Camp, Brown, MA Summer 2018
• Facilitated daily arts and crafts projects for a group of 33 elementary school aged campers
• Ensured that camp policies were enforced and campers were safe
• Collaborated with 10 fellow counselors to coordinate major camp events, including Love Our Earth Day,
Parents Day Celebration, and a Variety Show
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Division Leader | Camp Placid, Lake Placid, NY | Summer 2017, 2018
• Collaborated with a team of six peers to implement safe and exciting individual and group activities
during four two-week sessions at a girls’ overnight camp
• Coordinated activities and supervised ten 9-12 year old campers per session
• Designed and led adventure programs on a 26-element low ropes course
• Responded rapidly to parents’ concerns with telephone calls and emails
• Completed end-of-summer evaluations for divisional staff
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Waterfront Director, Camp Jonah, San Diego, CA Summer 2016-2018
• Managed a 36 member aquatic team who instructed a full range of waterfront activities at a coeducational
day camp for 300+ attendees
• Trained staff to assess risks and respond to emergencies along a 1,500 foot shorefront
• Coordinated and performed daily maintenance on a fleet of 24 J-class racing sailboats
The key is to recognize the skills you possess and adapt them to the position, organization or industry to which
you are applying, while describing them in professional terms. If you list the skills that you use to manage your
counselor experience, you will see that they can be transferred to other environments. In fact, you will find they
are quite valuable in the work environment, which means that if marketed correctly, you will be very attractive
to a potential employer.
Career Center
503-768-7114
Career Center
Templeton Campus Center • go.lclark.edu/career_center • careers@lclark.edu • 503-768-7114
