|
|
 |
Few fields combine such a variety of backgrounds
and disciplines as the camp field. Management
roles in camps, outdoor education centers, or
conference/retreat centers require some know-how
and background in very technical fields such as
human resources, nutrition and health care, food
service, facility and business management; it
also necessitates the blending of the principles
of youth development and social group work, recreation,
physical education, psychology, and education.
Camp careers provide the opportunity to integrate
these disciplines by working with people in a
stimulating outdoor setting. As ACA's mission
confirms, working at camp gives you the opportunity
"to enrich lives and change the world."
While often referred to as summer camp work, today's
camp careers are frequently year-round positions.
Common Definitions
To help you distinguish "organized
camps," camping, and the camp experience
from simply "an individual going camping,"
the American Camping Association has set forth
the following definitions:
- Camp: A sustained camp experience that
provides creative, recreational, and educational
opportunities in group living in the outdoors.
It utilizes trained leadership and the resources
of natural surroundings to contribute to each
camper's mental, physical, social, and spiritual
growth.
- Camping: A term that is commonly used
to describe the activity of "camping"
by individuals or families who choose to camp
on their own (often at a campground with RVs
or campers) without planned programming by trained
leadership staff.
- Day camps: Sessions range from five
days to multiple weeks in length and are operated
and staffed by the camp. Campers go home to
parents or guardians each night, except for
occasional overnight.
- Resident camps: Sessions range from
five days (4 nights) to multiple weeks in length.
Campers stay overnight, and the camp staff are
responsible for campers twenty-four hours a
day.
- Trip and Travel Camp Program: A resident
camp program of three nights or more, often
without a base location. Program activities
are based upon environments encountered as the
group moves from location to location. May be
a program run as an extension of resident or
day camp or may be an exclusive trip and travel
camp specializing in only trip, travel, or tour
programs.
- Family camps or retreats: The sessions
include organized programming specifically for
families in a resident camp setting; it does
not refer to family campgrounds where only facilities
are offered to transient campers.
- Outdoor/environmental education: The
client group often includes schools; the curriculum
includes a group experience and offers many
of the same programs found in an organized camp.
Careers at Camp
The description of a full-time position in the
organized camp field is no longer simply "director
of a children's summer camp." Today, organized
camps encompasse all ages — children, adults,
senior citizens, families; all settings —
day, resident, travel, trip, specialty, outdoor
education, conferences; all year — every
season of the year. Full-time positions found
in the camp industry include:
- Camp director ordinarily refers to
a person who is directly involved with the operation
and management of a camp program and whose duties
cover both administration and program.
- Camp administrator ordinarily refers
to a person who administers more than one camp
program and coordinates administrative functions,
relying on support from the onsite director
or program director. Director of outdoor programs
or some variation may be used to specify the
person who administers various programs in the
outdoor field — day and/or resident camps,
outdoor education, conferences and retreats,
outdoor events, troop camps, etc. This position
more often involves coordinating, planning,
and administrative responsibilities.
- Associate or assistant director is
the person who assists the administrator and
is often responsible for an aspect of camp or
for directing a specific program such as environmental
education or the camp/conference center.
- Trip leader is the person who, under
various titles, leads groups on expeditions,
trips, and outdoor experiences, usually for
extended periods.
- Site and facilities manager is the
person who oversees the maintenance and upkeep
of the campsite and facilities.
- Food service director has the responsibility
to plan, direct, and supervise the camp's food
service.
The Job
The setting and circumstances of camp positions
can range from the director and/or other camp
staff who live on a resident campsite year-round,
to the administrator, who operates out of a metropolitan
office and only visits camps. Many positions at
camp require a staff person to spend time in the
following administrative functions other than
program:
- recruiting/promoting
- budgeting, sometimes fund raising
- staffing: employing or recruiting volunteers,
training, and supervising
- working with a policy-setting body
- coordinating functions
- meeting legal requirements
- writing and complying with ACA standards
- managing the administration of other program
areas
- developing strategic plans
Qualifications
Advanced degrees are helpful but not always essential.
A B.A. or B.S. degree is usually required and
is helpful in the areas of:
- recreation, with emphasis in camp
- youth development or group work
- liberal arts education
- outdoor education and/or camping
Colleges and Universities
that help prepare you for a career in camp.
Training usually includes the following:
- a broad liberal education
- camp administration
Knowledge of: American Camping Association's
standards program
Camp Body of Knowledge:
Participant Development & Behavior, Health
& Wellness, Target Population & Diversity,
Site & Facilities, Mission & Outcomes,
Human Resources, Leadership, Program Design &
Activities, Strategic Planning, Marketing, Food
Service, Business & Finance, Transportation,
and Risk Management.
Salary Information
Annual salaries range from an average of $15,000
to $50,000, depending on the position held. Fringe
benefits often include housing and meals during
part or all of the year, depending on the operation
of the camp. Many camps offer health insurance
and retirement benefits. Private camps sometimes
provide an opportunity to gradually buy into the
business.
Career Potential
A person with director experience may move into
other positions such as:
- Not-for-profit Agency: Executive Director,
camp director of a larger camp, regional or
national administrator on a metropolitan or
district basis, consultant, or staff of American
Camping Association.
- Private: A person can often move into
full or part ownership of a camp or conference
center.
How to Prepare for
a Career at Camp
Take available courses in the area of:
- camp counseling
- camp administration
- outdoor education
- adventure programming
- business management
- personnel management/human relations
- community development
Gain as much experience as possible by working
in camps:
- in different positions
- under different sponsorships (private, agency,
religious, etc.)
- of different types (resident, day, etc.)
- with different clienteles (boys, girls, coed,
specialized needs, etc.)
Attend and participate in camp-oriented meetings,
workshops, seminars, and conferences. Such learning
experiences are offered by colleges/universities,
private enterprises, and various national and
state associations including local ACA
Sections.
Do your field work or internship in a camp/outdoor
education setting.
Participate in American Camping Association professional
development courses such as:
These courses are available through ACA's national
office or one of the ACA sections located throughout
the United States.
ACA's Professional
Development Calendar provides dates, times,
and descriptions for training courses, conferences,
and workshops. (Also available in each issue of
Camping Magazine).
For information on the above-mentioned programs,
contact: Director Learning Resources, 765-342-8456,
ext. 307.
How to Find Employment
Opportunities
Positions with job descriptions that relate solely
to organized camps are growing, but still are
not plentiful. The following organizations offer
various camp programs. When making contact, be
specific in your request regarding employment
information within their camp programs.
Additional contacts might include:
- District or state church offices and state
council of churches. Ask them if they are aware
of or sponsor any church camp programs.
- State tourism departments and local chambers
of commerce. This is an excellent source for
names and addresses of camps and camp programs
in the state and area.
- Local community service agencies, religious
denominations or organizations, and societies.
- Day, resident, and family camp programs are
often sponsored.
- Departments of education; outdoor education
programs are often sponsored.
- College and university parks, recreation,
leisure, and outdoor education departments.
The ACA's
Online Camp Database provides information
on private, agency, and church camps across the
United States. It includes the name of the camp,
address, name of the director, type of camp, programs
and facilities available, and population served.
ACA Job-Search Tools
- Year-round Jobs @ Camp
A free, year-round, nationwide job service
via e-mail.
- Summer
Jobs @ Camp
Lists summer jobs available at day and resident
camps.
- ACA's Camp
Database
Compiled by the American Camping Association,
it provides information on ACA-accredited private,
agency, and church camps across the United States.
It includes the name of the camp, address, name
of the director, type of camp, programs and
facilities available, and population served.
The Need for a Commitment
No other profession can as easily combine the
satisfactions of working with people in an outdoor
setting as the camp/conference center field. However,
from the outset a person must recognize the need
for personal commitment as well as an extensive
commitment of time and energy.
In an organization, that personal commitment
must parallel that of the sponsoring organization.
In the private camp field, an individual has the
opportunity to build the camp around their personal
philosophy, and the commitment is no less important.
The camp field is built on personal relationships
and value systems — a career well worth considering,
for those individuals willing to make the commitment.
|
