Posts Tagged ‘summer jobs’

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The Adventures of WAKA FLAKA (the Lower Debs Mascot)

Monday, July 16th, 2012

Anyone even remotely familiar with Camp Starlight knows that our Lower Debs are some of the most spirited campers.  Their enthusiasm is driven by their love of Camp Starlight and Megan, the Lower Debs Division leader.  One of the ways Megan promotes Camp Starlight spirit amongst the girls is through the use of a mascot.  Megan’s mascot has become a Lower Debs tradition and its identity remains a closely guarded secret for which the answer is highly anticipated by all incoming Lower Debs.  This year, Megan chose WAKA FLAKA.  If you’re wondering who or, rather, what a WAKA FLAKA is, then read on and enjoy the following blog written by Lower Debs counselor and blog contest winner Rachael M. of bunk 17.  Well done and congratulations, Rachael!

My journey as a flamingo has not been typical.  I have been on many adventures already in my life.  When I first arrived at camp Starlight, it was a quiet and beautiful place.  I could tell many amazing things had happened here in the past, but I stayed with one lady wearing Canadian clothing and her cute baby for those first days.  Finally, through my window, I saw others arrive.  They all had smiles on their faces and were so energetic!  Everyone was running to each other and hugging, but I was still alone.

One day, the Canadian lady took me out of her room, which made me very confused.  However, before I knew it, she took me out of the bag I was in and what seemed like hundreds of girls were cheering around me!  It was then that I realized I was no ordinary flamingo.  I was WAKA FLAKA, the mascot for the Lower Debs.  I found out that the nice Canadian lady’s name was Megan, their Division Leader.  She explained that I represented their division, and I even have a cheer for me now!  Everyday, the Lower Debs chant the cheer loud and proud, and learn a fun fact about my species.

The best part about being their mascot is that I get to go around with them at camp everyday.  I spend my days at Starlight watching all of the kids play basketball, go swimming, and I get to watch them cook!  I don’t eat that food, though.  I’m fed by camp spirit!  These ladies, like all of the Starlight campers, are awesome, and I can’t wait to see what the best of the summer holds!

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“Get to Know” Jackie, Senior Girls Division Leader

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

This week for their “Get to know…” challenge, the Senior girls got to know, Jackie, the Senior girls Division Leader.  Here is what they learned:

She is a former Camp Starlight camper and has been at camp for twelve years.  She took a few years off, though.  Had she not, this would be her fifteenth year.
Her first bunk as a camper was Bunk 4, which is now Bunk 5.  She was an Upper Junior.

Faves list…

Camp Meal: Chicken Pitas

Thing About Camp: The environment.  She likes the seclusion and that camp is a safe place.  She also likes that people learn and do things that they wouldn’t anywhere else.

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Get to Know…Conor N.

Saturday, June 30th, 2012

Yesterday, we challenged some of our Lower Senior girls to “get to know” someone here on the Starlight campus.  Julia S. rose to the challenge by getting to know Camp Starlight Track and Field Specialist Conor N.  Here’s the 4-1-1 on Conor:

Bunk: 23

Birthday: August 4th….That makes him a Leo, for anyone who’s into astrology.

From: Long Island, New York

Attends University of Pennsylvania; Political Science major.

Interesting Facts: He studied for nine months for his SATs!  He’s also a self-professed germaphobe.  He went all the way through high school without touching a single door knob.  When you see him around campus, he can tell you how he managed to do it (HINT: CONVERSATION STARTER).

Parents: Don and Maureen

Siblings: Chris, Dan, and Brian.  Conor is the youngest of a family of high achievers.  His brother Chris attended Cornell University and the University of Louisville and will be working in Kenya for the summer.  Dan graduated from Princeton and spent last year teaching in Vietnam.  Brian is a Columbia grad and works at a trading firm.  Conor is considering a career in law but is still undecided.  One job he knows he definitely doesn’t want:  President of the United States.  He admits that he can’t understand why anyone would want to take on that job.

Pets: 1 dog.  A wheaten terrier named Gary (after Spongebob’s beloved pet snail)

Loves: Public Speaking

Doesn’t Love: Flying.  It hurts his ears.

Faves List…

Food—bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese bagel on a toasted everything bagel with ketchp from Rolf’s Deli, Grilled Cheese with bacon, and veal parmesan heroes from Frank’s Gourmet

Dessert—Blizzards from Dairy Queen (although he’s only had them once while visiting a friend in Ohio)

Movie—Elf

Holiday—Christmas

Flower—white lilac

Camp Starlight Ghost Story—The Gray Lady

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It’s a Small World after All

Saturday, April 28th, 2012

As we go about our everyday, it is easy to think that the world is made up of just our friends, family and the people we see on a regular basis. We associate and spend time with people from similar places, cultures and backgrounds and can sometimes even forget there is a big world outside our own.  Whether you are a camper or a staff member, going to camp makes you see the world differently! Camp gives you the benefit of coming into contact with people from different schools, communities, countries and cultures from around the world. We make it a point of hiring counselors from across the globe for this reason.

After traveling around the world to meet our counselors, we know that everyone loves to see that some of our soccer coaches are from England and it’s great to be out of the lake with our mates from Australia! They bring so much to the camp experience. Not only are they fun, and we love hearing their lovely accents (we love trying to repeat them too!) They share stories about growing up in places we may have never been. They also teach us new activities, create new interests and help us see the world differently. And what happens is that even though many of our international staff live far away, and talk funny, we realize we are not all that different. These relationships help us to grow and force us all to learn about getting along with others and not just the people we see as like ourselves. Camp teaches you that there is so much more out there, and campers and staff walk away with a greater understanding of themselves and others.

–Alyson

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Working at Summer Camp is Like…Watching YouTube

Monday, March 26th, 2012

Have you ever done this?  Gone to YouTube in search of a specific video, you know exactly what you want and why you want it—or so you think.  After you find it, you are drawn to the videos on the sidebar.  You’re intrigued by some of them and begin clicking through to them.  Some of the videos are mildly amusing.  Some of them you don’t really love.  Sometimes they even make you tear up a little, while others still have you laughing days — even weeks — later.  At some point you start reading the comments, too.  You’re hooked now.  You realize that you’ve already become much more involved than you intended, a lot of time has passed, but you’re now invested.  You’re on a mission.  It may not even be related to the reason you originally typed in the URL.  But you know that you’ve found something that interests you.  You find other videos mentioned in some of the comments and begin doing searches for those.  Inevitably, you eventually find that special series of videos that you could watch forever if time were of no consequence.  And you leave satisfied.

Working at summer camp is like that visit to YouTube.  For most people, the intentions start small.  They need a summer job…it sounds interesting…and they want to do something fun.  During an internet search, they come across a few websites advertising camp jobs.  The photos look awesome.  Sometimes they had a friend who worked at a camp who recommended the experience.  Others were campers themselves.  Whatever the reason, for many, it starts out as just a summer job.  Maybe they’re majoring in education and want to gain some experience for their resume or are looking for an alternative to the traditional internship.  Then they get to camp and the experience starts to grow.  It’s chaotic.  The action only stops for sleep at night.  Most days are awesome.  Some are challenging.   Still, others are the kind of which lifelong memories are made.  They start to realize that there is so much more to working at summer camp than they originally thought.  They become engulfed in the experience–their campers, fellow staff members, and the spirits and traditions of the camp.  They want to get everything out of it that they possibly can.  Before they know it, the summer is over—and they leave wishing that summer could go on forever. hiring right now!

Camp Starlight is hiring now!  So instead of going to YouTube after reading this, log on to their website for further information.

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Who Works at Summer Camp?

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Spring is just around the corner and summer will be here before you know it, which makes now the time to start thinking about how you’re going to spend your summer.  If you’re a college student, you could toil away as a server or cook at the local pizza joint or operate rides or peddle souvenirs at the local amusement or sports park.  Interning in a local office may even be an option you’re considering.  But if you want summer employment that promises a summer full of fun and adventure while also helping you develop valuable lifelong skills that employers view favorably, consider working at Camp Starlight.  Just because your college days are behind you doesn’t mean that there isn’t a role at summer camp for you too, particularly if you are a teacher or high school or college athletics coach looking for a fun way to earn some extra money over the summer.  In fact, the ages and backgrounds of the people who make up the typical summer camp staff are about as diverse as summer camps themselves.

If you don’t think being a counselor is really your thing or your pretty sure you’ve aged out of that option, don’t sweat it.  There are a multitude of positions besides counselors that we must fill each summer.  For starters, our office requires personnel to run it.  If answering the phone and administrative tasks are more to your liking, perhaps working in the Camp Starlight office might be the ideal option for you.  Additionally, we need people to help with daily scheduling as well as planning and executing special activities during the evenings and on special days.

If you like the idea of spending time with children and are an athlete or hobbyist who would rather focus on your passion, we hire specialists to teach skills in specific sports and hobbies to campers.  If your passion is photography or videography, as the camp photographer responsible for capturing the fun every day, your role is one of the most integral at camp. In fact, if you can think of an activity, there is probably a staffing need for it at camp, and sometimes some of the hardest positions to fill are ones most people just don’t think of when they think of summer camp, such as creative writing, cooking, robotix, eco science, animation, media, or magic.

Most hospitality positions such as kitchen, maintenance, and housekeeping are usually filled with international applicants.  If you are an international student who would love to earn some money by working in the U.S. before or after traveling, one of these summer camp roles may be the perfect option for you…as well as a lot of fun and a chance to make a lot of new friends from around the world!

If you’re a more mature individual with more education and/or work history, camps also have a need to fill key roles that require more foundational knowledge and experience.  Aside from counselors, Camp Starlight also employs division leaders, people who lead a specific age group and supervise all of the counselors within that group.  Although we usually fill all or most division leader roles with individuals who have several years of successful camp experience because these types of roles require a more intricate knowledge of summer camp, occasionally we will search outside of camp, typically for teachers or other professionals who work with children.  In addition to division leaders, we also hire program or activity heads.  These are typically college coaches and current or former professionals in their area of expertise, such as soccer, baseball, basketball, gymnastics, etc.  However, since almost all activities require people to run them, those with interest and expertise in hobbies or arts related programs can often find a summer home at camp as well in areas such as arts and crafts, dance, theater, etc. Those who manage offices, act as campus administrators, or arrange transportation are typically individuals with some type of related work experience.  Most camps also employ camp moms or parent liaisons during the summer.  These are individuals, often mothers themselves, who monitor the well being of younger campers to insure they are eating properly, staying well groomed, and having a fantastic summer.

So if you’re thinking of trying something new this summer, fill out an employment application to see if Camp Starlight might be the right summer home for you!

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Visit Us at One of our 2012 Starlight Staff Recruiting Events!

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

It’s officially 2012, and that means the countdown to camp is even closer! As we look ahead to the summer, we at Camp Starlight realize that there is still a lot to do before our campers arrive! Although we have a great number of staff returning for another Starlight summer, one of the great parts about working all year round is the fact that we get to meet almost all the new staff we hire before camp! How do we do this? We travel to THEM! This winter we have over 10 trips planned to meet and interview potential counselors for this season! Around the world in 90 days! As for the next 3 months, we are on the road to Toronto Canada, Manchester England, Puebla Mexico as well as Kansas State and University of Kansas, from there we jet off to camp fairs at Indiana University (Alyson’s alma mater) and Purdue (Patrick’s alma mater and where we first met him!). After that we head to the Pacific Northwest to go to Oregon State University, University of Oregon and University of Washington in Seattle. Also on the docket is a spring trip to University of Texas and a stop-over in Ohio if we aren’t filled by then!

We love the idea of meeting our staff in a face to face interview, and when we speak to them and they get excited you can just feel the energy. For so many, you know automatically it’s going to be a great fit! The veteran staff love when we stop by their campus and are always there to lend help and plan mini reunions. We have also found that we have been able to get a few more staff members to commit to another summer after a stop at their college (and a personal reminder of camp life!). It’s a great way to see old friends, reconnect with counselors from previous summers and meet some of our new staff. We find this works so well for us, and we can feel the buzz already in those places as they get ready for our arrival!

Alyson Lee

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Are You One in a Million?

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), nearly 1.2 million people take on the adventure of working at camp each summer.  They come from all over the world and all walks of life.  Some of them are former campers while others have never experienced summer camp at all.  Their educations are as diverse as their backgrounds and many of them choose summer camp over a traditional internship because of the unique, well-rounded work experience it provides.   Whether the winter weather already has you thinking about what you’ll be doing this summer or you’re just browsing summer employment opportunities, it’s worth asking yourself, “Am I  one in a million?” :

  • Summer camp staff come from all over the world.  Increasingly, as summer camps recognize their unique position to promote a global community in a fun, relaxed environment, they are recruiting staff from near and far.   The ACA reports that within the last decade “there has been an increase in the use of international staff to expose campers to different cultures.”  If you live outside of the U.S. and you’ve been wanting to travel to the USA, summer camp is a great way to earn some cash while getting to intimately experience life here.  If you’re an American and a trip abroad just isn’t quite in the budget, you need go no further than a residential summer camp to make new friends from all over the world—and pad your bank account while doing it!
    If you think that being a former camper is a pre-requisite to being a great camp counselor, think again.  Many camp staff members who return to camp year after year never even set foot on a summer camp campus prior to working at one.  Like many of their colleagues, that one step was all it took.  They were won over and continue to return each season.
    Summer camp employment isn’t just for education majors and coaches.  Increasingly, those with majors in the social sciences, sciences, math, engineering, and even medicine and nursing are finding a summer home at camp as an alternative to the traditional internship.  Summer camp provides many unique experiences that one can gain nowhere else, such as a 24/7 commitment and the opportunity to simultaneously work with children and adults in a close-knit family type community.  Summer camp also develops a diverse range of core skills valued by employers today.  As a camp staff member, one must make split second decisions, be an efficient negotiator, use creativity to sell ideas and concepts, resolve conflict, solve problems, be an effective leader, know how to prioritize, be extremely flexible, accept change, and be awesome when it comes to multi-tasking.  If it sounds like a big order, it is.  But almost all who take on the challenge report that it’s also one of the most fun and rewarding experiences upon which they’ve ever embarked.
    If you are an education major or a coach, have you thought of summer camp as an opportunity to build experience working with children ages 7-15?  Working at summer camp develops many of the same skills that are often used in the classroom or on the field.  Many educational institutions view summer camp experience as some of the  most valuable on a potential educator’s resume.
  • How many traditional internships pay you AND provide you with room and board?  In addition to a stipend for the summer, almost all residential summer camp positions offer room and board as part of their employment packages.  What this means to you is that, potentially, everything you earn throughout the summer goes straight into your pocket…or your bank account, as the case may be.  Even if you allow yourself a bit to splurge on sightseeing around the local area (many of America’s finest summer camps are located in some of the most beautiful parts of the country), it’s still possible to take home a substantial amount of cash at the end of the summer.  This is particularly appealing when one considers how much rent and food can add up to over a summer.

If you’re looking for the summer job to beat all summer jobs, summer camp may definitely be your cup of tea.  At summer camp, everyday will be a new adventure that takes you both indoors and out from sunrise to sunset.  There are no cubicles, no computers (aside from computers available for staff to use on their free time), and no time clocks.  And…there are beautiful surroundings, a camp full of campers who depend on you, a slew of challenges you never knew you’d face (and enjoy), and a circle of lifetime friends waiting to meet you.  If you’re one in a million, what are you waiting for?  If you are a college or university student, check your college’s upcoming career fair lineups.  Many summer camps travel to universities to recruit this time of year.  It may be possible to meet the first member of your future camp family in person.  If your college days are behind you or there are no summer camps scheduled to visit your university, you can apply directly through Camp Starlight’s web page.

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Make Your Camp Counselor Experience an Effective Tool in Your Job Search

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

So you’ve spent a summer—or maybe the better part of your college career—working as a summer camp counselor.  You’re nearing graduation and you’re starting to pull together your resume for finding a job in the “real world”.  You’ve been wondering, ‘How do I adequately articulate my summer camp experience?’  You’re worried that it will sound trivial to hiring managers, but you know that what you gained from your camp experiences are some of the most valuable skills you’ve learned.  You’ve learned the art of communication, having worked with people all over the world and children ranging in age from seven to fifteen.  You’ve learned the importance of discretion; your campers didn’t need to know EVERYTHING about you.  You’ve learned how to negotiate, mediate, and maintain a positive morale, having coached your campers through swim tests, disagreements, activities, stage fright, and just about a million other things.  You’ve learned time management skills.  How many other job applicants can motivate twelve campers to move across campus from soccer to woodworking in five minutes or less, consistently coax them out of bed at 7am, and convince them that it’s time for lights out after an exciting evening of activities? You’ve learned how to use creativity to solve problems and are MacGyver with a few jars of paint, construction paper, a little bit of fabric, some scissors, and maybe a little glitter…add feathers and beads to that mix and you can practically re-invent the wheel.  In fact, you’ve learned so many things as a summer camp counselor that you’re not even sure how you’re going to fit it all onto one 8 ½” X 11” sheet of paper, nevermind about your other job experience. So how do you convey the importance your summer camp job experience has had on your life in a way that hiring managers will see the value in it, too?

First, as sentimental as those experiences were for you, a hiring manager isn’t looking for the screenplay to the next The Blind Side.  They’re looking for prospective employees who can efficiently yet effectively and specifically communicate their skills and abilities in a very concise manner.  This means keep it relevant and as action packed as most of those days at summer camp were.  Convey how active your summer camp job was through the verbs that you choose.
Second, without being too broad, make your resume sing of how well rounded your skill set is because of your summer camp counselor experience.  Employers love diversity.  A resume that sings of it will be sure to get a hiring manager’s attention.

Third, do your homework.  Job hunting is not a one size fits all endeavor.  You need to know and understand not only what you are looking for, but what the company to which you are applying is looking for as well.  If there is a particular quality you feel you possess because of your summer camp counselor experience that makes you a good fit for a position or a company, highlight that one quality in your cover letter.  Explain specifically how you feel your summer job experience and knowledge will translate into the new role.    Having experience is one thing.  Demonstrating that you understand how that experience can be integrated into others speaks volumes.

Fourth, don’t be afraid to remind prospective employers, either in your cover letter or at the interview, that being a camp counselor is a 24/7 job.  Employers are attracted to people who aren’t afraid to throw themselves heart and soul into their work.  What’s more heart and soul than being on duty 24/7?

Finally, be prepared.  Be prepared to tell a hiring manager at an interview EXACTLY why you feel your summer camp experience gives you the edge over other applicants.  When asked, don’t go into a lengthy mumble that basically amounts to a rehash of your summer(s).  Show the hiring manager that you’ve thought long and hard about how your summer camp work experience is relevant to your future and that you understand specifically how to extract your experiences and apply them to other areas of your life.  Most importantly, give examples, give examples, give examples!

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So You’ve Got a Golden Ticket…Ready, Set, Go Part 1

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

So you’ve gotten a great job at a summer camp and are wondering what to do while you impatiently wait for June to get here…

First things first.  You found this blog, so we’re assuming you want to know as much as you can before you leave.  You’ve come to the right place! We’ve got a few suggestions for you…Actually, a lot.  In fact, since we understand that you’ve come to this site to read a blog, not War and Peace, we’re going to have to divide this into a few different parts.  But we figure that’s okay because they do it with movies all of the time, right?  So without any further delay…

Have you started checking out your camp’s blog as well as this one?   Many camps now maintain regular blogs and they frequently post blogs (like this one) intended specifically for staff members.

Check out the camp’s website, if you haven’t about a thousand times already.   Even if you visit the website everyday and spend hours staring dreamily at the photos as you imagine images of you having the perfect summer showing up on the site this time next year, dig a little deeper.  A camp’s website can also tell you a lot about the very special world that you will be part of this summer.  Many camps  have FAQ pages for staff members or special staff areas.  They give you ideas about what to bring and what to leave at home.  Some post sample daily schedules, which are a great way to familiarize yourself with how you will be spending your days.  If there are videos on the site (or if the camp sent you one), watch them.  Not only will you be ready to leave the same day, but it’s a great way to get to know the camp.

If the camp has Facebook or Twitter pages, join them.  They’re another way to keep up to date on what’s happening and, as summer inches closer, the anticipation that builds is infectious.  Many camps also post helpful information or instructions for staff members as summer nears.  Facebook and Twitter are great ways to connect with other staff members before you get to camp.  Not to worry, though.  You’ll make PLENTY of new friends during your Orientation, even if you show up knowing no one!

Prepare to work hard.  We won’t lie.  Camp is one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever have.  It’s also one that you’ll probably love the most.  Every second of every day, SOMETHING is happening at camp.  It’s all a lot to take in at first, but the chances of you making it through the last day at camp without shedding a single tear and hugging hundreds of people are pretty much nil-to-none.  And you’ll probably be making plans to come back next summer before this one’s even over.

Well, like we said, we’re well aware that if you were looking for a novel, you’d be downloading the latest best seller for you Kindle right now.  So we’ll call it a day for this blog.  Be sure to tune in next time for advice about what to pack (and not) and some tips for orientation.

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