I loved being able to work in two fields that I enjoyed. I also loved the management which made the entire job both streamlined and effective. Overall, it was an incredibly enjoyable job, especially for the wage that it paid.
What I wish was different
Some things that I would've enjoyed being different would've just been more refreshments or resources to make the staff's time at the job more enjoyable.
Advice
Definitely apply for all kinds of jobs, even if they don't seem like the typical one that you would work for they may end up being a good fit.
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Summer camp counselor
June - August 2021 • Folsom, CA
What I liked
The friendly and helpful rapport with my coordinators
What I wish was different
To be more organized and more effective use of resources
Advice
Be mindful on the site you're working and the type of kids, and family backgrounds, you're going to deal with everyday
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Camp Counselor
June - July 2020 • San Diego, CA
What I liked
The head staff were very receptive to counselor needs. I had a great time teaching tech to kids virtually.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more support in the virtual classroom sometimes.
Advice
It is important to really learn the tools you will be teaching so you can answer all the campers' questions.
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Tech instructor
May - July 2019 • Rocklin, CA
What I liked
I was teaching kids skills that we use everyday
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Patience is key
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Camp Counselor
May - July 2019 • Folsom, CA
What I liked
My bosses and coworkers were fantastic!
What I wish was different
I wish the job took up more of my summer! It was only about 8 weeks.
Advice
Make the best of it and create lasting connections.
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Camp Counselor
June - August 2019 • Burlingame, CA
What I liked
It was a super engaging job, and most of my responsibilities involved entertaining kids, so it was really easy to forget I was working. I gained some new experience in education and in managing large group of kids, which could be challenging, but was also pretty valuable. My coworkers were great too, so the workday went by fast.
What I wish was different
There were plenty of overtime opportunities in the beginning of the season, but towards mid-July they began staggering schedules to avoid overtime, which made the mornings a lot more difficult due to a lack of manpower.
Advice
Summer jobs are a lot more bearable if you can have fun with them. I'd highly recommend a job like this over a retail position.
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Camp teacher
May - August 2019 • Santa Rosa, CA
What I liked
I loved the experience I got teaching a science curriculum and allowing room for me to change what I wanted to teach. I loved the kids too!
What I wish was different
The administration was very demanding and gave a lot of preparation for the next day, but I was not given enough paid time to prep.
Advice
I wouldn’t change a thing, all you have to do is your best and put your head down and work. Don’t worry about the bureaucracy.
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Camp Counselor
June - August 2018 • Los Altos, CA
What I liked
I loved spending time with children, getting to know a few of my co-workers, and gaining leadership experience. It was great fun!
What I wish was different
I wish I was able to work longer!
Advice
Keep up the positivity! Camp can be exhausting and sometimes the growing pains are sore, but a good attitude can lift the spirit of the entire experience, both for you and your team. Overall, you will have a lot of fun and the kids will love you as long as you treat them with love and respect.
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Instructor
June - August 2018 • Palo Alto, CA
What I liked
Fun working in the bay and with kids, better experience being a teacher rather than a counslor as I've done before at other camps. Overall a really good experience, and one that I was very glad to have. I was out to my collegues , and felt like there was actually pretty good diversity in experiences among the staff. Additionally feedback was given throughout, and I felt like I could express issues I had been having
What I wish was different
Nothing, was a very workable and enjoyable job. Will note that staff changes each year, and there were some conflicts at times, I did make really wonderful friends as well, some of whom I am still in contact with
Advice
It was very helpful to have a bike for commuting in Palo Alto, also many locations are run by the camp across the bay and into Sacramento
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Summer Camp Teacher
June - July 2018 • San Jose, CA
What I liked
Learning through through teaching
What I wish was different
Less stressful
Advice
Don’t do it if you’re not good with kids
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Summer camp counselor
June - August 2018 • Burlingame, CA
What I liked
I loved the experience of working with kids, it was a great as I am a Liberal Studies major and having educational experiences is important for my resume.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had been given more responsibilities or applied for a higher position as this was my second summer doing this.
Advice
Be willing to get silly and make mistakes, camp is a great way to learn more about yourself as a leader and educator!
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Camp Counselor
June - August 2018 • Burlingame, CA
What I liked
I loved working with kids and such wonderful coworkers.
What I wish was different
Scheduling each day could be somewhat abrupt, so it could be tough to keep up with changes.
Advice
Make sure you get enough sleep to keep up the energy needed for the job.