Arcadia High School junior Kelly Dannerbeck 17, of Phoenix, scooped ice cream for a few months to earn extra money. But then she decided to get serious. She wanted to find a job that would help her learn more about what she might study in college. She knew she loved working with kids and she had an interest in athletic training. So she applied for a job at the Village Racquet and Health Club, hoping to further her knowledge by working with kids in a sports-related environment.
Kelly landed an interview and was offered a slot as a counselor in the summer day camp program. Assigned to the “Pee Wee” group of 4- to 6-year-olds, Kelly loved the challenge of keeping her charges on task, shepherding them from racquetball to swimming to relay games. After summer camp ended, Kelly stayed on to work part time during the school year at the club’s childcare center. “I like interacting with kids,” she says, “rather than being behind the counter serving them.” Because of her camp job, Kelly has decided to study education and become a kindergarten or first grade teacher.
Summer day camp jobs provide an excellent opportunity for teens to build self-esteem and earn some extra money in a role well supervised by adults, says Denise Merdon, youth services director at the Village. Teens can learn “everything from responsibility to taking care of other people, to showing up to work on time, to time management, to leadership skills. It gives them a head start in the work place.”
Teens aren’t the only ones who benefit, says Bob Hubbard of the Hubbard Family Swim School in Phoenix. He has managed sports programs for 15 years and employs about a hundred teens during the summer. He says that the energy and enthusiasm they bring offer a huge advantage for Hubbard Swim School programs. “I am amazed with what these kids bring to us. Once they connect with the kids, whether it is with swim lessons or the camp – it is awesome.”
Kelly Morrison, director of the Dottie Boreyko/Brophy Sports Campus in Phoenix, appreciates the interaction between teens and campers, and values those who lead by example. She emphasizes the importance of pre-season counselor training so that expectations are understood. “If counselors complain about the heat, it’s guaranteed that the kids will, too. And not talking behind others’ backs … we try to curtail that from the get go.”
Structure, plenty of verbal feedback and a positive atmosphere help teens learn to take on more responsibility, Hubbard says. As they become familiar with their surroundings, he finds, they begin to mentor each other. “One of our themes here is that everyone is family. We treat the teens we hire like that, too, to help them mature and grow.”
Summer day camp jobs hold a built-in accountability factor, says Ann Marie Sunderhaus of Hubbard Family Swim School. “If you don’t show up to sports camp, you’ve got 10 kids waiting for you. They know the kids will miss them,” says Sunderhaus. “They have a special bond.” Teens may widen their own social circles as well, meeting co-counselors from other schools or different backgrounds. And, hey, they just might have some fun.
“You can get a job for the summer and still have a good time, says Sunderhaus. “If you ask any of our counselors, they all say they get so exhausted from camp, but when they hang out – the kids – that’s all they talk about.”
Following are some tips from program coordinators for parents of teens applying for summer day camp jobs:
- Begin inquiries now. Most coordinators staff their programs in early spring.
- Teens should call or stop by for an application themselves, as well as do the arranging for an interview. Do not do this for your teen, no matter how convenient or tempting it might be.
- Teens should have a parent review their applications to be sure the information submitted is complete and accurate.
- Encourage teens to list babysitting jobs, volunteer work, extracurricular activities – anything that shows responsibility and commitment, even if it is simply helping with regular duties at home.
- The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Encourage your teen to call regularly to check on the status of the application.
- When on the phone, teens must speak clearly and express confidence in their ability to do the job.
- Advise your teen to ask the interviewer about proper dress for the interview itself. Camp staff may wear shorts, sneakers, and T-shirts while on the job, but interviewers look for collared shirts and slacks for boys, skirts or nice pants and tops for girls.
- Suggest that your teen prepare a list of written questions to take to the interview. This is the time to ask about hours, vacation time, family commitments and salary.
- Ask about compensation. Some camps pay an hourly rate; others offer a flat fee for the season. Rates can vary widely from program to program and are often based on your teen’s age, experience and qualifications.
- Interviewers like two-sided conversations. Suggest a mock interview when your teen has written questions in hand to prepare for the real thing.
