Roles

What roles are available?

General Counsellor (GC)

As a GC, you will be spending most of your time with a group of campers from a certain age group, often these kids are from the same cabin and the group size can vary from camp to camp, but it’s usually around 8-12 kids per cabin. 

Your role as a camp counsellor will involve taking your campers around to the different activities, where you will supervise, help facilitate the fun, and make sure everyone is enjoying themselves and getting in on the fun as well! At mealtimes, you will be sitting with your cabin group and during evening programs you’ll also be supervising your cabin group. 

Counsellor

At some camps, counsellors will be responsible for kids at night and mealtimes but then will go work at an activity during the day. This means that you could be responsible for teaching kids of all ages how to play tennis (for example) and then, once the activities are over for the day, go back to your camper cabin and oversee those kids. This is a great role because you get the best of both worlds and can work on an activity and a cabin!

Camp counsellor is one of the hardest and most tiring jobs you’ll have, but it is without a doubt the best and most rewarding job you’ll ever have! 

Office Combo staff 

An Office Combo role is comprised of working at least 51% with campers and at most 49% working a support-staff style position (in the office).

The type of time spent working with campers differs from camp to camp. For some camps this may mean sharing a cabin with campers, it can mean helping out in a specific activity area, or it can mean assisting a general counsellor at certain times of the day.

At some camps, time spent with campers is more hands-on than other camps, and some camps do their combo 'split' differently; like a day on, a day off model whereby the staff member is with campers one day and in the office the next.

Combo roles are a great option for participants with limited childcare experience, or for someone who is looking to expand their skills in areas like office admin.

Activity Specialist

You’ll be responsible for setting up and facilitating sessions at your activity. For example, if you’re part of the climbing staff, you will be responsible for setting up the ropes, checking harnesses, teaching kids how to climb, etc. If you are part of the waterfront team, you will be responsible for setting up the swim area, manning the lifeguard stands, and making sure the campers are having fun and staying safe. 

Some activity specialists work on an activity on their own, whereas other individuals will have co-staff. This usually depends on the size of the program or the camp.

Different camps operate differently in terms of how activity specialists spend time with campers. At some camps, you will live in separate living quarters, whereas at other camps you will have a cabin group. Some camps compare being an activity specialist to being ‘the parent who goes out to work’ and the counsellor is the stay-at-home parent!

Here are some examples (not a definitive list!) of some of the specialities camps hire for:

• Landsports - Soccer, Hockey, Tennis, Football, Volleyball, Fitness, Gymnastics, Trampolining, Martial Arts
• Waterfront - Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Swim Instruction, Windsurfing, Sailing, Waterski/Wakeboard
• Outdoor Adventure - Canoe Tripping, Archery, Ropes, Climbing, Outdoor Cooking, Nature Craft, Hiking, Survival, Mountain Biking, Horseriding 
• Creative Arts - Arts & Crafts, Jewelry Making, Painting, Sculpting, Ceramics, Woodworking, Sewing/Textiles
• Performing Arts - Music, Singing, Drama, Musical Theatre, Set Building, Dance
• Other - Nanny, Office, Photographer, Videographer

Special needs counselor

No matter a camper’s ability, they deserve to have an amazing summer too. You’ll be there to support and enable campers of all abilities to flourish and have a summer without limits.

• The most rewarding summer job you'll ever have
• You'll build valuable experience for your CV

Do I have to have a specific skill?

It’s always good to say a few things you have experience in (but it doesn't mean you have to be necessarily skilled). If you're passionate about an activity, you can likely teach it at camp, even if you're not quite qualified. Summer camps are always looking for big personalities to fill their camps with energy and spirit. So as long as you’re yourself you’ll be great.

Do I need to have qualifications?

No, we are looking for enthusiasm. If you’re applying to work in a more specialized role, it helps if you have qualifications and experience.

Will I receive training?

All camps will host a training period before camp starts. The length of this training period does depend on the type of camp you are at and the type of role you have at camp. For example, training at a large camp for kids with special needs will be much longer than the training period at a small traditional camp. Camp training can range anywhere from 2 - 10 days, although some camps do send out training materials well ahead of camp starting. 

Some roles may also require more training than others. For example, if you're going to be working as a lifeguard or a ropes instructor you may need to do some training. This training may be facilitated by your camp, or by Camp Canada. 

Camp training is often a highlight of your camp placement. Use pre-camp training time to get to know your fellow camp-mates, ask questions and learn as much as you can! If we can offer you one piece of advice about pre-camp training, it is to jump into it! 

Do I need to have experience working with children?

No, as long as you’re willing to work with children. Any experience will be a bonus, no matter how small. If you don't have experience with children, then why not volunteer before you go? Even if it’s just looking after younger family members, it all counts.