The Application Process
The Application Process
Working for a summer camp is something I have wanted to do for years and in previous years I had applied, filled out my application and just as I was about to pay the deposit I would panic, think I didn't have the skills or confidence to do it and wouldn't take my application any further. However, finally in 2016 I decided it was time for me to be brave and apply for summer 2017 through Camp Leaders.
My official application process was very disjointed as I was stuck between two different organisations. Through friends I had heard great things about Camp America and as they were the most well known organisation, naturally they were my first choice. I was determined to find a job so I created an account, made an application video and completed my profile to best showcase my talents and skills to become a general counsellor. After posting my video, I was called that same day by another organisation that I had been following on social media and interacting with their posts about summer session 2017. Camp Leaders proved to be very active in helping applicants complete their profile as they interviewed me via phone, filling out the details of my profile that would determine what job I would best fit. With my passion for art, experience in teaching arts and crafts as a young leader at my local beaver scouts, the Camp Leaders representative helping me finalise my dream job in an American Summer camp and to my advantage offered less expensive fees so I changed over to Camp Leaders.
So my application video to Camp America is on YouTube for no reason other than to help future applicants... the embarrassment.
After paying my deposit, the process began to speed up significantly. I began my application in December 2016, paid my deposit, had an interview with Camp Leaders in January 2017 and by February I had been placed at a camp despite being prepared to wait as late as June to potentially hear back from camp directors.
February 5th 2017 was the recruitment fair in Glasgow at the Hilton Hotel. The recruitment day was intense. I was so naive entering this room full of camp directors from all over America with my little scrapbook i had made to show what I could do and the lessons I had planned to teach at camp. Prior to the event I had researched the camps listed to be hiring that day and I made myself a list of my top 5. I walked in full of nerves and went straight to the first camp on my list, sat and talked with the camp director and was turned down quite quickly as what I wanted to apply for was not on their list of required staff for the 2017 summer season. After 3 attempts and failures, the queues were starting to get huge. I stood in the queue for a camp i had not heard of but required female general staff as I was losing faith in my ability for art. However, I was quickly distracted by a small table in the corner, a camp for special needs children for were looking for an art teacher. This table seemed to be the only camp who had previous staff members talking to those applying and i really loved that. it showed that the camp was well loved as their returners were willing to sing its praises for potential new staff members.
February 5th 2017 was the recruitment fair in Glasgow at the Hilton Hotel. The recruitment day was intense. I was so naive entering this room full of camp directors from all over America with my little scrapbook i had made to show what I could do and the lessons I had planned to teach at camp. Prior to the event I had researched the camps listed to be hiring that day and I made myself a list of my top 5. I walked in full of nerves and went straight to the first camp on my list, sat and talked with the camp director and was turned down quite quickly as what I wanted to apply for was not on their list of required staff for the 2017 summer season. After 3 attempts and failures, the queues were starting to get huge. I stood in the queue for a camp i had not heard of but required female general staff as I was losing faith in my ability for art. However, I was quickly distracted by a small table in the corner, a camp for special needs children for were looking for an art teacher. This table seemed to be the only camp who had previous staff members talking to those applying and i really loved that. it showed that the camp was well loved as their returners were willing to sing its praises for potential new staff members.
I left the queue and walked over to be met by Dylan, a second year returner. I was shown pictures of special camp events such as pirate day, 4th of July and carnival day, the kids having fun and smiling while doing activities and told stories of things that had happened and what they were looking forward to going back for the summer. This was enough for me to decide i wanted to go to this camp. I sat down with Ari, the camp director, and shared my scrapbook, Facetimed the assistant camp director and told them about myself, my inspirations for working at a summer camps and in return was told about the job role, the camp itself and the daily duties of a camp counsellor at their camp.
On February 5th 2017, my dream came true as I was placed at Camp Lee Mar as an Arts and Crafts Specialist. This changed my life in so many was and I will be eternally grateful for my experience!
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