YMCA

Camp Counselor

May - August 2020 • Brentwood, MO

What I liked

Very flexible schedule, fun and friendly

What I wish was different

Better breaks during the day

Advice

Keep an open mind and try to reduce external stessors; very tiring but fulfilling

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Summer Daycamp Counselor

June - August 2018 • Kilmarnock, VA

What I liked

I like being a leader and a role model to the kids and allowing them to have a good day each day.

What I wish was different

We were very understaffed so I wish that we had more staff.

Advice

It is very fun and life changing. It’s so amazing how your everyday job is to make sure that all the kids have a great and fun day.

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Camp Counselor Intern

June 2020 • Racine, WI

What I liked

The ability to broaden my skills & experience

What I wish was different

Management & the scheduling

Advice

If you get a new opportunity, take it.

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Camp Counselor

May 2019 • North Canton, OH

What I liked

I love how interactive the job is and how I got to make so many connections with the children and coworkers.

What I wish was different

I wish it paid more because we went through a lot of behavioral problems to only get paid minimum wage.

Advice

One piece of advice would to walk in each day with a positive attitude and do not let the bad days get to you.

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Lifegaurd

June 2019 - August 2020 • Southbury, CT

What I liked

I liked working with kids and the environment

What I wish was different

Better organization and more money

Advice

None

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Kid Zone Attendant

June - August 2020 • Newton, KS

What I liked

I loved working with the kids! My boss was also very nice and worked with me when I needed a shift covered.

What I wish was different

My first few shifts felt a little overwhelming because it was very much a "learn as you go" type of job. I could only do the bare minimum my first few shifts because I was still learning the details of what my job entailed.

Advice

Do not be afraid to ask questions! If I would have been less afraid to ask questions, my first few shifts probably would have not been so overwhelming.

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Lifeguard

May 2019 • Greenville, AL

What I liked

I loved meeting new people & spending pass time doing one of my favorite hobbies, swimming! It is overall a fun and great starting job. Whenever you start you start at a pay of $8.25, I believe, and it goes up 25 cents each summer you return. Plus, when you get CPR certified, other occupations love to see that on your resume. On the days no one came to the pool and we were finished cleaning, the coworkers would get to swim together and play around in the water. I overall loved the atmosphere and the plus of getting a killer tan all while saving lives.

What I wish was different

There is nothing I can complain about for this job. Literally, everything is perfect. The scheduling becomes a routine and when you can’t make a shift, you text in a group message to offer it to a coworker. They usually aren’t hesitant and shifts can even be fought over! Aside from that, management was great as well as the coworkers. Most coworkers are at the highschool/college age level and with it being a small town, you’ll get to know everyone and see some familiar faces.

Advice

Do not be intimidated by the swim test nor the training that leads up to it. Although the price can be a little scary, I promise it is worth it! You will be certified for two years and it gives you the ability to work at plenty of other pools anywhere! I was most nervous about the swim test but the nerves were worth it. Most people fear this job because of the test, but I have yet to hear of anyone who has failed it.

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Program specialist

June 2021 • Glen Allen, VA

What I liked

The awesome staff I worked with

What I wish was different

Advice

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Camp Counselor

July 2019 - September 2021 • Huntington, NY

What I liked

I liked working with kids

What I wish was different

I wish there was more organization

Advice

If you do not like kids don’t work as a camp counselor

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Pool Lifeguard

August 2016 • Graham, NC

What I liked

It's a relaxed atmosphere

What I wish was different

Not much

Advice

More people should do it

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Art teacher

June - August 2018 • Marquette, MI

What I liked

I loved being able to come up with the crafts each week and teach them to the kids. The kids seemed to really enjoy the crafts and it was fun to gain a relationship with them each time I was there.

What I wish was different

Honestly my experience was very good overall, I stayed very organized, planned ahead, talked to the kids. But being able to handle everyone needing your for help and being able to keep the class interesting and keep their attention. Sometimes if they got out of hand it was hard to handle in the beginning but over the months I learned how to handle the situations of chaos.

Advice

That even if you have something planned to a t, it might not always go the way you planned and that’s okay. Just keep going and enjoy the moment with the kids and try to reach out to them as much as you can.

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Pool Lifeguard

July 2018 • Nashua, NH

What I liked

I liked being able to work a schedule that worked for me.

What I wish was different

I honestly wish that I could have worked more hours.

Advice

I would recommend making sure to have plenty of water and food, and a book or work to do when off rotation, because it gets very warm and humid in the pool area.

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Dragonfly Forest

July 2018 • Dingmans Ferry, PA

What I liked

I like the experience of working with students who are just like me and to see them have fun and be able to communicate.

What I wish was different

Having a nature camp and not available to work at Camp Speers that much

Advice

BE OPEN-MINDED

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Camp Counselor

June - August 2018 • New York City, NY

What I liked

Being able to work with and teach children.

What I wish was different

The commute

Advice

The experience opens you up more emotionally as an individual and you can learn how to work with all types of people through working with children.

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Assistant Site Supervisor

October 2018 • Matawan, NJ

What I liked

Working with the children, draining as it could be; working in an advisory role; being able to influence and motivate others

What I wish was different

I wish I hadn't lost my temper on some occasions

Advice

No one is perfect; regardless of one's level of experience, one makes new mistakes and learns new things every day, so long as he is receptive to the learning

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