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Thank you for applying for a summer camp job with the American Camp Association - New York. Now that you have completed the online application here’s what will happen.
Your application will be reviewed by ACA-NY Accredited camps. They will look at the details of your application to see if you are a good match for their current summer job opportunities. If a camp director has a potential job for you, they will contact you directly. There is no guarantee of how many camps will contact you, as it depends on what position you are applying for.
Camp directors may first introduce you to their programs by emailing you and inviting you to visit their web sites. This will give you a general overview of the camp. If you like what you see, some camps will ask you to contact them or may have you fill out their own online application to give them greater insight about you and your interests. Visiting camp web sites is a great way to see if the camp meets your needs and if you want to take the interview process to the next level.
Camps may also call you directly to talk about the jobs they are looking to fill. As in any interview, you will be asked many questions about who you are and what you can bring to a camp environment. These phone calls are a camp director’s first impression of you, so take the time to provide thoughtful answers. If a camp calls you at an inconvenient time (a big exam or big dorm party is coming up), reschedule a time when you know you can devote your time and energy to the interview.
Presenting who you are in a positive light is very important, but you also want to learn about the camp and what they can offer you. Learning about the camps that call you will help you make an educated decision in choosing where you will spend your summer.
Here are some basic questions you can ask camp directors…
- Where is your camp located, and what population of campers do you serve? There are many different types of camps including private, not-for-profit, special needs, weight loss, sports, performing arts, and so on.
- Describe your program and the mission of your camp.
- Where do your staff members come from?
- How many new staff members are you hiring this year?
- What is the living situation?
- What is the application process?
- Is there an orientation and how will it help me prepare for my job?
- What is the time off policy?
- What will I walk away from this experience with?
- Why would I choose your camp?
- How much will I earn? Though this may be the first question on your mind, you may want to save this question for the end of your discussion. Camp directors want to hear about your interest in working with children in a camp environment prior to your interest in earning money.
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Following a phone interview, you may be asked to come in for a face to face interview. This is not always possible, due to location, so some camps will offer you a position based only on the phone interview. Be prepared to provide camps with at least three professional and/or personal references (no family members please). Something to keep in mind: Sign only one contract! Don’t put yourself or a camp in a bad position by signing numerous contracts and making a decision of where you are going to work right before the camp season begins.
Once you are hired don’t forget to ask the camp for a list of what you will need to bring to camp, as well as any forms you will need to bring with you (i.e. a medical exam). The more prepared you are the better your summer will be.
If this is your first camp job or you are an experienced camp staff, we hope you have a personally and professionally rewarding experience. Click here to review/edit your application. |
