Camp Counselor job description.
A camp counselor supervises and mentors children or teens at day or overnight camps, leading activities, ensuring safety, and fostering a positive group experience. They build rapport with campers, manage behavior, and support the broader camp staff in delivering a structured, engaging program.
The Camp Counselor job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Camp Counselor Reports to: Camp Director or Program Coordinator
A camp counselor supervises and mentors children or teens at day or overnight camps, leading activities, ensuring safety, and fostering a positive group experience. They build rapport with campers, manage behavior, and support the broader camp staff in delivering a structured, engaging program.
- Supervise campers during activities, meals, and free time
- Plan and lead age-appropriate recreational and educational activities
- Monitor camper safety and respond to injuries or emergencies
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Camp Director or Program Coordinator
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Supervise campers during activities, meals, and free time
- Plan and lead age-appropriate recreational and educational activities
- Monitor camper safety and respond to injuries or emergencies
- Foster a positive, inclusive group environment
- Communicate camper progress or concerns to camp leadership and parents
- Enforce camp rules and manage behavior issues constructively
- Assist with setup, cleanup, and daily logistics
- Participate in staff training and safety drills
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Minimum age requirement as set by camp policy (typically 16-18+)
- Current CPR/First Aid certification or willingness to obtain
- Experience working with children in a group setting
- Strong communication and patience
- Prior camp counselor or childcare experience
- Specialized skills (lifeguarding, arts, sports coaching)
- Background in education or youth development
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Camp Counselor job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Camp Counselor job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Camp Director or Program Coordinator) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What certifications should camp counselors have before their first shift?
- At minimum, current CPR and First Aid certification; many camps also require background checks and a short pre-season training.
- Is prior childcare experience necessary for this role?
- It's helpful but not always required for entry-level positions if the camp provides structured training before the season starts.
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This Camp Counselor job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.