Summer camps offer jobs to students who like kids
By Matt Meusey Special to the Kansan
Alan Friedman, assistant director of Camp Mah-Kee-Nac, said being a camp counselor was a lot of hard work. The pay wasn't great either.
So why spend a summer working hard for little money?
"Counselors don't work for the salary. They are looking to gain experiences, not earn money," Friedman said.
With summer approaching, many KU students are scanning the classified ads for possible jobs. Among these opportunities are dozens of positions as camp counselors.
Friedman helps recruit counselors for eight week-long summer camps located in Lenox, Mass.
"I look for two things in counselors. They must have a burning desire to work with kids and be able to teach a specific specialty," Friedman said.
A typical day as a camp counselor at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac begins early and ends late. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. After a day of activities, the campers eat dinner, which is usually followed by a play organized by the counselors. After the play and another activity period, the children go to bed.
This is when counselors have time for themselves. The counselors are free most nights. On nights off, the counselors usually go to the local bar or see a movie.
"There are about 20 other camps that are nearby. Counselors from all camps use the night life as an opportunity to socialize with people in their own age group," Friedman said.
However, Friedman said the days off were more fun than the nights off.
"Each counselor gets about one day a week off," Friedman said. "I encourage them to get away. We are close to many tourists sights in Boston, New York and Montreal. It is a culturally rich area."
Alana Jones, Tulsa, Okla., junior, worked as a camp counselor in Rock Hill, N.Y., last summer.
Jones said the salary range for camp counselors was between $1,000 and $2,000 for the 10 weeks. In addition to that salary, the camp provided free room and board, laundry and paid for travel expenses.
Jones said the experiences she had while at the camp were worth more than the salary she earned.
"The best part was getting to know people from different cultures. I still keep in touch with many of the counselors and a few of the campers as well," Jones said. "At times, especially during the nights, I felt like I was supervising a never ending slumber party."
Although Jones isn't majoring in education, she learned one valuable lesson.
"I definitely don't want to be a parent anytime in the near-future," Jones said
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