Few people think of finding a summer job while bundled in scarves, coats, and gloves as they attempt to maneuver roadways and 
college campuses after the latest snowfall. However, whether 2011 is the first time you’re considering a summer camp position or you’re a seasoned veteran, February is exactly the time to start the process of securing summer employment, if you haven’t already done so. Many camps attend campus recruiting fairs in order to assemble the perfect staff. So why should you attend one of these fairs or complete an online application now? To begin with, a camp job is definitely fun, but also a lot of work…so be prepared! Where else can you get paid to play all day while building valuable job skills? Whether you work in a specific area and focus on a sport, activity or hobby you love or you work as a counselor who travels from activity to activity with campers, your day is full of exciting challenges and a probably even a few surprises, both of which will develop your problem-solving, critical thinking, and negotiation skills.
If you like working with children and aspire to a career in a field such as education, sports training, psychology or sociology, then you already have another reason to work at a camp. Camp is an excellent place to gain valuable experience and is impressive on a resume. Although camp seems lighthearted–and it is in many ways–working at camp requires a lot of responsibility, flexibility, and adaptability, all of which are very valuable characteristics sought by employers. Each day guarantees new challenges, many of them unexpected. Summer camp is often organized chaos. Yes, there is always a plan in place, but the unexpected is also inevitable. While this may seem scary the first couple days, it also brings an excitement and satisfaction that delivering pizzas or serving food (or even working at an investment bank) never could. Working at camp also requires a lot of communication and interpersonal interaction, two more transferrable skills that are highly valued by employers. At camp, you must effectively co-exist with your campers, co-counselors, and other staff members to be successful. You will also be able to tell future employers that you worked with people from all over the world and from many different socio-economic backgrounds. That you’ve overcome cultural, language, and social obstacles with others tells recruiters that diversity is not something you fear, but rather embrace.
Working at summer camp can also be very healthy for your bank account. You won’t become Donald Trump spending your summers at camp. However; camps provide housing and food in addition to a salary. It’s possible to live virtually expense-free for a couple of months. Many summer camp counselors take home all or most of their salaries at the end of the summer.
Finally, you will form lifelong friendships at camp. You may arrive alone and nervous in June, but you will leave in August with 
literally hundreds of friends from all over the world. Two months may not seem like a long time, but when one lives and works in close proximity with co-workers, it’s more than sufficient to form bonds that ordinarily would take years. There are always tears on the last day of camp, not only when saying goodbye to your campers, who will have secured a special place in your heart forever, but to co-workers—the ones you know you will see again as well as the ones you know you will not. Regardless, the world will seem like a much smaller place to you.
Though it may seem early to begin planning such a special adventure with so many possibilities, building a successful camp staff not only requires individuals who possess all of the qualities previously mentioned, it requires finding the right mix of personalities and talents. Such an endeavor, of course, takes time. Camp recruiters review literally thousands of applications each year and speak with hundreds of candidates to find those who are the best fit for their camp’s atmosphere, philosophy and program. Starting your job search while the ground is still white and the tree branches still bare provides you with the advantage of a larger pool of positions from which to choose. By April, most camps have nearly completed their hiring and only difficult to fill or highly specialized roles remain.
So, after a winter of wading through piles of snow, are you ready for a summer full of adventure?
As parents, we are always on the lookout for experiences that help our children learn new skills. We enroll them in music lessons, martial arts, sports, theatre, choir and, of course, summer camps. But we all know that the best programs (and the best educational experiences) are ones that go beyond the basics of teaching skills to help develop our children’s character. The basics of 
“I felt like they were living a free life,” she says. The rules were there, just not stressful. This kind of independence creates the necessary space for the foundations of character to blossom. “I could not believe the person he had become – just a new person – totally confident in himself,” she says.
How would you describe the essential elements of a summer camp? Do the adventures of spending days with peers, learning new skills, trying new activities, bonfires and skits, great counselors— all the fun of the whole experience— first come to mind? These are definitely important elements of summer camp from a camper’s perspective, but there are a lot of other elements that have to be in place for a camp to be successful year after year. Have you ever wondered what it takes to set the scene and develop communities where good times can take place? I have.
Eco Science has been a huge hit this summer, and a popular option choice for the entire camp. Ryan, the Eco Science Specialist, has been really happy with the enthusiasm of all divisions. Ryan isn’t the only resident member of Eco Science, though. He shares his space with two leopard geckos, a bearded dragon, and a very popular ball python. The snake in the eco science goes by various names. Lower Camp sometimes calls him Hungry,
One recipe that has been really working well with all kids is butterfly cakes.
July 13th and 14th, Camp Starlight welcomed several professional coaches and renowned artists who gave campers the opportunity to gain experience in a program area of choice. Tennis Star Camp helped campers improve their tennis game with extensive instruction, as well as gain feedback from the formerly internationally ranked Mel Purcell. Starlight baseball/softball players enjoyed an educational and enlightening trip to The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Golf players enjoyed a round of golf at French Woods Country Club. Basketball players dribbled, passed, and shot with renowned Five Star Basketball Camp. Triathlon specialist Stephanie put several of Starlight’s more ambitious athletes to the test of swimming, biking, and running around camp. A new Starcamp featured this summer was Magic, which involved a trip to the Harry Houdini Museum where campers enjoyed a magic show. Regardless of specialty, all campers gained a lot of new knowledge and experience in just two short days, and enjoyed themselves immensely.
Here I am at camp, lying on my magic carpet during beauty sleep hour. I am sharing our castle with Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty!! They are so pretty and really nice! Today, guess who I met? The Beast from Beauty and the Beast! He tried to eat me but don’t worry I got away. It was a close one. They didn’t mention he ate people in the movie. I also met the genie from Aladdin! He kind of messed up my wish… I wished for a hamburger but he turned me into a hamburger instead! I looked pretty good if I do say so myself. My counselors are Princess Fiona and Ursala. Ursala is so mean! Guess you can’t get the best one every time. Well I have to go. I miss you and I can’t wait for fairytale camp’s visiting day!