Career Mirror -- by NextSteps staff

How does keeping to yourself, being in an office all day and typing on a computer sound to you? If this sounds like your cup of tea then I can't help you.

But... if you want to spend everyday with busy, energetic kids, develop your teaching and people skills, establish strong, long-lasting relationships with your peers and be outside traversing the rugged mountain passes of the Alberta Rockies, then I've got the job for you.

Jason Fleury is a camp counsellor at Camp Chief Hector in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. This is his second season at the camp and he will be taking on the dubious task of training 17- and 18- year-olds to become future counsellors. I had the privilege of talking with Jason and he shared some of the ups and downs (mostly ups) of being a summer camp counsellor. Here's what I found out:

Jason, a school teacher by training, had many great things to say about being a Rocky Mountain Camp Counsellor. The greatest thing is not the fun you have with the kids or the counsellors, nor is it the extensive outdoor activities that you are involved in. What Jason finds the most rewarding about being a camp counsellor is the ability to have a significant impact on the young people that attend the camp. "I take care of these kids 24 hours a day," he says. "I get them up, I plan their day, I listen to them and they listen to me. This translates into me being a very significant person in their life and understandably, they remember you for years to come." Jason finds this very motivating and takes a great deal of responsibility over how his actions impact these young people on a daily basis.

If you are interested in this line of work, here are some suggestions that Jason recommends for finding a camp counselling job:

1. Emphasize skills you have that you may have thought are insignificant. Talk about the babysitting, volunteering, group work, etc. Anything that shows you can work with people, handle busy situations and learn will influence your application in a positive manner.
2. Ask around. Talk to those you know that have worked at a camp. Jason found out about his job through a friend who had worked at the camp the previous year.
3. If you are young enough, attend a camp and see if you like it as a participant. Many camps have programs where you can go and be a Counsellor in Training (CIT).

Jason would not trade his camp experience for anything. He is returning for another year of it. He believes the experience he has gained is invaluable and it will benefit him greatly in his role as a school teacher.