At Camp Winaukee, a traditional all-boys overnight camp on the scenic shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, we know that the impact of summer camp extends far beyond the two-month season. While camp provides an unforgettable experience for the campers, it also offers immense professional and personal growth opportunities for staff. Many of our staff members ranging from first-time counselors to seasoned coaches, find that their time at camp doesn’t just enhance their leadership and communication skills; it also builds a network that benefits their careers long after the summer ends.

Summer camp isn’t just about the day-to-day activities or the immediate responsibilities of supervising kids; it’s a unique environment where valuable, transferable skills are developed. What many first-time staff members don’t realize is that these skills and connections can directly translate into career opportunities, career advancement, and lifelong professional networks.

Here’s how working at Camp Winaukee builds a network that benefits staff professionally, both during their time at camp and long after they leave.

Building Strong, Lasting Professional Connections

One of the most valuable aspects of working at camp is the people you meet. At Camp Winaukee, our staff consists of a diverse group of college students, young professionals, and seasoned educators who come together with a shared passion for working with children and fostering a positive camp experience.

These connections often form the foundation for lifelong friendships and professional networks. Staff members bond over shared experiences with campers, problem-solving during activities, and the collaborative nature of camp life. Many staff members leave with mentors who can provide guidance as they move forward in their careers, and these relationships often open doors to new job opportunities.

Camp staff often come from a variety of fields, including education, sports, business, medicine, and more. These diverse backgrounds allow staff members to expand their professional network and learn from others with different expertise.

Professional Benefit: The relationships you form at camp can help open doors in your career, whether it’s through job referrals, career advice, or even collaborative opportunities in the future.

Strengthening Leadership and Communication Skills

Working as a counselor, coach, or leader at Camp Winaukee requires a unique set of leadership and communication skills. Staff members are often responsible for leading teams, managing groups, handling challenging situations, and communicating effectively with kids and peers. These skills are invaluable in any professional setting.

For example, counselors learn how to motivate kids, foster teamwork, mediate conflicts, and provide constructive feedback—skills that are essential in any leadership role. Coaches, in particular, are able to refine their ability to give clear instructions, evaluate performance, and lead by example.

Moreover, working with children and diverse groups of staff helps develop excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills, which are crucial in any career path.

Professional Benefit: These leadership and communication skills are directly transferable to any job, especially in management or roles that involve team dynamics, client relations, or group facilitation.

Gaining Work Experience and Building a Resume

For many young adults, working at camp is one of the first professional jobs they hold. Whether it’s your first summer at camp or you’ve returned for multiple years, the experience offers a wealth of skills and accomplishments to add to your resume.

Being a staff member at Camp Winaukee demonstrates that you can work in a structured, fast-paced environment, collaborate with colleagues, and take on significant responsibility. Staff members are often tasked with overseeing campers, managing logistics, and ensuring safety—all while creating an enjoyable and enriching experience for the boys. These responsibilities show initiative, problem-solving, and time management—traits that employers look for in future candidates.

For college students looking to build their resumes, being a summer camp counselor or coach is a great way to gain relevant experience, whether you’re interested in education, sports management, psychology, or even business. Many staff members go on to use their camp experience as a stepping stone to more advanced internships or job opportunities after graduation.

Professional Benefit: Working at camp adds valuable work experience to your resume, helping you build a strong foundation for your professional future.

Developing Emotional Intelligence and Resilience

Summer camp often places staff members in challenging situations where they need to think quickly, stay calm under pressure, and make decisions that impact others. Whether it’s dealing with a homesick camper, managing a difficult group dynamic, or ensuring that a sport or waterfront activity runs smoothly, staff are constantly tested in ways that develop their emotional intelligence.

In addition to empathy, staff develop resilience—the ability to adapt to change, recover from setbacks, and stay positive in the face of challenges. These emotional competencies are essential in today’s professional world, where workplace dynamics are ever-changing, and the ability to handle stress and difficult situations is critical.

Professional Benefit: Emotional intelligence and resilience are key qualities that employers value. They help staff navigate difficult work situations, manage stress, and develop stronger working relationships with colleagues and clients.

Strengthening Problem-Solving and Teamwork Skills

Working at Camp Winaukee requires staff to collaborate and work closely with others—whether it’s other counselors, coaches, or the leadership team. At camp, teamwork is everything. Whether you’re organizing an activity, problem-solving during a game, or managing logistics, you’ll quickly learn how to communicate effectively with your colleagues and work together to solve problems.

As a staff member, you’ll also encounter situations where quick thinking and creative problem-solving are needed to handle issues like weather disruptions, unanticipated challenges during activities, or interpersonal dynamics. The ability to find solutions in high-pressure situations is a valuable skill that will benefit you throughout your career.

Professional Benefit: The teamwork and problem-solving skills you build at camp are essential in almost every professional field, especially those that require collaboration or high-pressure decision-making.

Building a Network of Camp Alumni and Professionals

At Camp Winaukee, our alumni network is vast and wide-reaching. Staff members who return year after year often stay connected long after they leave, forming a supportive and professional community. This alumni network can be a valuable resource for career opportunities, mentorship, and professional connections.

Being a part of the Camp Winaukee community allows staff to connect with individuals from a wide variety of fields, giving them access to a professional network that they might not have encountered otherwise. Whether you’re looking for career advice, seeking a new job, or hoping to collaborate on a project, your camp connections can open doors and provide valuable insights.

Professional Benefit: The Camp Winaukee alumni network can help staff connect with industry professionals and broaden their career opportunities, making it a powerful asset in their professional journey.

At Camp Winaukee, the impact of working here goes far beyond just a summer job. From building lasting relationships to developing leadership skills, problem-solving abilities, and emotional intelligence, the experiences gained at camp provide staff with a foundation for success that can be leveraged in any career.

So, while the days spent on the waterfront, in the sports fields, or with campers might feel like a temporary adventure, the network, skills, and memories you build at camp last a lifetime—helping you both personally and professionally as you move forward in your career.