Camp Counselor job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$36,560

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Recreation Workers (O*NET-SOC 39-9032.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety. importance 4.3 of 5
2. Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies. importance 4.3 of 5
3. Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities. importance 4.3 of 5
4. Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities. importance 4.2 of 5
5. Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary. importance 4.2 of 5
6. Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists. importance 4.1 of 5
7. Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment. importance 4.1 of 5
8. Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts. importance 4.0 of 5
9. Supervise and coordinate the work activities of personnel, such as training staff members and assigning work duties. importance 4.0 of 5
10. Evaluate recreation areas, facilities, and services to determine if they are producing desired results. importance 4.0 of 5
11. Document individuals' progress toward meeting their treatment goals. importance 4.0 of 5
12. Greet new arrivals to activities, introducing them to other participants, explaining facility rules, and encouraging participation. importance 4.0 of 5
13. Confer with management to discuss and resolve participant complaints. importance 3.9 of 5
14. Meet with staff to discuss rules, regulations, and work-related problems. importance 3.8 of 5
15. Oversee the purchase, planning, design, construction, and upkeep of recreation facilities and areas. importance 3.7 of 5
16. Encourage participants to develop their own activities and leadership skills through group discussions. importance 3.7 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Getting Information, Thinking Creatively, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Scheduling Work and Activities and Making Decisions and Solving Problems.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Serve as liaison between park or recreation administrators and activity instructors.
• Schedule maintenance and use of facilities.
• Conduct individual in-room visits with residents.
• Develop treatment goals for individuals based on their assessments.
• Evaluate staff performance, recording evaluations on appropriate forms.
• Take residents on community outings.

Knowledge areas: English Language, Public Safety and Security, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training and Law and Government.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a camp counselor.

Most camp counselors surveyed by O*NET (62%) name a bachelor's degree as the education the job requires.

Job title: Camp Counselor
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Camp Counselor to conduct recreation activities with groups in public, private, or volunteer agencies or recreation facilities.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
- Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.
- Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
- Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
- Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
- Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
- Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
- Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in social perceptiveness, coordination and service orientation
- Working knowledge of English Language and Public Safety and Security
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Office software or Microsoft Excel]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $36,560 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $17.58. BLS estimates about 331,490 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Recreation Workers to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 67,000 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

• Read a real camp counselor posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only camp counselor work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (social perceptiveness and coordination).