Why Working at a Summer Camp is Better Than an Internship

As summer approaches, college students face a crucial decision: pursue a traditional internship or take the road less traveled with a summer camp position. While internships might seem like the obvious choice for career advancement, working at a summer camp offers unique benefits that can actually give you a competitive edge in your future career – all while having an unforgettable summer experience. Let’s explore why choosing summer camp vs internship could be the best decision you’ll make this year.

The Traditional Path: What Internships Offer

Let’s acknowledge the obvious: internships have their merits. They provide industry-specific experience, potential networking opportunities with professionals in your field, and that coveted line on your resume that shows you’ve worked in a corporate setting. Many students feel pressured to pursue internships because they seem like the “responsible” choice.

Internships can provide valuable exposure to potential career paths and sometimes lead to job offers. However, they often come with significant drawbacks: unpaid positions, coffee-fetching responsibilities, limited mentorship, and being confined to a desk for hours on end. Many interns report feeling like small cogs in a large machine, with minimal impact on meaningful work.

Skill Development: The Camp Advantage

While internships might help you develop specialized skills in your field, camp work builds the fundamental transferable skills that employers across all industries consistently rank as most valuable. These “soft skills” are increasingly in demand as technical skills become more automated.

Personal Growth & Meaningful Impact

Beyond professional skills, camp work offers something many internships can’t: profound personal development and the opportunity to make a real difference in children’s lives.

Building Confidence & Resilience

Working at camp pushes you outside your comfort zone daily. Whether it’s leading a campfire song in front of 100 people or helping a child overcome their fear of swimming, these experiences build self-confidence that lasts a lifetime. You’ll discover strengths you never knew you had and develop resilience through overcoming challenges.

Making a Tangible Difference

Unlike many internships where your contribution might be difficult to measure, at camp you’ll see the direct impact of your work every day. When a shy camper finally comes out of their shell because of your encouragement, or when a group successfully completes a challenging activity under your guidance – these are moments of real impact that few internships can match.

“My summer as a camp counselor taught me more about leadership, empathy, and problem-solving than any classroom or internship ever could. The skills I developed helped me stand out in job interviews, and the stories I shared demonstrated my ability to handle real responsibility.” – Sarah K., Former Camp New York Counselor, now Marketing Director

Community & Connections: Beyond Networking

While internships offer professional networking, camp provides something potentially more valuable: authentic relationships built on shared experiences and values.

Lifelong Friendships

The intensity of the camp experience – working, living, and solving problems together – creates bonds that often last a lifetime. These aren’t just casual connections; they’re deep friendships forged through shared challenges and triumphs. Many camp staff describe their fellow counselors as “family” years after their camp experience ends.

Global Connections

Camp New York attracts staff from around the world, giving you the opportunity to build an international network. These diverse connections expose you to different perspectives and cultures, enhancing your global awareness and cross-cultural communication skills – increasingly valuable in today’s global workplace.

Quality Over Quantity

While internships might help you collect more LinkedIn connections, camp relationships tend to be deeper and more meaningful. These authentic connections often prove more valuable in the long run, as they’re built on mutual respect and shared experiences rather than professional convenience.

Experience & Adventure: Beyond the Cubicle

Perhaps the most obvious difference between camp work and internships is the environment and daily experience. While interns often spend their summers in air-conditioned offices staring at screens, camp counselors enjoy a summer filled with outdoor adventure and new experiences.

Career Value: How Camp Experience Impresses Employers

Contrary to what many students believe, employers across industries increasingly value the unique skills and experiences gained at summer camps. In fact, many hiring managers see camp work as evidence of initiative, responsibility, and people skills that many internships simply don’t develop.

Interview-Ready Stories

Camp work provides concrete examples for nearly every common interview question: leadership challenges, conflict resolution, adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving. When an interviewer asks for a time you demonstrated leadership, which sounds more impressive: “I supervised three interns” or “I was responsible for the safety and development of 12 children for two weeks, planning and leading their daily activities”?

Demonstrated Responsibility

Few entry-level positions offer the level of responsibility that camp counselors handle daily. Being entrusted with children’s safety and development demonstrates a level of maturity and reliability that resonates with employers across industries.

Standing Out From The Crowd

In a sea of similar internship experiences, camp work helps your resume stand out. It shows you’re willing to take the road less traveled, challenge yourself, and prioritize meaningful experiences – qualities that innovative companies particularly value.

Success Stories: From Camp to Career

Don’t just take our word for it – hear from former Camp New York counselors who leveraged their summer camp experience into successful careers:

Make This Summer Count: Choose Camp New York

While internships have their place, a summer at camp offers a unique combination of professional skill development, personal growth, meaningful relationships, and unforgettable experiences that many traditional internships simply can’t match.

At Camp New York, you’ll gain leadership experience, build communication skills, develop problem-solving abilities, and make connections that last a lifetime – all while having an adventure-filled summer in the beautiful outdoors. These experiences and skills will not only enhance your resume but will also help you grow as a person in ways that will benefit you throughout your career and life.