Transforming your camp skills into valuable work experience

From managing your camper’s schedules to leading activities and getting creative keeping your bunk entertained, no other experience will develop your soft skills like working at summer camp in America.

A bootcamp for your resume, CV or uni application – problem solving, organisation, teamwork, leadership, decision making, creativity, adaptability, time management… are just some of the transferrable skills you’ll pick up working at camp.

So, how do you harness these newfound skills and use them to your advantage when going for a new job or applying for a course? We turned to our BUNAC Camp Crew for the answers.

Problem solving

Adam, Head of Operations, says...

One of the most useful phrases I learnt at camp – and one I use almost every day of my life – is: “What are our options?”

Camp throws challenges at you daily. Sudden thunderstorms cancelling outdoor activities, realising the archery range is missing half the arrows, or walking back into a cabin that looks like a hurricane just touched down (shoutout to my 12-year-old boys!). In those moments, you could panic, complain, or walk away… but none of those are the option with the best outcome. Instead, camp teaches you to stay calm, think fast, and find the solution that works best for everyone.

The beauty of camp is that you get endless opportunities to practise this – sometimes in high-stakes situations. That’s why ‘camp people’ have this almost built-in ability to keep their heads when things get tough. In my own career, it’s the reason people describe me as unflappable in a crisis. The truth? I’m not superhuman – I just learnt at camp to get straight to “What are our options?” while others are still reacting.

How to use this in an interview

Problem solving is one of the most common skills employers look for. If you’re asked “tell me about a time you solved a problem”, lean on your camp stories. Employers don’t care if the problem was NASA-level (“Houston, we have a problem…”) or camp-level (rain cancelling the camp Olympics). What they care about is how you approached it, kept calm under pressure, and found a solution. Your camp examples are gold for showing you can do exactly that.

Time management

Amy, Camp Coordinator, says...

Time management isn’t just a skill at camp, it’s a survival tool. As a counsellor, my day started before sunrise and didn’t end until lights out. I was juggling camper wake-ups, meals, cabin clean-up, activity rotations, special events and one-to-one check-ins and still trying to sneak in a shower somewhere. A useful phrase I learnt at camp that quickly became an unspoken rule was ‘Early is on time, on time is late and by being late you are making everyone wait’. My camp experience genuinely helped me land my current role on the summer camp operations team. In a fast-paced environment where I am balancing emails, phones, consultations and admin tasks I still rely on the time management strategies I learned at camp.

How to use this in an interview

When interviewing, emphasise how camp taught you to manage time under pressure, balancing non-stop responsibilities. Use specific examples like coordinating camper schedules, activities and check ins to show how you developed strong planning and prioritization skills. Show that your ability to stay organized, meet deadlines and keep things running smoothly is rooted in your hands-on camp experience.

Leadership and creativity

Josh, Travel Expert, says...

During my time at camp, I was promoted from waterski instructor to head of the waterski program. I quickly learnt how to manage people and be an effective leader – camp is a great setting for developing these skills. You’re in a supportive environment where you all have the same goals, making it a soft introduction to leadership.

Camp also allows you to develop creatively. For example, as head of program, I upgraded the reward system so each camper unlocks a different colour keychain for each level. I spent all summer being hounded by kids at flagpole for their next level! You will need to think on your feet and keep the lulls interesting – nothing like entertaining 14 ten-year-olds when lightening cancels your waterski session!

Learning how to keep kids and staff motivated and passionate about something was a steep learning curve but one I have carried forward.

Leadership is a skill both learned and refined in a camp setting. Your everyday is filled with leading young people to make good decisions and being a positive influence on them and their development with creativity sewn into the fabric of your every day, you can think outside the box and be whoever you want to be, that’s the beauty of it.

How to use this in an interview

When applying for roles in the future you can include stories showing ‘crisis management’, creative resolution and stoic leadership.

For example, "I led an art project for 30 campers with limited supplies. Instead of giving strict instructions, I invited them to design their own 'nature creatures' using sticks, leaves, and stones. I organized them into mini-teams to plan, build, and showcase their creations. It not only saved resources but gave them ownership - and the result was a spontaneous exhibition that wowed the camp."

Communication

Adam, Head of Operations, says...

One skill you’ll develop at camp without even realising it is communication. From getting up in front of hundreds of campers to lead a song or make an announcement, to sitting down one-to-one with a homesick camper, camp teaches you how to adapt your voice and style to whoever’s in front of you. You’ll learn to be clear, honest and confident – and trust me, those skills don’t disappear when camp ends. (They’ll also come in handy when you’re back home, telling your friends and family “this one time, at summer camp…” for the hundredth time).

I use these same skills every day in my career. Whether I’m running a meeting, pitching an idea, or having a tough conversation, camp taught me how to tailor the way I communicate so it lands with the audience. Even in interviews, being able to clearly explain why my camp experience made me a great fit helped me stand out.

How to use this in an interview

Employers love strong communicators. Use your camp stories to show you can do both ends of the spectrum – confidently addressing a group, and connecting on a personal level. Saying “At camp, I often had to adapt how I spoke depending on whether I was calming down a camper or motivating a whole team” shows you’re not just good at talking – you know how to communicate with impact.

Adaptability

Josh, Travel Expert, says...

If there’s one thing camp teaches you quickly, it’s how to adapt. No two days are the same and even your best-laid plans can be flipped upside down by weather, camper moods, or last-minute changes. For example, one summer we planned an elaborate outdoor summer carnival that had to be scrapped when a thunderstorm rolled in.

Within 30 minutes, we transformed it into an indoor human foosball game, and it ended up being a camp highlight. That level of flexibility has carried through to my current role. In operations, we are constantly adjusting to new travel rules, camp updates, or helping applicants when unexpected hurdles pop up. My time at camp taught me to stay calm, think creatively and pivot quickly without losing momentum.

How to use this in an interview

In interviews highlight how your camp experience strengthened your ability to stay composed, think on your feet and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. These are all skills that directly apply to dynamic work environments. Use personal examples from your camp experience when answering questions like ‘tell me about a time you had to adapt' or when asked about your strengths or how you handle challenges, reference your camp experience as proof that you can pivot quickly under pressure.

Responsibility

Adam, Head of Operations, says...

There’s nothing more valuable to a parent than their child. So when they drop them off at summer camp for weeks at a time, they’re trusting you with the most important thing in their world. That’s real responsibility.

At camp, you’re not just making sure a group of kids are safe, fed and on time for activities (although that’s a big part of it). You’re also helping shape their confidence, teaching them life skills, and giving them experiences they’ll never forget. And just to raise the stakes? Those same kids will also be climbing high ropes, swimming in lakes, riding horses and trying watersports for the first time – all under your watch.

Want to show an employer that you can handle serious responsibility? Camp is the ultimate example. If you can be trusted to keep a cabin of kids safe, happy, and coming home with stories to tell – you can be trusted to manage projects, lead teams, and deliver results. Best of all, the impact lasts: long after the summer ends, you’ll be remembered as the counsellor who helped a camper learn to swim, conquer a fear, or realise that it’s okay to try and fail.

How to use this in an interview

Employers want people they can rely on. Instead of just saying “I’m responsible,” use camp stories to prove it. Something like: “I was responsible for the safety and wellbeing of 12 campers for 8 weeks – organising their schedules, supporting them emotionally, and making sure they thrived in a new environment.” That shows you’ve already handled responsibility at the highest level.

So, there you have it. Tips from our experts on how summer camp can boost your CV and give you a bank of stories to lean on in job interviews. Find out more about BUNAC Summer Camp USA.