Camp Counselor Resume Examples & Format
A camp counselor is a recreation worker who looks after a group of children or teenagers at a day or overnight camp: organizing and leading activities such as arts and crafts, sports, games and music, explaining rules, teaching safety procedures and giving basic first aid (BLS). A camp counselor resume should prove skills such as group supervision and headcounts, games and activity planning, and first aid and CPR with numbers from your own work. Below are three samples, entry-level to senior, with summaries, bullets and skills.
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Examples by experience level
All three samples are illustrative: the people, employers and every figure are made up.
Entry-level sample
Emma Rodriguez
Psychology student · CPR and first aid certified · youth volunteer · led activities for 25 children · seeking summer camp counselor role
Madison, WI · (608) 555-0134 · emma.rodriguez@example.com
Summary
- Second-year psychology student looking for a summer camp counselor job, with volunteer experience leading games and a reading hour for 25 children over 7 days. Available late May through August.
Experience
- Volunteer Activity Leader, Madison Community Center Summer Program, Madison, WI · Jun – Aug 2025 · Led games and a daily reading hour for 25 children aged 6 to 12; ran a 40-minute craft session each afternoon with 3 other volunteers.
- Junior Coach (weekends), Eastside Youth Soccer, Madison, WI · 2025 · Helped coach a team of 12 children aged 8 to 10.
Education
- B.A. in Psychology (in progress), University of Wisconsin-Madison · expected 2028
- CPR and First Aid certificate · 2026
Skills
- Group games, crafts, storytelling, basic first aid and CPR, patience with younger children, bilingual English/Spanish, singing
Mid-level sample
Tyler Brennan
Camp Counselor and Trip Leader · 4 years · outdoor adventure camps · groups of 12 · Wilderness First Aid
Boulder, CO · (303) 555-0172 · tyler.brennan@example.com
Summary
- Camp counselor with four summers at outdoor adventure camps in Colorado, leading groups of 12 children aged 10 to 15 on hikes, ropes courses and overnight trips. No reportable safety incident across 4 summers and 38 groups.
Experience
- Senior Counselor, Rocky Ridge Adventure Camp, Estes Park, CO · 2024 – present · Lead groups of 12 on 5-day sessions; 38 groups over 4 summers; supervise 3 junior counselors; no reportable safety incident; daily parent update.
- Camp Counselor, Rocky Ridge Adventure Camp, Estes Park, CO · 2022 – 2024 · Ran ropes-course and nature-walk sessions for 150 children a summer.
Education and training
- B.S. in Recreation and Outdoor Education (in progress), University of Colorado Boulder
- Wilderness First Aid certificate · 2023
- Lifeguard and CPR certificate · 2024
Skills
- Group supervision, trip leading, ropes-course safety checks, first aid, headcounts, parent communication, campfire programs
Senior sample
Danielle Whitmore
Camp Director · 13 years · day and residential camps · 220 campers a summer · staff of 24
Raleigh, NC · (919) 555-0166 · danielle.whitmore@example.com
Summary
- Camp director with thirteen years in children's day and residential camps, now running a 6-week summer program for 220 campers with 24 staff. Rewrote the safety and homesickness plans, cut early departures from 9% to 3%, and trained 60 counselors in 3 summers.
Experience
- Camp Director, Blue Ridge Kids Camps, Raleigh, NC · 2019 – present · Run a 6-week program for 220 campers a summer; manage 24 staff; early departures cut from 9% to 3%; 60 counselors trained over 3 summers.
- Program Director, a YMCA day camp, Durham, NC · 2015 – 2019 · Planned activity schedules for 90 children.
- Camp Counselor, a nature camp, Asheville, NC · 2013 – 2015 · Led groups of 10.
Education
- M.Ed. in Youth Development, North Carolina State University · 2015
- Child protection and safeguarding training · 2021
- CPR and First Aid instructor certificate · 2022
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What does a camp counselor do?
In the US camp counselors often work seasonal, part-time or irregular hours, and some are employed only during the summer (BLS). Camps run in parks, schools, churches, community centers and residential sites. A camp counselor resume should show group size, children's ages, activities led and any first aid, CPR or lifeguard training.
Camp Counselor job description for a resume
- Organize and lead group activities such as arts and crafts, sports, games and music.
- Explain rules and safety procedures to campers and enforce them.
- Supervise a group of children through the day, including headcounts at every change of activity.
- Modify activities for different ages and skill levels.
- Administer basic first aid and notify emergency personnel when needed.
- Keep attendance and incident records and report to the camp director.
- Talk with parents about their child's day.
Best resume format for a camp counselor
- Give the group size, children's ages and number of days for each camp you led.
- Put first aid, CPR, lifeguard and safeguarding training near the top; parents and camp directors look for it.
- Volunteering counts for entry-level applicants: youth programs, school events, tutoring and coaching.
The section order and what goes in each are on the how to write a resume guide; the resume format guide covers every format by type and country.
Summary examples by level
- Entry-level: Psychology student with community program experience leading games and a reading hour for 25 children over 7 days, CPR and first aid certified.
- Mid-level: Camp counselor with 4 summers leading groups of 12 on hikes and ropes courses, 38 groups and no reportable safety incident.
- Senior: Camp director for 220 campers and 24 staff, who cut early departures from 9% to 3% and trained 60 counselors.
Work experience bullet points
- Led groups of 12 children aged 10 to 15 on 5-day adventure sessions.
- Supervised 38 groups over 4 summers with no reportable safety incident.
- Ran games and a daily reading hour for 25 children over 7 days.
- Did headcounts 6 times a day on every hike and activity.
- Cut early departures from 9% to 3% with a homesickness plan.
- Trained 60 counselors in first aid and child protection over 3 summers.
- Planned a 6-week activity schedule for 220 campers and 24 staff.
- Gave first aid for about 15 minor injuries a week and logged each one the same day.
Key skills to list
Hard skills: Group supervision and headcounts, Games and activity planning, First aid and CPR, Lifeguard or swim supervision, Hiking and trip leading, Arts and crafts, Campfire and evening programs, Child safeguarding rules, Parent communication, Incident reporting.
Soft skills: Patience, Energy across a long day, Calming homesick children, Fairness with every child, Working with other counselors.
Education and certifications
- A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry requirement for recreation workers, and some jobs prefer a bachelor's degree in recreation and fitness (BLS). Psychology, education and recreation students fit well.
- Some employers require certifications such as CPR or first aid, and may also ask for a valid driver's license and a background check (BLS). List your certificates with the year and say you can provide a background check if asked.
- Training after hire is short-term and on the job (BLS). List any camp staff training week you completed.
Sources
Checked on 5 October 2026.
What should a camp counselor resume description say?
Start each line with a verb and end with a number: led a group of 12 children aged 10 to 15, ran 3 activities a day, did headcounts 6 times a day. Use the duties list on this page as a camp counselor resume description to edit.
How do I write a resume description for camp counselor jobs?
Keep it to 5 to 8 short lines. A camp counselor description resume line should name the activity, the group size and the result, such as no safety incident or fewer early departures. Match the wording to the camp's job posting.
What skills should a camp counselor resume list?
Group supervision, activity planning, first aid and CPR, patience, safety awareness, communication with parents and teamwork. Put the certificates named in the camp's job posting first.
Do camp counselors need a background check?
Some employers ask. BLS says recreation workers may need to pass a background check, and some employers require CPR or first aid certification. Check the camp's job posting and say you can provide checks and certificates.