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Summer Camp is one of the most exciting ways to spend your summer, whether you are attending or working at one. Working at a camp can provide you with memories that will last you a lifetime! But camp can also give you the skills employers are looking for. Having a camp position on your resume can really boost to the top of the candidate pile. Skills you will gain or improve on at camp as a staff member:

Leadership:   Working at a camp will thrust you into the role of leading your own group of children or leading a group of staff. Leading a group of individuals through daily challenges and inspiring them to do their best during daily activities, will show employers your are ready to take on challenges that others are not.

Teamwork:    Have you ever heard of the saying “It takes a Village”? Well it certainly does take a lot of teamwork to run a camp. Despite any bumps in the road you may have had with either campers or fellow staff it is important to remember that you have to use your teamwork skills to successfully run a camp. Employers are looking for individuals that have the capability to work with a group of people regardless of any speed bumps that may occur “The show must go on!”.

Independence/Accountability:    As important as it is to be able to work with a group of individuals it is also important to be able to work on your own. At camp you are in charge of your own group of campers, which means you must be able to plan and organize your time effectively to make the best of every day. Employers are looking for independence because it shows that you are willing to be accountable for your own work and progress.

Communication:    As helpful as social media or even our phones are at making communicating faster and easier, those are not appropriate ways to communicate at work. At camp you are expected to communicate to campers, fellow staff and most importantly parents appropriately and effectively. Without communication camp cannot be the well oiled machine it aspires to be. Employers want employees to communicate with ease in order to have tasks and projects completed correctly.

At camp you hone these skills to create a broad background of experience that you can relate to any job you have in the future. You can use these skills as examples of answering those hard questions employers ask during your interviews. A questions like “Have you ever lead a group of individuals to greatness?. You can confidently use your camp experience to say “When I was a camp leader I motivated a team of individuals daily to complete tasks to the best of their abilities by motivating them to push through adversity and conquer each and every day.”

Working at camp is not only a rewarding experience for campers and staff alike, but it will open up more opportunities in the workforce having it on your Resume. Have no idea where to start? Go to www.royalsoccer.com to apply for one of our many, amazing job opportunities across Canada. It will be the first step in achieving your professional goals!

-Rachael Perz, Hiring Manager-West

“So much planning, so many things to think about and so little time! “ That is what parents usually say to themselves when they start planning for their children’s summer activities…. in MARCH!  Or at least that is what my parents would always tell me. Growing up in a family of with 3 young kids my parents always struggled to stay on track. Having a 15, 13 and 5 year old was definitely a challenge.

That is until they changed their approach and started planning for the summer in January! It was as if a lightbulb has just gone on in the house. Such a simple concept, and it took them so long to realize how beneficial it would be.  Some of the biggest benefits to planning your summer early include:

• Discount… Let’s face it, having children is not kind to the wallet, that’s why taking advantage of early bird deals is so important. Many camps, such as Royal City Soccer Club, offer great early bird deals. Don’t let your hard earned money leave when its so easy so save!
• Availability… Ok, so you found the perfect program, at the perfect location and for the best price around. You give them a call and after a few seconds of silence(that seem like an eternity) you are told…”Sorry but there is no more space for this program.”  You can avoid this dreaded response by signing up early.
• Option… If you start looking early in the year you’ll see all programs available…because they will all likely still have availability. No risk of certain option being closed to you and your children. Soccer, basketball, dance, karate! All is open early and if you reach out to these location, even if the registration is not yet open, everyone is more than happy to give you any and all information regarding their programs.
• Rest while others stress… Who wants to be stressed looking for camps at the last minute. Sign up early and then just BREATH and relax because for the next few months you will have one less huge task to worry about. Now you can start planning for all the activities that happen around your children’s summer plans, such as long weekends at the beach, visiting relatives, going away to another country, etc.

These are just a few of the benefits of registering for summer programs early.  Just remember that there is no price equal to your child really enjoying and making the most out of a summer experience. Let’s make our summer a MEMORABLE ONE!

Renzo Muniz

It’s a cold winter day in January, snow is coming down and you look at your phone and it’s showing -15 degrees outside! “This can’t be’’, you think to yourself, ‘’the summer is so far away, I can’t even remember what the sun feels like’’.  This feeling of dread, as I put it, being a huge fan of the summer myself, sometimes blinds us of the true preparation that is needed to attain our desired summer job position. As a student, I worked on many summer jobs over the years, from summer camps, coaching soccer and general admin roles to working for lawn care companies or as a general labourer for a factory. All of these positions had one thing in common, the earlier I would apply to them the better they ended up working out for me in the summer. Here are some of the reasons why I applied to summer positions early:

• OPTIONS…this is my favourite. The number of options you have when you start looking early is amazing. Everyone wants students! From companies looking for tech savvy staff, to companies wanting to have seasonal summer camp staff…some companies just want young and energetic people with them for the summer months. There are so many option out there and the sooner you start looking the easier it will be.
• PLANNING…once I figured out what I was doing for my summer months, I was able to plan around it. If there was a weekend trip I wanted to go to in the summer, I could now approach my employer and let him know the days I needed off, well ahead of time.
• GAIN EXPERIENCE…one of the great benefits of planning early is that you are able to gain valuable experience from different interviews that you may be applying for. Interviews are never comfortable but the more you participate in, the more confident you will become.

Finally I would just remind everyone that it is never to early to start thinking about applying to any summer job. Whether its part-time, full-time, seasonal or contract position, there is something out there for everyone.

-Renzo Muniz, Staffing Manager

When I entered university, like many young adults, I was confident about my career path, envisioning myself as a teacher because of my passion for working with children. However, as I pursued my program in Geography, I discovered a newfound interest in contributing to the creation of a sustainable yet functional environment for children. This realization prompted a shift in my educational and life goals, but it didn’t deter me from continuing to pursue a position with the Royal City Soccer Club.

During the summer of 2017, the experience of being a camp counselor became incredibly fulfilling. Waking up to the prospect of teaching soccer to children while getting paid was an unmatched joy, especially for a student navigating through the challenges of school. Beyond the sheer enjoyment, this role provided valuable learning experiences, imparting skills that I hadn’t anticipated would be so crucial for my future career.

Adaptability, a highly sought-after skill by employers, became evident as a key lesson from my time as a camp counselor. Each week presented different challenges, with varying groups of campers requiring adjustments to my teaching approach. Whether it was modifying a game or changing strategies, the need for quick decision-making and adaptability was a recurring aspect of the job.

Working collaboratively as part of a team was another indispensable skill cultivated during my time at the camp. With a daily routine involving close coordination with another counselor and a supervisor, effective teamwork was vital to ensuring the smooth operation of the camp. Navigating differences of opinion and learning to handle constructive criticism became integral to maintaining a cohesive and efficient team dynamic.

Problem-solving, a skill applicable to any future career, was honed through the daily challenges encountered as a camp counselor. Dealing with issues ranging from minor disputes between campers to more complex interpersonal conflicts required me to develop a calm and collected approach to finding solutions. These experiences instilled in me the confidence to face problems in my future career without succumbing to panic.

Reflecting on my time as a camp counselor, I recognize the numerous skills gained that will undoubtedly benefit me in any future career, whether it involves working with children or not. Despite the challenges, it remains the most rewarding job I’ve ever had, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

1. COUNTDOWN IS ON! – Countdown to the first day of camp starts at the end of the last year’s camp season – ya, it’s a long countdown.
2. CAMP STAFF – You can’t wait to see if your favourite camp staff is back again this year. And if there is a new counselor, you’re sure to be their favourite!
3. CAMPER FOR LIFE – You dread the day that you will no longer be a camper…but then realize your camp experience can continue as a volunteer or CIT.
4. BUTTERFLIES GONE – No matter how many summers you’ve attended camp, you’re always a little nervous about the first day. But after 5 minutes, all butterflies disappear.
5. FRIENDS FOR LIFE – You are always looking to make new friends at camp. You ask your parents if you can have a play date with your camp friends on the weekend because seeing them Monday-Friday just wasn’t enough
6. SUNSCREEN ME – You go through at least 5 bottles of sunscreen throughout the summer because you remember your parents reminding you.
7. WATERBOTTLE CHALLENGE – You and your friends started a tally to see who refilled their water bottle the most throughout the day, but in reality, you should have been keeping track of how many washroom trips you took!
8. NO MORE WIFI – You don’t even remember that WIFI and video games exist because you’re too busy playing camp games and making new friends.
9. OH NO, SCHOOL’S BACK! – When the summer is coming to an end, you start to panic because that means that camp season is almost over.

10. CAMP NEVER ENDS – You wear your camp shirt to the first day of school and can’t wait to tell your school friends all about the amazing time you had at camp!

The end of the school year is fast approaching! I know as a parent there are lots of things on your mind and the last thing you want to worry about is what your child is going to do during summer break.

If you haven’t started thinking about it yet, that’s ok! Let’s brainstorm together. Here are some things you may want to consider:

Do you want your child being mentally stimulated? Just because school is out doesn’t mean they need to stop learning.

Do you want your child to be engaged and entertained outdoors? Get the kids outside and off of the couch to enjoy some fresh air.

Do you want your child to be social? Have them see their friends and maybe make some new ones!

Do you want your child to make lasting memories? Returning to school with some amazing stories and memories is always the best!

Keeping all of these things in mind, let’s take a look at our options…

You could have a 2 month vacation. I’m sure you would love to take the summer months off and spend it with your children, but unfortunately that’s not a reality for most parents.

You could hire a babysitter. Hiring a babysitter for the summer months is an option, but babysitters can be very costly, with the average babysitting wage around $12/hour for 8 hours/day of care, it could cost as much as $480 per week! Let’s consider a better option.

You could give your kids the best experience ever…camp! Day camps can range in price from $130 to $500 per week depending on the speciality of the camp and what they offer. Considering the cost and what you have taken into consideration already for summer break, camp seems like the best option.

Day camp will provide your child with a fun and engaging experience. Your child will have the opportunity to explore and try new things while becoming more independent. Your child will stay busy while at camp, be outdoors and participate in a variety of physical activities, all while fostering new friendships. With everything that camp has to offer they will certainly return to school with some great stories from their summer and hold onto the memories they created for the rest of their lives.

So, what are your plans for the summer?