Engaging Summer Staff, by AJ Frigillana
Summer program is what?! RED HOT!
Summer is a time for youth participants to make lifelong friendships, learn skills they can take with them into the fall, and most importantly, make fun memories! Many young folks can’t wait for June to roll around, but how about staff? For staff, the days may be longer, the number of participants per group may be larger, and the curriculum often needs to be bigger and bolder. This may cause potential candidates to hesitate to apply.
SFBI’s Workforce Development team recently attended the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals’ annual conference, and found that a common theme for staff, especially Gen Z staff, is reciprocity. They know that they are expected to invest in the work and want to know that they are being invested in. When looking for jobs or examining their current jobs, potential candidates and current staff not only want to know what work they’re expected to do, but if the job meets their expectations. Staff and potential candidates desire mentorship, clear pathways for career trajectory, and professional development to turn their potential into skills.
Q: How do we help them shake off the “summer scaries”?
A: By showing them what summer programming can do for them!
According to the American Camp Association resource library’s Staff Recruitment & Retention Downloadable Handouts, working in a camp community is a meaningful way to build skills and help a staff member thrive past the summer! When advertising summer programs to potential staff or even encouraging current staff to transition from the school year to summer, it’s important to highlight that working in a summer program cultivates the following skills:
Communication and Collaboration: Staff will practice their teamwork skills and communication skills by working with people at every level of the organization. This can include participants and their family members, fellow staff, and program leadership.
Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Problem Solving: From supporting a participant with an injury to facilitating a last minute icebreaker while waiting for a field trip bus, some situations require staff to think on their feet!
Interpersonal and Leadership Skills: Staff are in charge of leading a group of campers and creating a fun, safe environment for them to learn new things! Staff are also asked to form authentic relationships with individual participants to ensure that they are engaged.
The pitch has been made and still, you may be met with “Okay, what about after summer?” Fear not, the American Camp Association has some tips on that too! Not only are the skills a staff person cultivates useful from the months of May-August, they can continue to develop these life-long skills and add them to their resumes ! Take a look below to see how staff can can ensure that their summer experience is easily translated:
If you’re curious to learn more, the American Camp Association’s resource library can be found here! Here’s to a successful summer, followed by a successful fall!
