Naperville Park District

Camp Counselor

May - August 2019 • Naperville, IL

What I liked

I loved my bosses because they were extremely friendly and helpful; I loved my specific role because I got to interact with the kids during all the activities and built a strong bond with each of them where they felt they could come to me when anything was wrong, and I liked the majority of my co-workers because we made the environment very fun and welcoming.

What I wish was different

I wish that some of the staff were more open to other people’s styles of leading and that some of the field trips were more approriate for the kids’ age.

Advice

This job is a wonderful experience if you love kids, you love being active, and you like being a role model for elementary/middle school aged kids. Do not take this job if you’re just looking for something to pass the time in the summer and if you aren’t passionate about kids.

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Summer camp counselor

June - July 2019 • Naperville, IL

What I liked

I liked working with the kids and not having to work weekends.

What I wish was different

I wish the pay had been a little better, the camp had been longer and the kids a little more respectful

Advice

Don't let the kids get away with doing wrong things. Tell them multiple times to stop what they're doing.

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Camp Counselor

May - August 2019 • Naperville, IL

What I liked

The relationships I built with my campers and coworkers.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been more prepared for dealing with the sorts of conflicts I had to resolve between my campers.

Advice

Remember that the campers look up to you and they are always watching so think about all your actions and the things you say. You may have a bigger impact on their life than you think.

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Assistant Head Lifeguard

May - September 2018 • Naperville, IL

What I liked

The hours, ability to lead and progress through positions even in an hourly job, the people I worked with and the facility itself. Employer pays well and is relatively flexible.

What I wish was different

We had staffing issues that would have made the summer run more smoothly, and there were a lot of hiccups with our new scheduling software. Upper level management can be slow to respond to feedback, which is frustrating for the hourly employees. Other than that, not much.

Advice

Lifeguarding is a great summer job, and even though it's temporary, take the time to put effort into the job. If anything it's a good reference, and it begins to show your diligence as you apply for careers.

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