American summer camps offer a wide variety of fun and exciting activities for their campers.  With that in mind, they will seek staff who are able to teach those skills to their campers. Common activities include team sports, such as football, soccer etc.; water sports, such as canoeing, sailing; outdoor pursuits, such as zip-lining, climbing; as well as arts and crafts, horseback riding, theater arts, karate, computers and more.  Prospective applicants should be able to speak to those skills they possess and their ability to teach those skills as well as their childcare experience.

For a full list of camp activities, visit our camp counselor participants program information page.

FAQs

What skills do camps look for when hiring counselors?

Camps look for two things: teachable activity skills and the ability to work with children. They want counselors who can confidently lead a specific skill, whether that's a team sport, a water activity, an outdoor pursuit, or an art form, and who can demonstrate childcare experience to go with it. Being able to teach the skill matters as much as doing it yourself.

Which activity skills are most in demand at US summer camps?

US camps run a wide range of programs, so demand is broad. Common activity categories include team sports like soccer and football, water sports like canoeing and sailing, outdoor pursuits like climbing and zip-lining, and creative programs like theater arts, arts and crafts, horseback riding, karate, and computers. If you have expertise in any of these areas, there is likely a camp that needs exactly that skill.

Do I need experience teaching to work as a camp counselor?

Formal teaching qualifications are not required, but camps do expect you to be able to teach your skill, not just perform it. Being able to break down a technique, demonstrate it to kids at different levels, and keep a group engaged is what camps are really evaluating. Any coaching, tutoring, youth work, or instructional experience you have is worth highlighting in your application.

How do I show camps I have the right skills during the application?

Be specific about which skills you have and how you've used them with young people. Camps want applicants who can speak to both their activity proficiency and their childcare experience. Mention coaching roles, sports certificates, arts training, or any youth-facing work. AmeriCamp matches you with a camp that suits your skill set, so the more clearly you describe what you can teach, the better your placement.

Can I get placed at a camp even if I have a niche or unusual skill?

Yes. Because US camps offer such a diverse range of activities, there is real demand for specialist skills that might feel niche at home. Karate, sailing, theater, and computing are all listed alongside mainstream sports as skills camps actively seek. If you can teach it and work with children, a camp somewhere in the US will likely want you.

What is the full list of activities AmeriCamp placements can cover?

AmeriCamp's program information page lists the comprehensive range of activities camps run across placements. The article highlights common categories: team sports, water sports, outdoor pursuits, arts and crafts, horseback riding, theater arts, karate, and computers, but the full catalog is broader. Visit http://americamp.com to see the complete activity list and find out which skills match open camp roles.