Next summer is shaping up to be a season full of potential for your campers, your programs, and your team. The camp staff recruiting landscape has evolved. Rethink how you connect with the incredible people who bring your camp experience to life.
Today’s hiring market is different, yes, but different can be exciting. Camps that embrace fresh approaches are discovering new ways to attract enthusiastic, talented staff members who thrive in the unique world of camp life. And the best part? You don’t need complicated tools or corporate-level recruiting budgets. You just need the right strategies to meet the next generation where they are.
The New Recruitment Playbook
Your primary talent pool for next season is Generation Z. This group grew up entirely in a digital world. According to recent demographic studies, this generation expects a digital-first experience in everything they do, including job searches (McCrindle, 2024).
These candidates are looking for meaningful work in places they already spend their time, on social media, through mobile-friendly applications, and in communities that reflect their values. Camps have an incredible advantage here: you offer work that’s rewarding, adventurous, and memorable. The key is simply showing it.
Meeting Your Future Counselors Where They Are
TikTok: Be authentic about your Camp
Nearly 40% of Gen Z use TikTok as a search engine, including for jobs (Recruiting Daily). They trust the authentic, unpolished content they find there.
Here’s how to use it:
- “Day-in-the-Life” Videos: Ask a current counselor to film a typical day on their phone. The genuine chaos of color war or quiet calm of campfire stories is more powerful than any polished ad.
- Behind-the-Scenes Moments: Capture your team during staff meetings, prepping for all-camp events, or laughing together in the dining hall. These real moments build emotional connections.
- Quick Staff Testimonials: Ask returning counselors to share 30-second stories about why they love working at your camp. Keep it casual and unscripted.
You don’t need a professional videographer, and (thankfully) you don’t have to dance (unless you want to). But your phone and your team’s genuine enthusiasm are your most powerful assets.
Instagram: Your Camp in Pictures
Instagram is perfect for building a visual identity around your camp culture. Show potential applicants what makes your camp a special place to work.
- Use Stories and Reels: Share quick updates, staff spotlights, and interactive polls. Ask engaging questions like “What was your favorite camp song?” to start conversations.
- Create “Meet the Team” Posts: Feature returning staff with fun photos and short bios. This helps applicants see the real people they’d work with.
- Tag Locations: When you post, tag your camp’s location and nearby towns or universities. This reaches local candidates looking for summer jobs close to home.
LinkedIn: Professional Growth Opportunities
While TikTok and Instagram work great for counselors, LinkedIn remains the best platform for recruiting leadership staff, specialists, and returning staff building careers. Share stories about career growth, professional development opportunities, and valuable skills staff gain at camp.
Turning Staff Into Ambassadors
Your current staff members are your most credible advocates. Their authentic stories and genuine enthusiasm are more persuasive than any job description you could write.
According to the American Camp Association, empowering your staff to share their experiences is a powerful way to attract like-minded candidates (ACA, 2023).
- Empower Your Team: Identify staff who love sharing their camp life online. Give them the green light to post and trust them to be authentic ambassadors.
- Provide Easy-to-Share Content: Create a shared folder of great photos and videos from summer that staff can easily post to their accounts.
- Show Appreciation: Offer referral bonuses, exclusive camp merchandise, or public shout-outs for staff who help bring new team members on board.
When a friend tells another friend about their amazing summer job, that recommendation cuts through noise. It’s built on trust and is your most powerful recruiting tool.
Make Your Website a Welcoming Front Door
When potential applicants hear about your camp, they visit your website first. Your careers page needs to be more than a list of open positions. It’s your first real chance to make a great impression.
- Think Mobile-First: Most applicants visit on their phones. Is your careers page easy to read and navigate on a small screen? Does it load quickly?
- Lead with the “Why”: Don’t just list job duties. Explain what makes working at your camp life-changing. Talk about skills they’ll build, friendships they’ll make, and impact they’ll have.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Replace generic stock photos with real pictures and videos of your actual staff having fun and doing their jobs.
Make Applying Simple and Painless
You can do everything right, but if your application is long, clunky, and difficult to complete on a phone, you’ll lose great candidates. Every extra click is a reason for someone to apply elsewhere.
- Keep it Short: Only ask for information you absolutely need in the initial application. Gather more details later.
- Automate Confirmation: Send immediate confirmation emails when someone applies. Silence creates doubt.
- Set Clear Expectations: Tell candidates your hiring process timeline. Clarity builds trust.
A unified camp management system can streamline this process. Platforms like UltraCamp allow you to create simple, custom online applications where all applicant data flows into one organized system. You can track candidates, schedule interviews, and manage digital paperwork without juggling spreadsheets and email chains.
Camp staff recruiting is an opportunity to connect with a new generation of passionate, talented staff. By meeting them where they are and building genuine relationships, you can build a team that will make this summer your best one yet.
More tips on this blog.
