In my four years of college, I only had one traditional internship. I made a conscious decision to spend the other three summers working at URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI). In all my job interviews, my camp experiences have consistently been my strongest talking points, and were always received very positively.

Here’s what camp counseling taught me in a way that no office internship could:

– Leadership: Directly responsible for the safety, growth, and development of 12 young lives while simultaneously mentoring junior counselors and collaborating as a senior team member.

– Communication: Learning the art of commanding attention and conveying complex ideas to large audiences of energetic kids and staff.  

– Team Dynamics: Thrived in an intense 24/7 collaborative environment where personal differences had to take a backseat to mission success.

– Emotional Intelligence: When you’re working, with diverse personalities for months straight, you develop emotional intelligence that no office environment can replicate.

– Time Management: Mastered the art of juggling 18-hour days, balancing camper needs, program schedules, and personal wellbeing

– Crisis Management: From consoling homesick campers at midnight to leading during power outages, camp taught me to stay composed when stakes are high.

To all students planning their summers: Don’t underestimate “non traditional” experiences. Corporate internships will always be there, but some skills are best learned outside the office.