Got any plans for the upcoming Easter and summer breaks from uni? Planning a holiday abroad with your mates perhaps? Or maybe you’ve got a serious Netflix backlog to work your way though?
If, however, you’re looking to earn some much-needed cash and boost your CV at the same time, then why not check out the benefits of working at an activity day camp:
Job opportunities
There is no shortage of opportunities for students to find an activity day camp job in the UK. There are many different activity day camp providers to choose from across the country, and they are big employers of students over the age of 18. Barracudas, for example, has 25 locations offering Easter camps and 37 offering summer camps.
Getting paid
Earning dosh whilst having loads of fun seems a bit too good to be true – add in working with kids, making friends and learning life skills, and you can’t really go wrong!
Gaining confidence
Working alongside self-confident people can make you stronger and grow in confidence, so stepping into a classroom, sports hall or field and finding yourself teaching numerous young people will be no problem.
Management and leadership skills
Activity day camps are full of young leaders who support and inspire each other to help develop their professional skills. You will gain experience leading fun, structured, safe activity sessions – and making sure they are age-appropriate and tailored to the needs of groups or individuals.
You’ll find yourself developing behaviour management skills and using different approaches to deal with young people’s difficulties on a daily basis. These management and leadership skills are priceless and will undoubtedly help career prospects, with previous camp leaders going on to roles in teaching and various management positions.
Communication skills
The more time you spend talking and listening to your colleagues and the children, the better you’ll get at communicating clearly and confidently. Leading a group of children is an effective and simple way to develop your communication skills, fundamental to success in many other aspects of life.
Staying active
There is a range of physical activities throughout the camps, from traditional sporting activities such as football, rounders and badminton to less common activities such as climbing, fencing, motorsports and archery. All are extremely beneficial in keeping both the children and camp employees healthy.
Free training
Another great reason to work at an activity day camp is the free training often provided, such as first aid and various sporting qualifications, which look great any CV.
Working with kids
Probably the most rewarding aspect is working with children of all ages, as no two days are ever the same. Making a difference to a child’s life can sometimes be rather demanding and tough, but the rewards far outweigh any obstacles. The easy going, irrepressible and high-spirited attitudes of the young is infectious and makes for a happy and fun workplace. Enjoying what you do and looking forward to coming into work is a real privilege.
Being a role model
Your work enables you to watch children grow, find confidence and share their successes. As a leader, you can become a role model for a young child, earning their respect and being there to offer support and guidance. It makes a real difference and the children’s parents recognise that, which is why so many children return year after year.
So why not spend Easter and summer making friends, creating memories, earning money and having fun? And if you’re good, there is a very high chance there will be a spot for the next holiday camp waiting for you too.
Karen Baynes is Director of Barracudas Activity Day Camps