Camp co-op an ideal fit for first-term work students
By: Namish Modi
Working at a camp provides a unique opportunity for students to live on-site and gain valuable experience for their future.
On the shores of beautiful Lake Rosseau, just east of Georgian Bay, is a picturesque camp where each summer, hundreds of young people make memories that can last a lifetime.
At the youth resort, University of Waterloo co-op students are also making lasting memories while earning valuable experience. According to Theresa Jones, human resources and staff care coordinator at Muskoka Woods, first-work term students are especially great fits at the camp.
We really love having first-year co-op students because they’re often still searching, and they’re very eager. And we can provide a spot for them.
She thinks the camp and first-term students are a perfect match.
First-year students have a fresh outlook and often have not made their mind up about their future, Jones adds.
Muskoka Woods specializes in leadership development programs, summer camps and school trip retreats. They run an overnight camp each summer for kids aged 6 to 16.
Over the 10 years Jones has been with Muskoka Woods, the camp has hired several Waterloo students from a variety of programs. Students have worked in roles like activity leaders, guest relations, marketing and sales, and customer service.
“We’re looking for people who want to have fun, be energetic and (are) willing to serve,” Jones says.
Jeff Hagen (BSc’18), a former Waterloo co-op student, is now employed as a marketing manager at the camp. His first work term as a co-op student was at Muskoka Woods. Hagen gained a lot of confidence in his presentation and communication skills because of his work conducting children’s activities during his co-op work term.
“I think it’s a really unique experience, especially for anyone interested in outdoor education at all,” says Hagen. “It’s a really great foot in the door.”
Now a full-time employee, Hagen works with co-op students himself. He says students from Waterloo are great problem-solvers and exhibit excellent time management skills.
Hiring from a variety of programs
A big part of the appeal of working at the camp is living on site as students live in shared accommodations with other students.
Waterloo co-op students also work in host instructor roles. In this role, they lead various activities for groups of 15-20 campers.
While Jones tries to make sure job postings appeal to students in programs like Recreation and Leisure studies and Therapeutic Recreation, they often hire students from several programs.
“(Muskoka Woods) offers the opportunity to push yourself, whether it’s living away from home for the first time (or) being in a community with people from all over the world,” adds Jones.
“Ultimately, for our students, it’s more than just a job, it’s an experience.“
Working at Camp Brebeuf builds connections, camaraderie for students
Leila Levi, a Waterloo kinesiology student, recently completed her fifth and final work term at Camp Brebeuf. Brebeuf is an adventure camp in Rockwood which offers day, overnight and leadership camps.
Levi began her co-op term as a camp counsellor at Brebeuf. She developed a day camp leadership program while also running the overnight camping program. Through her term, she was also a programmer, which leveraged her interest and skills in outdoor education.
Levi developed strong communication skills through her experience delivering outdoor education components.
In a camp, you really learn what you need for yourself and what you need from others to work in a team. Especially when in an overnight camp setting where you are with these people for 24 hours, five to seven days a week.
“I learned a lot about time management and self-regulation.”
Levi says since students work so closely with each other, and stay on site, there is a lot of camaraderie and connections built outside the workplace as well.
Through her work terms, Levi has worked in various roles from desk jobs to remote throughout COVID. Her term at Brebeuf helped her to realize that she is more of a hands-on person who draws energy from being able to work with people.
“I would say camp is the best place ever. I grew up going to camp, I worked at camp for years before starting university, and there’s nowhere that I feel more at home. The people that you work with are some of the most amazing and enthusiastic people you’ll ever meet.”
“Camp is a place to go because it's just a bunch of people who are trying to have the best time of their lives and learn as much as they can from each other. It is such a supportive group of people. It is really an amazing environment to work in. The feeling that you get from being someone’s first exposure to different types of outdoor education, or different group games, and the joy that you see emanating from all these people is so fulfilling. It's amazing and you learn so many transferable skills.”