From Campfire to Classroom...

How Being a Camp Counselor Prepares You for Teaching

Being a summer camp counselor in Texas may just be the best-kept secret for future teachers, and here’s why. Before I ever set foot in a classroom as a teacher, I spent my summers working as a camp counselor. At the time, I didn’t know I wanted to be a teacher—but looking back, those summers at Texas summer camps were some of the best preparation I could have asked for. Teaching and being a camp counselor might seem like two different worlds, but the skills I developed at camp made my transition into the classroom much smoother. If you—or someone you know—is considering a career in education, share this with them! Working as a summer camp counselor could be the best training ground they didn’t know they needed.

The Most Important Skill: Building Relationships and Classroom Management

Speaking from experience, the biggest obstacle for new teachers isn’t mastering content—it’s classroom management. I’ve seen many potentially great teachers, who knew their subjects inside and out and had the potential to be amazing educators, burn out because they didn’t have the necessary skills to manage a classroom.

At camp, I learned that managing a group of kids isn’t just about keeping order; it’s about building relationships, setting clear expectations, and creating an environment where kids feel valued and respected. A well-run cabin group at summer camps in Texas operates just like a well-managed classroom: kids know the rules, feel supported, and are motivated to participate.

Camp gave me firsthand experience in handling challenges—whether it was helping a camper through homesickness, de-escalating conflicts, or keeping a group engaged during a long hike. These moments taught me patience, empathy, and problem-solving, all of which became invaluable tools when I stepped into my first classroom.

Here’s the key takeaway: Managing behavior and building trust in an environment full of kids requires the same approach, whether you’re at camp or in a classroom. And that’s the foundation I built on when I became a teacher.

Lesson Planning and Implementation

At summer camp, I was responsible for planning and leading activities that kept campers engaged, learning, and having fun. Whether it was archery, arts and crafts, or an outdoor survival lesson, I had to think through every step: What materials do I need? How do I keep kids engaged? How do I adjust if things don’t go as planned? These are the same questions teachers ask when designing lessons. Working as a camp counselor at a Camp Rio Vista gave me hands-on experience in breaking down concepts, keeping kids interested, and making learning feel like an adventure.

Motivating and Engaging Students

At camp, kids are active participants in their learning. They’re not sitting at desks all day; they’re exploring, collaborating, and experiencing hands-on learning. That mindset shaped how I approach teaching. I learned how to motivate kids by making lessons interactive and engaging, incorporating movement, and connecting learning to their interests. Whether I was leading a silly song to get campers’ attention or turning a nature walk into a scavenger hunt, I learned how to make learning fun—something every teacher strives to do.

The Best Training Ground for Future Teachers

For anyone considering a career in education, working as a summer camp counselor in Texas is one of the best training experiences out there. It’s a crash course in relationship-building, behavior management, lesson planning, and engaging students. It’s where I first discovered my passion for working with young people, and it gave me the confidence and experience I needed to step into a classroom ready to teach.