Natl Mentoring Month: Work at a Maine Camp

At Maine Camps, every day is about helping kids grow, while having the time of their lives. That’s why National Mentoring Month, celebrated every January, is especially meaningful to us. We’re highlighting the powerful impact mentoring relationships have on young people. If you’ve ever wondered whether being a camp counselor really makes a difference: it absolutely does.

Camp Counselors Are Mentors

As a camp counselor, you become someone kids look up to. You’re the person they trust when they try something new, feel homesick, or need encouragement. You help them learn confidence, independence, teamwork, and resilience.

At Maine Camp Experience Camps, mentorship happens by:

• Cheering a camper on during their first swim across the lake
• Helping resolve a cabin disagreement with kindness and patience
• Teaching responsibility through daily routines and group activities
• Modeling what it means to be inclusive, positive, and supportive
• These moments add up. For campers, counselors often become lifelong role models. For counselors, the experience builds skills that last far beyond the summer.

Leadership That Grows With You

One of the greatest benefits of being a camp counselor is the leadership development that comes naturally with the role. You learn how to communicate clearly, solve problems on the fly, and guide a group with confidence — all while keeping things fun. Counselors leave camp with:

• Strong leadership and teamwork skills
• Increased confidence and independence
• Real-world experience managing responsibility
• Stories and skills that stand out on résumés and job applications
• Mentoring others often leads to discovering your own strengths — and many counselors say camp is where they truly found their voice

A Job That Feels Like Summer (Because It Is)

Let’s not forget the perks. Being a counselor isn’t a desk job — it’s a summer spent outdoors, unplugged, and fully present. As a Maine Camp Experience Camp counselor, in addition to earning a paycheck, you get:

• A place to live for the summer
• Daily sunshine, fresh air, and Maine’s beautiful outdoors
• Time away from screens and routines
• A job that feels meaningful, not monotonous Instead of commuting to work, you walk to the lake. Instead of staring at a screen, you’re playing games, leading activities, and laughing with campers.

Friends From All Over the World

One of the most unforgettable parts of camp life is the people. Counselors come from all over the United States — and from countries around the world. In one summer, you’ll build friendships that cross states, cultures, and continents. These connections often last long after camp ends, turning into travel opportunities, reunions, and lifelong friendships. Camp becomes a global community, and you’re part of it.

Mentorship That Changes Lives — Including Yours

National Mentoring Month reminds us that mentorship isn’t just about giving back — it’s about growth on both sides. When you choose to be a camp counselor, you’re choosing to invest in kids during some of their most formative years. You’re also choosing to challenge yourself, step into leadership, and be part of something bigger than a typical summer job.

At Maine Camp Experience, we believe the best summers are built on connection, purpose, and joy. If you’re looking for a role where you can make an impact, grow as a leader, and have the time of your life doing it, camp counseling is more than a job — it’s a mentoring experience that lasts a lifetime.

This National Mentoring Month, we celebrate the counselors who inspire, guide, and uplift the next generation. And if you’re ready to be one of them, we can’t wait to welcome you to Maine. Learn more and apply to 1 or up to 40+ camps at once online here: https://mainecampexperience.com/work-at-camp

Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools: Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks). It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates. Then you can research these camps in more depth. Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.