10 mo. ago • 96%

I thrive in Summer Camp-style environments. What job/hobby should I do?

When I was a kid I always liked going on Scout camps. I think what I liked specifically was:

It meant spending an extended period of time (whole days, with little break) in the same collective of 20+ people.
I would drift between the various groups there, and would get to know everyone.
The collective would experience new situations every few hours, or even just being bored together when 'nothing' was happening (when waiting for stuff etc.).
(Possibly also the fact that there was an authority above us and we didn't decide things for ourselves..?)

What I liked was how there was a strong feeling of community because we were all experiencing the same thing together. Being around people meant my mind was continuously in the present. For these reasons I feel that this is the environment I thrive in the most.

Unfortunately this would only ever happen once or twice a year, and since I am 20 I wanted to ask if anyone can think of any job descriptions where this happens.

The first thing I thought of is working on a submarine but I was hoping for something a bit less radical. I thought this might be the experience in university dorms but it turns out that in my country dorms are pretty dead because with the exception of cooking, people stay in their rooms.

65 comments

Why not work as a camp counselor?

40
- Seems like this is the most obvious answer
  
  10
Tour guide for multi-week guided vacations. Find a company that needs tour guides that speak your language and see if you can get a job there.

37
- Woah that's a great idea! Thanks I would have never thought of that
  
  3
  
  :) let me know if it works out and I'll book a vacation if I can
  
  2
Working on the ren fair circuit is exactly what you’re describing. You’re there for a week or a month depending on the ren fair, with the same group of people almost always in warmer weather because ren fairs are no fun when they’re cold. And depending on the job you get, you get to heckle paying customers.

15
Production/stage hand at events fits up this alley!

15
The first thing I thought of is working on a submarine

That is also something I've had some interest in, but besides military (I don't want to be involved with it in any way), I don't think there are that many submarines out there.

15
- One fewer than there used to be, certainly.
  
  18
  
  Did the front fall off?
  
  4
  
  yeah I wouldn't recommend working on that particular one.
  
  2
- Well you can't be certain how many submarines are out there unless you have sonar and depth chargers
  
  3
Old folks home.

Like my grandma has different events everyday and bond with the long term staff.

12
- Ooh yes, that must have a similar community feel. Something to look forward to I guess...
  
  3
  
  A good old folks home at least.
  
  At my grandma's (new) home she has her own apartment in the building, gets cleaning once a week, different events happen all during the day, then they have different options for each meal. Where she can either go down stairs to their little restaurant or have it delivered.
  
  Hers is rather nice and the food is actually cooked to order, has 3 courses, and you pick 3 or so options that change each day and it actually feels like a nice restaurant since the staff take orders, deliver food, bring aroumd drinks, the like.
  
  There is a stark difference between an independent living one like this and one where the staff are required to do showers/change briefs.
  
  So if you look into it, make sure the level of care is what you like and they actually have a budget to take good care of their residents.
  
  Some are understaffed and mismanaged to where the staff never have time/budget for activities and the food is basically just microwave dinners. My grandma was at one like that for far too long and she will never forgive how crappy the food was.
  
  Nice Independent living facilities are the most camp counselor like job I can think of.
  
  1
Consider jobs involving fieldwork. There are all sorts of jobs that involve a team in a remote / isolated location, and some tend to pay pretty well because most people aren't up for that sort of lifestyle. For example my father was a geologist and could spend months at a time with a team in remote locations, conducting surveys and taking samples.

12
- Ah this is a good generalisation. Yes I was thinking that people in remote places must have an environment like this
  
  1
Treeplanting might be up your alley. Doing the actual job is pretty solitary, you'll see your tree-runner a few times a day, you might have a planting buddy, and the boss might come around once or twice to check your trees.

But outside of the work day, it's very much the camp environment you describe.

10
You could start as a ranch hand, especially if you know how to ride. You can work on both a regular ranch or on a "resort ranch" that focuses on tourism. You just have to find a ranch that has around that 20ish employees.

But then it would fit all of your points. You are spending your whole day with the same group of people.

Drifting between groups will depend a bit on your exact duties but no matter what you are going to get to know everyone and work with others occasionally.

New things are constantly coming up to do. Your duties also change with the season. And even if there is "nothing" to do you will still hang out with the other farm hands.

You have that authority over you in form of the ranch manager/owner.

Pay isn't great but it might come with free lodging, then it isn't that bad.

10
- I can't ride but I love the original idea!
  
  1
- This comment reminded me of the Francis arc in Malcolm in the Middle. He starts out at a conservative military prep school, hates it, drops out to go work as a logger in Alaska, hates it, and eventually ends up as a resort ranch hand in the southwest and realizes it's his true calling.
  
  1
Maybe get into the movie industry. It is a little more long term, they are projects that last several months, but it might be a good environment.

8
- I worked in the industry full time for over a decade (movies, commercials, corporate shoots, you name it) AMA lol
  
  2
  
  What's your favorite memory of working in that field?
  
  2
  
  Do your feet get used to standing around all day? (Actually, what was your job in particular?)
  
  1
- Oh yea, being an extra must be like this
  
  1
  
  There are other jobs too, like camera operators, set design, costume work, writing, etc. The industry is pretty diverse. Lots of union work too, so that's a bonus.
  
  1
I work in construction and when I was younger and single I did a couple years ago a remote work site; two weeks on and one week off rotations. We all stayed in the company provided camp while there. Definitely formed some strong friendships with my coworkers while there and made/saved a ton of money. It was an interesting experience.

I was a field engineer but jobs in the trades are always in high demand pretty much everywhere.

8
Strongly encourage you to find work in a conservation corps or similar organization if they exist in your country and you are able to do manual labor. You would be on a crew of 6-15 people usually living out at a field site for 1-2 weeks at a time, cooking and living and working together to improve the natural environment or recreation infrastructure. Hard rewarding work, good peaceful downtime. Great chance to read a lot of books too since you will be away from computers and modernity.

7
Minimum security prisons aren't all that different than being at summer camp (so I've heard).

edit:

The first thing I thought of is working on a submarine but I was hoping for something a bit less radical. I thought this might be the experience in university dorms but it turns out that in my country dorms are pretty dead because with the exception of cooking, people stay in their rooms.

I've worked on both submarines and at summer camps. I can assure you, they are not similar at all (apart from comradery/ being a part of something).

7
Look for a book called 'Discover What You Are Best At' by Linda Gail.

First half of the book is a series of self administered tests you can knock off in half a day. The second part is a list of jobs that use those skills.

It pointed me at a job I'd never considered, but turned out to be a great fit.

6
- Ooh that sounds useful, will check it out
  
  3
  
  Enjoy!
  
  1
Military?

5
Event planning. Events. Coordinating. Catering.

5
- Seconding catering and banquets.
  
  1
  
  How large are the catering teams? I was expecting them to be quite small
  
  2
I found working at a ski-resort and living in staff accommodation to be a bit like this, although there can definitely be a bit more of a "party" attitude, which might be a positive or a negative depending on what you're looking for.

4
Search Google for Kwajalein Jobs. It's an Atoll in the Marshall Islands that hosts a US military installation, however there is no need to be in the military to work there. I do work there as a contractor for a week every year or two and it sure reminds me of the summer camp I used to work at.

4
Park ranger?

4
You're a burner.

4
- My first thought.
  
  1
Working for the parks, I have a neighbor who stays home a few days and packs up his truck with a camper and heads off to different national parks for weeks at a time

3
I don't know any in particular but I relate to this a lot and commenting to see the other responses that come in

2
Opportunities abound abroad, China if you want to go Asia, most places in Europe. They're a bit like English cram courses in China so maybe ESL or STEM.

2
Hotshot firefighting? Assistant river guide someplace like the Colorado? National Park Ranger?

2
I mean, you could literally work at a summer camp. Otherwise the only things I can think of that fit your descriptors is potentially field research, or maybe working for a company that follows festivals.

2
Public service might be your stick. Firefighter/medic is almost exactly your experience with the new situations every few hours, downtime, having a strong sense of community. Police have a similar feel, if you're in a more rural area. You'll never have the same situation twice, even if things are similar, and you'll almost always have a partner (or more, depending on if the whole truck shows up with the box) to depend on.

2
I lived and worked in a travelers hostel for two years, and it was basically just adult summer camp. Bonus: usually you work for your room so there's technically no rent. There's a lot of partying, and it can be too much at times, but it certainly has that vibe you described.

2
- Mmh yes, I came across some worldpackers last summer. Definitely something I plan tk do :-)
  
  1
I think you should consider being a seaman, or maybe an oil derrick worker. It seems like the less extreme version of submariner

2
My first thought was working at a startup.

2
Small team vibes with a lot of downtime and always doing something new? This is probably not what you had in mind, but have you considered research in a university? Graduate school, basically. Academia research is basically exactly what you described, but the downside is, well, you have to be a graduate student. It's not for everyone, but if you're able to weather the suffering that comes from being a grad student, I think you'll find that the vibe is exactly what you described.

1
Land surveying would be my recommendation. Jobs can be all over and as someone living in BC, my days of fieldwork could be absolutely spectacular sometimes. You also tend to jump around in worksites and with the right firm, travelling is definitely possible.

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- Isn't that solitary?
  
  2
  
  Most of the time it’s groups of 2 (unless we’re talking about municipal development, which is a different beast altogether, I’m thinking firms that do lots of out-of-town work), but often you can be in camps as support. Frequently, there will be a team working a big project on rotation, so lots of opportunity for shared experiences.
  
  Admittedly, my experience in rugged coastal mountains isn’t going to be the same as those that are working in dense urban environments. I assume because OP is talking about camps that they live in a place that offers reasonably close proximity to wilderness.
  
  Also, you have to have a fairly high interest in math and the outdoors to stick with the profession.
  
  2
Yeah, the armed forces. But maybe don't.

1
My friends and I do weekend wilderness trips. Usually backpacking but sometimes paddling canoes and kayaks. Groups bigger than 8 can be impractical though. Before trips we have a "pow wow" and decide who's responsible for food & gear so it's a collaborative effort prior to the trip. Everyone is responsible for their own personal stuff but it a common goal group effort. It's cooperative but can be competitive. FYI a padding trip is cheaper than backpacking for starting out

1
Event planning?

1
I think North Korea and Siberia have labor camps that provide free room and board. The pay is shit, tho.

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