COUNSELORS OF SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS – BETWEEN EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY
COUNSELORS OF SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS – BETWEEN EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY

Summary/Abstract: Counselors play a key role in fostering positive behaviors and organizing leisure activities, andthey should have the required experience and knowledge for working with minors. Therefore, thisstudy was undertaken to identify counselors’ motives for working at summer camps, and to elicitcounselors’ opinions about their profession and work environment.The study involved a survey of 175 summer camp counselors. The vast majority of the partici-pants (86%) were women; 34% were professionally active teachers, and 23% were Polish Scoutsinstructors. The results of the survey were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, and Pear-son’s chi-squared test of independence.88% of the respondents took summer camp jobs because they enjoyed working with children.Remuneration was a critical factor in the choice of specific job offers (42%), but 70% were notsatisfied with the offered wages; 91% of the respondents had completed training courses for campcounselors, but 66% were of the opinion that training does not adequately prepare counselors forthe job.Training courses do not thoroughly prepare counselors for working with underage campers.Therefore, obligatory training or internship opportunities for entry-level camp counselors shouldbe considered. Counseling work is a demanding profession, but the offered wages are not propor-tional to camp counselor’s duties and responsibilities.

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