Sailing - Being a sailing counsellor on Summer Camp USA combines the responsibilities of teaching on the water and being a camp counsellor. It is a fun and rewarding, yet challenging way to spend the summer in the great American outdoors while teaching a sport you love and at the same time enhancing your skills!

Programmes vary greatly from camp to camp and so you could be working with several other sailing counsellors, or perhaps with just one or two others. Either way, you’ll be expected to adhere to basic programme guidelines which aim to teach and improve campers’ skills and proficiency in sailing. You will probably work with children of a similar age or skill-level in scheduled hour-long lessons.

Sailing at camps

Sailing at camp can be anything from teaching basic skills in the shallows of the camp lake, to teaching more advanced sailors on larger lakes or the ocean. Your role as a sailing instructor will be to develop and enhance children’s confidence, skill and proficiency in sailing over the summer. The children may be absolute beginners or have a lot of sailing experience, so a broad knowledge and plenty of patience are important. Your responsibilities may also include the maintenance and upkeep of the camp’s sailing equipment.

What are the facilities and accommodation like?

Sailing equipment at camp can range from a couple of small one or two man boats such as Sunfishes, Hunters or Lasers, to more advanced racing boats, to four-man catamarans, e.g. Hobiecats. When not teaching sailing, you will be based at camp and will be involved in general camp activities and responsibilities. You will live in a bunk with children and other staff members during the summer and be responsible for the campers and their needs. You will be expected to be a good role model and to create a safe and fun environment for the campers.

What are camps looking for?

Being a sailing instructor can be a tiring job and you could be working for several hours a day, often in high temperatures, so stamina is very important! You should also have a fun and enthusiastic approach to sailing and working with children while maintaining a safe and professional approach at all times. You’ll also need to be hard-working, patient and confident in teaching the principles of sailing and be happy working with kids at any level.

What experience or qualifications are required?

Camps are looking for staff members who have worked in a similar role and/or have great personal experience of sailing. Therefore, previous experience working with children in a supervisory role and a high level of personal skill in sailing is essential for a strong application.

Awards that strengthen an application include those which are part of the RYA sailing scheme. Lifeguard qualifications (RLSS, NPLQ etc) are often also required. Waterfront staff are generally asked to arrive early at camp in order to undergo special training.

What next?