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If youve ever wondered how to be a camp host, youve come to the right place. We’ll show you how to look for camp host jobs, when and how to apply, and what makes the job so great.
Erik and Jeanne Anderson are full-time RVers who are about to spend six months as camp hosts on the east coast. We talk to them in Episode 426 of the RV Podcast. Erik, Jeanne, and their cute little Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Hershey pup, have been to all 48 states in their RV. They talk to us about the research that led them to their new job as camp hosts.
But this episode has a lot more than that. It has RV news, your questions and answers about living in an RV, and a lot of links and resources with useful information about camping and RV travel.
If you want to watch the Podcast on video on our YouTube channel for RV lifestyle, click the player below.
In order to listen to the RV Podcast only, you can use your favorite podcast app or click the player below.
So you want to be a camp host and share your passion for the outdoors with others. That’s awesome! But before you can start making campers feel at home in the great outdoors, you’ll likely need to ace the interview first.
As a camp host you’ll need to combine strong customer service skills with problem-solving abilities a passion for nature, and enthusiasm for working with people of all ages. During the interview, hiring managers want to see that you have what it takes to create fun and welcoming experiences for campers while maintaining safety and order.
To help you put your best foot forward, I’ve put together this guide covering 23 of the most common camp host interview questions along with tips for crafting winning responses.
Why Do You Want to Be a Camp Host?
This question gets right to the heart of what motivates you and allows you to share your passion for the role. Emphasize your love of the outdoors, desire to welcome and assist campers, and interest in maintaining natural spaces. Share any relevant experience that got you excited about camp hosting as a career.
Example response: As someone who grew up camping and thrives in outdoor environments, I’m deeply passionate about sharing my enthusiasm and ensuring that all campers have positive, memorable experiences. I love rolling up my sleeves and completing hands-on tasks like leading hikes or repairing equipment. Hosting allows me to combine my people skills with my life-long love for nature. My goal is to help create a warm, welcoming environment where campers forge lasting connections.
What Skills or Experience Do You Have Related to This Role?
Use this opportunity to highlight your customer service skills, ability to multi-task, and any pertinent experience or training. Draw connections between your qualifications and the day-to-day responsibilities of a camp host.
Example response: I have over 5 years of customer service experience in roles that required excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks efficiently. I’m also an avid camper myself and am very familiar with campground operations. Previously, I volunteered as a camp counselor leading activities for groups of up to 30 campers. I also hold a current first aid certificate. These experiences have prepared me well for the varied responsibilities of a camp host.
How Would You Handle an Emergency Situation at a Campsite Until Help Arrived?
Camp host duties often involve dealing with unexpected issues and medical emergencies, so examiners want to hear about your emergency preparedness. Discuss how you’d remain calm, follow protocols, administer aid, and communicate effectively.
Example response: In an emergency situation, I would first assess the scenario and the camper’s condition. If needed, I would administer basic first aid based on my training. Once I’ve addressed any immediate threats, I would radio for medical assistance, providing clear details about the camper’s status and our exact location. I would comfort the camper while waiting for the medics to arrive. Throughout the process, I would communicate updates to coworkers and campers to avoid panic.
How Would You Get Campers Excited About an Activity or Camp Program?
Hiring managers want to see your ability to generate enthusiasm amongst campers. Share ideas for incentivizing participation, highlighting benefits, getting campers involved in planning, and leading by example.
Example response: I’m passionate about helping campers get excited about activities. I’d promote team spirit and involvement through contests related to the event. For example, campers could design posters or banners to show their excitement. I’d also highlight the activity’s benefits and give campers a voice by incorporating their input when planning. Most importantly, I would model enthusiasm in my own participation and encourage campers who may be hesitant. My goal is for them to walk away feeling fulfilled and eager to join the next activity.
How Do You Prioritize Competing Demands in a Busy Camp Environment?
Camp hosts juggle diverse tasks and requests while ensuring campers’ needs come first. Discuss your multitasking abilities, communication skills, and strategies for managing your time and energy efficiently.
Example response: In busy camp environments, my top priority is always the campers’ safety, comfort, and experience. I use tools like schedules and checklists to stay on top of routine tasks like site maintenance and activity prep. For competing requests, I triage based on factors like safety, deadlines, and number of people impacted. Throughout busy periods, I check in with my team frequently, delegate tasks when needed, and make sure campers know I’m available if issues arise. Clear communication and planning ahead help me effectively balance demands.
How Do You Plan to Add Value as a Camp Host?
Demonstrate what makes you stand out by sharing unique experiences and skills you can leverage in the role. Maybe you have foreign language abilities that enable you to connect with diverse campers or carpentry skills to assist with maintenance projects.
Example response: As a camp host, I’ll add value through my experience teaching outdoor education. I’m passionate about helping campers learn more about ecology, wildlife, and environmental stewardship while having fun. I could lead engaging activities like bird-watching hikes or nature scavenger hunts. Since I’m fluent in Spanish, I also hope to make camp experiences more accessible to non-English speaking families. My goal is to help campers gain new perspectives and skills during their time at camp.
How Do You Plan Educational or Fun Activities That Are Age-Appropriate?
Share strategies for researching age-specific guidelines, consulting other staff, incorporating camper feedback, and setting kids up for success. Demonstrate understanding of child development.
Example response: I take an iterative approach to planning age-appropriate activities. First, I research developmental guidelines and best practices for the target age group. Next, I consult experienced staff to incorporate their insights. Before finalizing plans, I also test activities with a smaller group to observe their capabilities and engagement first-hand. During activities, I adapt in real-time based on campers’ responses and feedback. My goal is to create experiences that are engaging yet achievable for each age group.
What Safety Measures Would You Take During Activities at the Camp?
Highlight your understanding of risk assessment, emergency protocols, protective equipment, staff training, and hazard mitigation related to camp activities. Show you prioritize safety.
Example response: Keeping campers safe during activities is my number one priority. For every activity, I would start by thoroughly assessing potential risks and establishing appropriate safety protocols and guidelines, including the use of protective gear. I will also ensure activity leaders are trained in first aid and emergency response. During activities, I will actively supervise campers to identify any emerging hazards or unsafe behaviors immediately. And I will continually reinforce safety rules and procedures to create a culture of risk awareness and injury prevention.
How Do You Handle Discipline Issues That May Arise Among Campers?
Share your conflict resolution approach focused on understanding all sides, guiding campers to find solutions collaboratively, and reinforcing positive behaviors. Demonstrate patience and communication skills.
Example response: My discipline approach with campers focuses on open communication, empathy and teaching conflict resolution skills. If an issue arises, I first have private conversations with each child involved to understand their perspective. Then I facilitate a discussion where they can express their feelings and work together towards compromise solutions, with my guidance. While consequences for negative behavior may be warranted, I place more emphasis on praising campers when they demonstrate cooperation, kindness or responsibility and using those examples to reinforce positive conduct.
How Do You Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Among Campers and Staff?
Highlight training you’ve received related to DEI, your commitment to accommodating needs, and strategies for fostering an accepting environment through open dialogue and educating campers.
Example response: Fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive community is extremely important to me. I stay educated on best practices related to DEI and disability/accessibility awareness through regular training. I work to promote understanding and combat discrimination through open discussions, teaching moments and leading by example. During activities, I emphasize communication, empathy and cooperation between campers from all backgrounds. My goal is for each camper and staff member to feel welcomed, valued and able to fully participate.
How Do You Maintain Professional Boundaries With Minors as a Camp Staffer?
Demonstrate your understanding of appropriate conduct when supervising children, such as having co-leaders present and avoiding private calls/messages with campers. Discuss mandated reporting duties. State your commitment to camper safety.
Example response: I understand it is critical for camp staff to maintain professional boundaries with minors at all times. I only interact with campers in public spaces in the presence of others. I avoid any communication with campers outside of camp. I also complete all required youth protection and mandated reporter training prior to working. Any suspicions of misconduct by other staff or campers are reported promptly to senior staff. I am committed to providing the safest environment for every camper.
How Do You Proactively Address Homesickness Among Campers?
Share techniques for detecting signs of homesickness, providing empathy and distractions for campers, involving them in activities to build community, and effectively communicating with parents.
Example response:
The camp host application process was all online
Erik Anderson:
I think most of the application processes these days are online. And in fact, for Delaware State Parks, thats what we were told to do – go online.
We had to submit a separate application for both Jeanne and myself. And it covered a lot of ground, asked a lot of questions, and had some essay questions where we had to write about why we wanted to be camp hosts and why we thought that our qualities would make us good camp hosts and why.
But it was a fairly easy online process.
I think that’s how most people get jobs as camp hosts, since they may live in Florida but want to work as camp hosts in Montana, Colorado, or somewhere similarly remote. And so its typically online like that.
We went to the parks because we were in Delaware visiting our kids and grandchildren and couldn’t pass up the chance.
And that’s one of the things I tell people: if they’re in an area where they might want to host a camp someday or next year, they should really go find the camp hosts, the rangers, and especially the park manager and introduce themselves and try to get to know them. Because everything is computerized these days, you don’t get to talk to people face-to-face very often.
Jeanne Anderson:
The human contact. Yeah.
Erik Anderson:
Plus, I believe it makes you stand out from the others because the park staff can put a name with a face. That could give you an edge.
They researched how to be a camp host
Mike Wendland:
When you did your research, did you talk to other camp hosts? If so, did they tell you what to look for and what to avoid besides things like too much sun and not enough shade?
Jeanne Anderson:
I know that sounds crazy, but yeah.
Erik Anderson:
Yeah, absolutely. Because I think state parks, county parks, COE parks, those are kind of our favorites.
We’ve stayed in a lot of state parks and made it a habit to find the camp hosts and have a short conversation with them to find out how they liked their jobs, how long they’d been doing them, what they liked, and what they didn’t like. We also tried to get advice from all the camp hosts we met across the country. So that was very helpful.
Mike Wendland:
You picked Delaware because it was close to family and youve actually visited the sites. How do I become a camp host? And for people who say, “Hey, I’d like to do that,” walk them through it and give them some tips based on your research and how you did it.
Erik Anderson:
Okay, sure. If you want to start your research, most state and state park websites have a form for volunteers. You can click on a few links to see the volunteer opportunities. That’s a good place to begin.
Then theres some other places too, like volunteer.gov has many listings for camp hosting positions around the country. And theyve got a lot of jobs.
And then we also have a subscription to Workamper News which has paid types of work and camping situations. It also has volunteer camp host opportunities as well. So thats where we got a lot of our initial information.
Jeanne Anderson:
Thats where you can do it online. Like I said, we were lucky. We got a chance to actually visit the parks. Not everybody can do it. So those places are how you can start online.
Camp Hosting Jobs – Things to Know Before Applying
FAQ
What questions are asked at camp keeper interview?
How to answer why do you want to be a camp counselor?
What are camp host interview questions?
Camp host interview questions will focus on your customer service skills, your ability to handle difficult situations, and your experience with the outdoors. You may also be asked questions about your camping and RVing experience. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample camp host interview questions and answers.
What questions should you ask a camp host?
Before you can start your new job, you’ll need to ace an interview. Camp host interview questions will focus on your customer service skills, your ability to handle difficult situations, and your experience with the outdoors. You may also be asked questions about your camping and RVing experience.
What do camp host jobs look like?
Camp host jobs have similar interviews to what many people expect at a typical job. Mostly, they focus on the duties and how comfortable people feel accomplishing each one. There may also be questions on the local area and why RVers want the job. However, there’s always the chance for a curveball question.
What is the best answer for a summer camp interview?
There’s no set ‘best answer’, as it’s all individual. But remember that the kids are at the heart of summer camp. Be honest and don’t be afraid to give as much information as possible. 2. “What’s your work experience like with children/with others?”
