You’re confident, outdoorsy, and smart. It sounds like you’d make the perfect camp counselor. If you’re ready to join the 98,692 camp counselors across the United States, it’s time to start applying for jobs right now. These energetic professionals have a load of expertise to share and a passion for the wilderness.
So, how can you fit all of that enthusiasm onto a 300-word document? It’s a tough gig. You need to craft a letter that will turn the hiring manager’s head. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. At Resume.io, we have the resources that you need plus 180+ cover letter examples. In the following camp counselor cover letter sample and writing guide, we will be looking at:
- Advice on the best cover letter format for your camp counselor application
- The main paragraphs your camp counselor cover letter should include
- How to boost the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
- What approach and tone you should take when writing your letter
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your librarian cover letter
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Best format for a camp counselor cover letter
If you’re staring at a blank page, stop. You don’t need to write an entirely freeform camp counselor cover letter. Instead, your application letter should include the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
Your camp counselor cover letter needs to convey your passion and enthusiasm. However, that doesn’t mean that it can be a monologue. Using the above structure will help you to create an application letter that hooks the reader. You will use the intro lines to grab the hiring manager’s attention, and then back up your argument in the middle paragraphs.
If you’re looking for some more advice, check out our comprehensive cover letter guide. That will give you the basic information that you need to get started on this part of the process.
Dear Jordan Kim,
I am eager to apply for the Camp Counselor role at Sunnyville Adventure Camp, a role I learned about through your recent advertisement. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Pineville, I am equipped with a deep understanding of child development and am excited to foster a vibrant, supportive, and safe environment for camp attendees.
During my time as a volunteer at Sunnyville Youth Center, I gathered valuable experience in planning and executing educational and recreational activities, always aiming to nurture both individual and community growth. My first aid and CPR certifications ensure that I am prepared to guarantee the wellbeing and safety of all campers.
I am a keen sportsperson and love teaching the camp attendees about the value of teamwork. I have led activities across five different sports and am a qualified youth coach in baseball and football.
What particularly attracts me to your camp is its sterling reputation for promoting personal development and a love for outdoor adventures. I am confident in my ability to contribute positively to your team, leveraging my skills to nurture self-confidence and a sense of community among the camp attendees. We want to send these young people away with smiles on their faces.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my background and passion for youth development can be an asset to the Sunnyville Adventure Camp team.
Best regards, Alex Johnson
Cover letter header
The cover letter header contains your basic information, such as your name, location, and contact details. Missing these details is a recipe for disaster. Should the hiring manager want to contact you, they won’t know where to begin. For that reason, you need to make sure that the information is clear, bold, and easy for them to read.
Cover letter greeting
Camp counselors are friendly and approachable—it’s practically in the job description. However, when you are addressing the hiring manager, it’s safest to take a formal approach. Kicking things off with “Hi” or “Hey” is unlikely to win you any points. In fact, you might end up putting the reader off before they have even read your camp counselor cover letter.
Play it safe by using a traditional greeting. You can go with “Dear Mr. Smith,” for example. If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, don’t panic. You can use the tried and tested “Dear hiring team” or “Dear Camp America team” instead.
Don’t use “To Whom it May Concern”!
Back in your school days, you may have been taught to use this greeting. However, most hiring managers view it as old-fashioned and overly formal. Avoid it at all costs. It’s far more personal to address the hiring manager directly or the entire team.
Cover letter introduction
Now that the formalities are out of the way, it’s time to move onto the introduction. Great first paragraphs start with a “hook”. That is one enticing piece of information that will interest the hiring manager. Before you start writing, consider what yours might be. What do you have that sets you apart from other candidates? You can lead with this interesting point first.
Dear Jordan Kim,
I am eager to apply for the Camp Counselor role at Sunnyville Adventure Camp, a role I learned about through your recent advertisement. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Pineville, I am equipped with a deep understanding of child development and am excited to foster a vibrant, supportive, and safe environment for camp attendees.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle paragraphs of cover letters are where you showcase your real value. Now, you don’t want to copy and paste the information from your resume. Instead, this is your chance to show off your personality and explain why you’re the right candidate for the role. You may touch upon your prior experience, especially if it’s relevant to the camp counselor role. However, in each case, consider what details you can add to highlight your skills here.
During my time as a volunteer at Sunnyville Youth Center, I gathered valuable experience in planning and executing educational and recreational activities, always aiming to nurture both individual and community growth. My first aid and CPR certifications ensure that I am prepared to guarantee the wellbeing and safety of all campers.
I am a keen sportsperson and love teaching the camp attendees about the value of teamwork. I have led activities across five different sports and am a qualified youth coach in baseball and football.
What particularly attracts me to your camp is its sterling reputation for promoting personal development and a love for outdoor adventures. I am confident in my ability to contribute positively to your team, leveraging my skills to nurture self-confidence and a sense of community among the camp attendees. We want to send these young people away with smiles on their faces.
Get the tone on point!
When a hiring manager is seeking a camp counselor, they want an enthusiastic person who has a tone of charisma. With that in mind, you should ensure that your cover letter has oodles of personality. Use engaging language, strong sentences, and rhetoric.
How to close a camp counselor cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Once you’ve written the main part of your camp counselor cover letter, it’s time to sign off. As the hiring manager reaches the end of your letter, their reading pace will naturally slow down. This gives you the chance to make your final plea. End with a call to action—that is a final sentence encouraging the reader to reach out to you. You may suggest that you are excited to speak to them at an interview, or that you have further details to share with them.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my background and passion for youth development can be an asset to the Sunnyville Adventure Camp team.
Best regards, Alex Johnson
Camp counselor cover letter with no experience
Camp counselor roles are often first jobs for youngsters. So, if you don’t have any experience, there’s no need to worry. Use your cover letter as a way of explaining what skills you already have and why you want to join the team. Don’t hide the fact that you’re new to the working world—relish in it. Tell the hiring manager that you’re ready to kickstart your career and learn as you do it. Sharing your unique vision of the future is the way to go.
Basic mistakes in a camp counselor application letter (and how to avoid them)
You’ve written your cover letter, and you’re ready to click “send”. Wait… before you do that, you need to make sure that you haven’t made any obvious errors. Here are some of the common mistakes that you should be avoiding.
- Failing to proofread. If your camp counselor cover letter is packed full of spelling mistakes, you’re unlikely to wow the hiring manager. Take the time to proofread your letter fully before you send it off. You can also use Grammarly to check it.
- Using overly formal language. As we have mentioned, camp counselors need to have friendly personalities. Make that clear by using approachable language.
- Not adding enough detail. It’s all very well and good saying that you have “experience working with young people,” but can you elaborate on that? Be sure to add in enough detail so that the hiring manager is impressed with your application.
Key takeaways
- Camp counselor positions are all about passion, charisma, and personality. Show the hiring manager that you have all of the above in your cover letter.
- Start strong with a massive “hook”. Think about what it is that you bring to the table that many candidates lack.
- Avoid recounting your experience. Save that for your resume. Instead, add some color to your cover letter and expand on what the hiring manager already knows.
- Designing your camp counselor cover letter doesn’t have to be hard. We’ve made it oh-so-easy for you with our field-tested cover letter templates. Check out the selection now and see which of the options suits your next application.
