Why Work With Us
Spend a summer discovering your potential while making a difference in the lives of students.
Plus, you’ll travel to some fantastic cities and participate in many fun activities and opportunities. Our staff members work hard, but they also know how to laugh and have fun while providing an enriching experience for our students!
Meet New People
Friendships are a big part of what make staff return year after year. You are spending your summer with a diverse group of staff from all over the country and you will learn how to not only work together but live together. Bonus: you’ll also have endless places to visit new friends once summer ends.
Expand Horizons and Personal Growth
Every day is a learning experience. You will spend the summer in a new environment and embrace new opportunities. You will continue to learn and grow throughout the summer. You will get out of your comfort zone, and find out things you never knew about yourself. On top of the memories you'll make, you'll have a better sense of purpose, and maybe even discover what you want to do in the future.
Build Your Resume
Your resume will have a lot of activities and experiences that make you a great candidate for future employment, but working as a resident counselor may be one with the most responsibilities. As an RC, you will develop professional skill sets such as leadership, problem solving, conflict resolution, teamwork, and responsibility. It says you can both lead and be a team player. Hiring managers across all different industries seek out these skills when looking for candidates to join their organization. Being an RC will be a position that will stick with you throughout your career.
Be a Mentor
When our students head home, you'll realize just how close you’ve become. You've been their mentor, guiding them through one of the most important summers of their lives. You’ll help teach skills of independence and good decision making. You may help them choose a college, a major or teach them how to do laundry! Being able to connect with middle school and high school students as a resident counselor is one of the most rewarding experiences you will have. Summer Discovery is a place you can make a positive mark on a young person's life.
Experience the Summer Discovery Difference
Summer Discovery has a reputation for fun, educational, well-operated programs. Founded in 1966 by the Musiker Family as Musiker Student Tours, our company has been family owned and operated for more than 40 years. Our first pre-college program began at UCLA in the mid-1980’s, and now consists of collaborative partnerships with 14 prestigious universities. We provide the most positive pre-college experience for high school and middle school students.
Summer Discovery Fellows Program
Summer Discovery Fellows is a virtual professional development opportunity that provides innovative learning, engagement, reflection, and networking customized for professionals interested in deepening their understanding of careers in residential and online youth development, higher education, pre-college, and academic enrichment programs.
SD Fellows begin by constructing a professional development plan that is congruent with the participant’s competencies, career goals, and future aspirations. Then participate in curated virtual and interactive modules, both live and on-demand, with access to networking spaces, and more. Fellows demonstrate learning through reflection journals.
SD Fellows can expect to dedicate 15-20 hours between June-August. At the end of the experience, fellows that successfully complete the program will receive digital badges and overall digital certificate for use on LinkedIn, professional websites, and resumes.
Learning Pathways
- Professionalism
- Human Development Models
- Social and Emotional Learning in Practice
- Community Building