6 great things you’ll get to experience as a summer activity leader

The participants at Oxford’s leading summer schools truly have the time of their lives. From excursions to some brilliant sites around the UK, to debates in prestigious surroundings, to talent shows and international evenings, they have a wealth of extracurricular activities to enjoy. And, with a summer job as an activity leader or counsellor, you’ll get to enjoy them too! Read on for 6 awesome things you’ll get to experience as a summer school activity leader this year.

As an activity leader or counsellor at one of Oxford’s leading summer schools, you’ll have one over-riding priority in your job description.

That will be to make sure that all participants are happy, supported and getting the most out of their visit to the city academically, culturally and socially.

As you do this, you too will get the opportunity to organise and experience so many awesome trips, tours, visits, debates, events and more. They’re designed for the students, but just because you’re getting paid to be there, it doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to have fun as well!

In this week’s short read, we’ve summarised 6 of our favourite things that you could get to experience with an Oxford summer job this year.

1. Taking part in and running ice-breaker activities

In the grand scheme of things, two weeks isn’t a long time.

And, if students are going to get the most from the social side of their summer school, they need to get to know their fellow participants – and they need someone to help them break down those barriers quickly on day one.

Enter the activity leader! You’ll be able to create your own ice-breaker games on the spot – or fall back to some classic activities that are proven to get people laughing, learning about each other, and having fun.

In no time at all, you’ll have taken a group of students who’ve only just met each other, and who are nervously making small talk, and turn them into a friendship group that will continue to grow and blossom over the course of their time in Oxford and even beyond the end of their Oxford summer school.

And as well as being enjoyable, that’s pretty fulfilling knowing you’ve made a difference on day one, and set them on course for an awesome time in Oxford. What more could you want from an Oxford summer job?

2. Facilitating extracurricular activities

Participants at the leading Oxford summer schools are promised a packed extracurricular timetable designed to keep them active and provide a well-rounded stay in the city.

And, because they are attended by such a diverse range of students, the activities you’ll be tasked with putting on for them will need to be varied, too – encompassing debates, informal games in the parks, competitive sports between different houses or accommodation blocks, arts and craft activities, visits to the Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers, theatre trips, and so much more!

Although you’ll of course have responsibility for running, and in some cases organising, these events – that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to enjoy them, too. And with such variety on offer, you’ve got a real chance of picking up a new passion, and learning a few things about Oxford that you didn’t know before.

And a special shout, of course, for punting. This is something all students will want to try, and what better way to spend a sunny afternoon in Oxford than in a boat, on the river, and getting paid to be there! Idyllic!

3. Assisting with the academic delivery of the summer school

The leading Oxford summer schools wouldn’t exist if they didn’t deliver academic benefit and inspiration for their participants.

Each of the summer schools offers a range of courses, with many designed to give their students something an immersion in a subject or two, to the level they wouldn’t experience in their regular schooling.

This often features dedicated academic-themed trips, excursions or lab sessions, which activity leaders and counsellors will often be called upon to join to help with student supervision and assist the teaching staff.

Also on the academic side, activity leaders could also be asked to assist in the classroom, or with breakout groups or group project facilitation.

Finally, in the event of a teacher illness, activity leaders with the right subject background could be asked to volunteer to cover the lesson, and give students the benefit of their experience in the classroom.

So, if you’re thinking of potentially going into teaching or a role in education in the future, all of the above would provide you with fantastic insight and experience into what that might be like – which will help you decide if it’s something to pursue, and give you something to discuss at interviews in the future.

4. Visiting top UK attractions

As part of the packed extracurricular timetable mentioned above, many Oxford summer schools run excursions to top UK attractions, to make sure their students get to see as much of the country and it’s culture as possible.

In particular, a huge proportion of the students attending from overseas will want to spend some time in London – so sites like the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London could well be ones that you get to accompany students to this summer.

More locally to Oxford, you may find yourself facilitating an excursion to the World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace, which has incredible grounds for a sunny day, and amazing interior tours for if the summer weather isn’t doing you a favour.

So, although you’ll be working at the time, you’ll get to experience some of the UK’s best tourist attractions, whilst being paid to do so and with a free ticket and transport to boot. Tick, tick, tick!

5. Listening to the perspectives and stories of your students

A slightly different angle on this one.

Over the course of the summer, you’ll get to know the cohorts of students you’re looking after really well.

Each group will be a unique blend of nationalities and personalities that will be full of different cultural perspectives and stories from home.

And you’ll have plenty of opportunity to listen to those stories – whether formally as part of a debate, or informally over dinner in the college dining hall.

The leading summer schools all welcome students from at least 50 countries to their campuses in the summer. There aren’t many opportunities to be in such an internationally diverse environment as that and, even though the students will be younger than you, we’d still see it as a fantastic opportunity to heighten your global awareness.

6. Working as part of a dedicated team

And finally, perhaps the best thing about an Oxford summer job as a counsellor or activity leader is the team you work alongside, and making a whole new circle of friends that you otherwise wouldn’t have met.

As you help each other through the course of a busy summer, you’ll establish your own connections that could last a lifetime, just as your students are doing the same.

You’ll take away a brand new group of friends, united by experiences shared whilst on shift and in Oxford’s parks and pubs on your days off.

And you’ll be able to look back together with fondness at all of the things you did and achieved together during your brilliant summer job in Oxford!

In summary

An Oxford summer job as an activity leader, counsellor or other pastoral team member will mean you’re with the students every step of the way.

From helping supervise field trips, to excursions, to theatre trips and painting workshops, you’ll have your own chance to try your hand – all whilst taking on the responsibility for making sure the students are having fun!

We think it’s up there with the best jobs in the world – and in the best city in the world, too.

Oxford Summer Jobs

If you’d like some assistance in finding an Oxford summer job, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can sign up for our updates using the form on our dedicated Activity Leader Jobs page, or you can follow us on Instagram @oxfordsummerjobs. We’d be delighted to hear from you!