For the majority of jobs available at summer camps, you do not need certification. However, for the roles of nurse and lifeguard, you will need to be certified. Nurses need to have their LPN or RN certifications, and lifeguards must be CPR certified. This is for obvious safety reasons.

The need for certification also depends on the size or type of summer camp you are applying to. For example, you may need to be a scout or former scout to work at a scouting camp.