Clarifying Work Values Through Seasonal Employment: An Instrumental Case Study of Summer Camp Employment.

This article examines how seasonal employment, specifically summer camp work, influences emerging adults’ (ages 20–27) clarification of their work values during the transition to adulthood. Using the theory of work adjustment (TWA), which emphasizes person-environment fit between work values and job characteristics, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 76 U.S.-based camp staff to identify work values linked to their camp employment and the employment characteristics shaping these values. Findings indicate that camp employment primarily reinforced social (supportive environment, meaningful coworker relationships, making a difference) and intrinsic (variety, work-life balance, skill development) work values, while extrinsic and status values were not associated with this type of seasonal work. The study suggests that the embedded, dynamic, and socially rich nature of camp employment provides emerging adults with opportunities to discover, affirm, or revise their work values, offering implications for career development research, career counseling, and the intentional design of early-career seasonal jobs.