Lesson Plan
Summer Career Quest Lesson Plan
Teams complete fun, camp-style quests—covering professionalism, resume crafting, interview challenges, and time-management relays—to earn points and level up career skills.
By gamifying career-readiness, campers stay engaged, collaborate, and build confidence in real-world skills while enjoying a summer camp vibe.
Audience
High School Students
Time
1 hour
Approach
Team quests and rotating stations.
Materials
- Professionalism Bingo Cards, * Resume Template, * Interview Role-Play Cards, * Time Management Worksheet, * Scoreboard & Tokens (printed), and * Timer
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Summer Career Quest Lesson Plan.
- Print and cut Professionalism Bingo Cards.
- Prepare station areas: Resume Station, Interview Station, Time Management Station, Professionalism Station.
- Project or display the scoreboard and ready tokens or stickers.
- Have a timer or stopwatch ready for rotations and final challenge.
Step 1
Kickoff & Team Formation
5 minutes
- Divide students into teams of 3–4; have each pick a team name and color.
- Explain the Career Quest: teams earn points by completing four stations and a final ‘boss’ challenge.
- Show the scoreboard and review station rules and timing.
Step 2
Quest Stations Rotation
35 minutes
- Teams rotate through each station (8 minutes per station + 1-minute transition):
- Station 1: Professionalism Bingo – mark off behaviors (eye contact, firm handshake, polite language) and shout “Bingo!” when you complete a line.
- Station 2: Resume Race – using the Resume Template, fill in a sample profile with provided prompts; first complete earns bonus points.
- Station 3: Interview Challenge – draw an Interview Role-Play Card and role-play; judges (other teams) score clarity, confidence, and body language.
- Station 4: Time Management Relay – sort a shuffled set of tasks into the Eisenhower Matrix on the Time Management Worksheet as quickly and accurately as possible.
Step 3
Final Boss: Elevator Pitch
10 minutes
- Each team crafts a 30-second elevator pitch introducing themselves and highlighting one strength.
- Teams perform live; audience and teacher award points for creativity, professionalism, and delivery.
Step 4
Reflection & Award Ceremony
10 minutes
- Reveal final scores and award fun badges or tokens to winning teams.
- Ask each student to share one new skill they unlocked today.
- Encourage campers to revise their individual resumes, practice pitches at home, and apply time-management tips during the rest of camp.
Activity
Interview Role-Play Cards
Use these cards for peer-to-peer interview practice. One student draws a card, reads the question aloud, and the other responds as a job candidate. After 7 minutes, swap roles.
📇 Card Questions (Click to Expand)
- Tell me about yourself and why you applied for this position.
- What are your greatest strengths, and what is one area you’re working to improve?
- Describe a time you worked on a team. What role did you take, and what was the outcome?
- How do you handle stress or tight deadlines? Give an example.
- Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership. What did you learn?
- How do you stay organized and manage multiple tasks?
- Describe a challenge you faced at school, work, or volunteering, and how you overcame it.
- Why should we hire you for this position?
- Where do you see yourself in five years, and how will this job help you get there?
- Do you have any questions for me about the role or company?
Worksheet
Time Management Worksheet
Use these activities to capture your tasks, prioritize them effectively, and plan your week.
1. Brainstorm Your Tasks
List at least five tasks you need to complete this week (e.g., school assignments, chores, club activities).
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
- ___________________________________________
2. Prioritize with the Eisenhower Matrix
Decide where each task fits. Write your tasks in the appropriate quadrants.
| Urgent & Important | Important, Not Urgent |
|---|---|
| Urgent, Not Important | Not Urgent & Not Important |
|---|---|
3. Weekly Time-Blocking Plan
Pick one task from your Urgent & Important quadrant and schedule a time block this week to work on it.
Task: _______________________________________________
Day & Date: __________________ Time: _______________
Location / Resources Needed:
_______________________________________________
4. Choosing Your Strategy
Below are three time-management techniques. Circle the one you’ll use this week and explain why.
• To-do List
• Prioritization Matrix
• Time Blocking
Why I chose this:
5. Reflection
At the end of the week, reflect on how well you stuck to your plan. What went well? What will you improve next time?
Discussion
Campfire Chat: Career Quest Reflection Discussion
Purpose:
Gather ‘round the campfire to celebrate your Career Quest achievements! Reflect on stations, share stories, and gear up for your next mission with newfound skills.
Campfire Guidelines
- Sit in a circle or semi-circle to see every face.
- One speaker at a time—listen like you’re telling a story by the fire.
- Keep it positive: cheer teammates on and build on each other’s ideas.
- Keep answers friendly and under 2 minutes.
Discussion Prompts
1. Quest Highlights
Which station quest did your team enjoy most—Professionalism Bingo, Resume Race, Interview Challenge, or Time-Management Relay?
What skill did you level up there?
2. Campfire Stories
Share one memorable moment: a proud success or a tricky challenge you overcame during today’s quests.
3. Next Mission Planning
Now that you’ve earned points and badges, what’s one strategy or tip you’ll take into your daily life (camp or beyond)?
Describe how you’ll use it this week.
Follow-Up Sparks
- Who was your MVP (most valuable player) in your team, and why?
- How can your camp counselor or friend support you in your next quest at school?
- What badge or skill do you hope to unlock by next week’s check-in?
Campfire Closing Ritual:
- Give a token or badge to a teammate whose skill impressed you most today.
- Jot down one action in your Time Management Worksheet or resume draft to improve.
- Find a “quest buddy” to check in mid-week and share progress.
Activity
Professionalism Bingo Cards
Use these bingo cards at the Professionalism Station. When you observe or demonstrate a behavior, mark that square. First team to complete a row, column, or diagonal shouts “Bingo!” to earn bonus points.
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye Contact | Strong Handshake | Clear Tone | Punctuality | Teamwork |
| Appropriate Attire | Positive Attitude | FREE SPACE | Good Posture | Thoughtful Questions |
| Active Listening | Initiative | Problem-Solving | Time Management | Empathy |
| Constructive Feedback | Respectfulness | Dependability | Confidence | Adaptability |
| Thank-You Follow-Up | Resume Knowledge | Goal-Oriented | Professional Language | Collaboration |
Activity
Career Quest Passport
Mission: Collect a stamp at each station and reflect on what you’ve learned to earn your Career Quest Certificate!
How to Use Your Passport:
- Complete the challenge at each station.
- Show this page to the station leader for a stamp or sticker in the “Stamp Here” box.
- Jot one quick note on what you learned in the Reflection column.
| Station | Stamp Here | Reflection – What did I learn? |
|---|---|---|
| Professionalism Bingo (Professionalism Bingo Cards) | ☐ | |
| Resume Race (Resume Template) | ☐ | |
| Interview Challenge (Interview Role-Play Cards) | ☐ | |
| Time Management Relay (Time Management Worksheet) | ☐ | |
| Final Boss: Elevator Pitch | ☐ |
Passport Completion Reflection
1. Favorite Quest Station:
______________________________________________
2. New Skill I Unlocked Today:
______________________________________________
3. Action Plan: What is one thing I’ll practice this week to level up further?
______________________________________________
Next Step: Show your completed passport to your camp counselor to earn your Career Quest Certificate and badge! Good luck, Questers!