Pedagogical potential of the practice of a camp counselor in preparing students for professional activities

The article considers the problem of preparing students of a pedagogical university for educational activities in the conditions of working as a counselor in a country children's health camp or a day camp. Working as a counselor for interns can be considered as a confirmation of the correctness of the student's choice of his future profession. The article presents parts of written works of some students for analysis and illustration (an essay on the topic "My experience of counselor activity"). It is shown that the pedagogical potential of counselor practice for preparing students for professional pedagogical educational activity is unique. Getting to know children in a camp setting gives students the opportunity to see, feel and understand the age and individual psychological characteristics of schoolchildren, learn to show their authority in a group of children, and find an individual approach to each child.