New and returning camp staff were surveyed about the difficulty of camp-specific skills and knowledge and their own abilities. A summer-camp training inventory of 24 camp-specific skills and knowledge statements was administered to a total of 702 new and returning staff at eight camps on the first and last day of pre-season training sessions and after 1 month on the job. Analysis of responses of 211 staff, who completed all three administrations, found that returning staff reported consistent perceptions of difficulty, while new staff reported increases over time and converged with returning staff after 1 month on the job. New staff reported an increase in perceptions of dangerous places in camp from the first to the last day of training, while returning staff reported a decrease. In dealing with homesick children, both new and returning staff reported no change in perceptions of difficulty from first to last training day, but an increase was reported after 1 month. New staff rated knowing locations of buildings to be more difficult than returning staff. For redirecting behavior, paperwork, and dealing with homesickness, new staff reported higher difficulty scores. In terms of ability, both new and returning staff reported increases throughout the summer; returning staff started with a higher self-perception of ability than new staff, but convergence occurred after 1 month. Applications to staff training are discussed. (TD)