Experiencing real jobs

Each year, hundreds of Old Navy stores from California to New Jersey become the setting for one of our most popular programs: Camp Old Navy.

Now entering its twelth year, the program involved 786 Old Navy stores in 2011, representing the majority of the brand’s locations in North America. The event gives youth the chance to go behind the scenes and see what it takes to operate a business. They spend hours rotating through different jobs and tasks, gaining hands-on experience setting up visual displays, price-tagging garments, processing shipments, and greeting customers. Our employees expand on this experience by spending time with participants, talking about their jobs, answering questions, and showing by example what it takes to launch a career. Camp Old Navy is also a way for youth to add real- world experience to their resumes.

More than just fun: an introduction to the world of work

More than 9,000 young people, ages 12-18, participated in Camp Old Navy in 2011. Their response has been so enthusiastic that in coming years, stores are planning to design special elements – such as interview coaching and tutorials in how to fill out online job applications -- for older teens eager to develop more specific job readiness skills relevant to any career that they may pursue in the future.

Some stores already customize the experience for different groups of youth. At one Old Navy store at Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, logistics supervisor and Camp Old Navy Counselor, Anne Marie Trinkleback, set up the event so that youth received “Job Shadow” badges.

Creating Impact

• In 20110, 786 Old Navy stores and nearly 4,500 employees participated in Camp Old Navy.
• Since the program inception, approximately 60,000 youth have experienced the world of work through the program.

Camp Old Navy also benefits our employee volunteers and, in turn, our company. For instance, at some stores, employees who typically don’t get the chance to act as managers are given responsibility for a portion of the event, thereby gaining valuable professional experience. And participating in Camp Old Navy enhances team-building among store employees, as well as engagement with Gap Inc. and in the community.

“It’s an honor to be able to support our underserved youth. It’s Old Navy, it’s our people and it’s our way of life,” said Rita Collins, store manager at an Old Navy in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“This annual program is one our Club teens look forward to every year,” said Beth Fenger, of Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). “It helps to reinforce what young people learn in CareerLaunch, BGCA's job readiness program that has been sponsored by Gap Foundation for over ten years."

Next program in action

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