Camp Taught Me:

For me, this is the end of this blog. I have no more submissions waiting to be posted. Also, I have decided to start moving my life in a direction away from summer camp, at least for a little while. It will forever be a major influence on who I am, but it’s time for me to move on. I will try to answer any remaining or future question asked to this blog, but I think that there will be no more blocks posted. I am so happy with how much joy this blog has brought to the summer camp community and I hope people still search through the archives to share some of their favorite posts in the future, but this is me telling you that I will no longer be committing much time to this blog.

Most of my stories really aren’t super cute since probably about 75% of the time I’m with middle school girls. Most of my stories are about the weird/sassy/funny kids that I’ve worked with. Like when one of our staff members spoke in a Southern accent and couldn’t stop (we still have no clue why) so by the end of the week, all of our staff and girls were talking in Southern accents without meaning to. One of those kids definitely asked me how often I cleaned out my ears.

So general disclaimer: based on your description, our camps are run in very different ways. I’ve never had a group of kids for more than 2 weeks at a time, and I’ve never personally had major issues with my group of kids outside of general annoyances and overly clingy kids.

I might be the worst person to ask about this because I honestly don’t pack too differently as a staff than I did as a camper. I might actually pack lighter because I know how much I can get away without.

I really just go for the basics: clothes (which include a couple options for days off in town), toiletries (full size rather than travel size like campers generally have), shoes (at least 2 pairs), so on. For my backpack, I’ve got a clipboard, plenty of pens/pencils, a book for breaks, a small notebook for notes or planning, and general basics in terms of personal care that are always good to have on hand (period supplies, sunscreen, chapstick, ibuprofen, pocket knife, bandaids for myself and fellow staff but not campers because their stuff has to come out of the first aid kits, etc). I’m not really one for friendship bracelets or letter writing because when I’m with kids, I like to focus on them and not on my own activities and when I’m on break I like to veg out, check my email if I’m somewhere with reception, shower, or nap. A lot of people bring instruments like guitars or ukuleles. Snacks aren’t a bad idea if there is something you really like that you never get up at camp, like a delicious chocolate stash or something. Other people stock up on things for instant program games and songs, like coloring books, string, bandanas or squishy balls, and so on.

It’s an experience that’s hard to put into words, but I’ll try.

First of all, there is absolutely nothing that will prepare you for all of the added responsibilities of being a counselor rather than a CIT. You now have access to the campers’ personal information and such, and you’re actually responsible for their safety and well-being. You’ll get way less sleep than you wish you could. You’ll adore your break periods. But as hard as the job is and as weird as the transition to staff can be for a long-time camper, it’s worth it. You get the insane adoration of your campers (at least some of them, I promise) and knowing that you are making their experience great is the best feeling.

I had a really rough summer overall though. There was definitely a rough start as I figured out what I was actually supposed to be doing in my first couple weeks. Then I got sick and was taken into town to go to the doctor and get meds and such. Then some really major stuff happened that I’m not about to go into. It was seriously intense. But I think I’m better off for having had such a rough first summer. It’s made everything since then seem manageable.

Make sure you have friends and mentors on staff that you trust and can talk to about your problems and about your life outside of camp that might be making you crazy. Keeping each other sane is so important (but try not to gossip, it’s really hard, I know). Talk to your supervisors about how you can improve and give them your feedback as well. That made me such a better counselor, I swear.

Involve yourself in the activities your kids are doing. Get hands-on in arts and crafts, go all out in the pool, be silly and fun and crazy.