Growing up, I was never given the opportunity to go to a good ol' straight-out-of-a-Disney-movie summer camp. In the movies, they always showed kids doing lots of fun activities on a lake and in the woods, and they made summer camp look like the equivalent of a super-fun vacation. As a child, I always envied my friends that would go off every summer for weeks at a time and would come back 10 shades darker and with so many new camp friends.
Last summer, I was looking for a job that would get me out of my hometown while also being something that I would enjoy. A friend of mine recommended that I work with him at the camp he went to his entire childhood, and for that, I will be forever grateful. Though I could write a book about all of the reasons I love being a camp counselor, I have cut down my book to a short list.
1. You get paid to get a tan while also having fun.
Being outside all day every day is a guaranteed way to get super dark and what could be better than working with children to ensure they have the most fun possible while at camp??? Exhibit A: a picture of a goat standing on my back (except my camper took the picture and cut out the goat by accident).
2. You get free food and shelter for weeks.
As college students, I think we know better than anyone how expensive food is. Camp food is the equivalent of milk and honey in a period of starvation. Another perk of free food is that while you're at camp you aren't spending any of the money you're making.
3. Kids will always think you're the coolest person to walk the Earth.
Need a confidence boost? Hangout with seven- and eight-year-olds for a week. They'll watch your every move and want to be just like you—even if you're a total dork like I am.
4. You learn good parenting skills without actually having to be a parent.
Nothing teaches you mom skills like a camper waking you up at 2:00 a.m. because her tummy hurts.
5. Good connections for future jobs and greek recruitment.
I had an immediate connection with like 50 girls during recruitment simply because I worked at a camp and was considered to be "a camp girl."
6. You make so many friends that go to other schools and live in other cities.
Hellooooo! Now you have people to stay with when you go to events at other schools!
7. You have an instant bond with anyone you see wearing a t-hirt from your camp.
"Did you go to Camp _____? No way! Me too! I went second term, when did you go??"
8. You get the satisfaction of knowing you were potentially the highlight of a child's summer.
Kids will be excited about coming back to camp from the moment they leave until the minute they return, and it's all because of you.
9. The food is awesome. Really.
When else is it acceptable to eat child friendly foods like PB&Js for every meal?
10. The friendships you make with your campers, and the other counselors, make the experience 100 percent worth it.
My #1 friend on Snapchat is a girl I met at camp, and I text my co-counselor every Monday with a picture of a cute baby. Camp friendships are the type of friendships that will never go away.
So, be a camp counselor, and you won't regret it.I promise.
(Shout-out to my CLH campers and counselors... ATTAWAYTOGO!)
