During the summer, as I was searching for a job, I decided I wanted to do something I hadn't done in a while. I'm going to be a Senior in College this upcoming year, so next summer it will be time for a "big kid" job. As I was looking around I saw an opening for a camp counselor. I thought "Why not, It's the last time I'll probably be able to do this!" Being a camp counselor made my summer incredibly fun, and I'm so glad that I did it. Although extremely fun, it also comes with many struggles along the way. Here's 10 struggles that most camp counselors should be able to relate to.
1. Bug Bites
Bug bites are a HUGE struggle when you are working outside with kids for hours. I lost count of how many painful bug bites I actually had. Of course even after lathering yourself with tons of mosquito repellent, they still won't leave you alone.
2. Hot Days
Air conditioning is not a thing when you are working outside for the entire day. You are forced to run around outside in 90 degree weather, sweating bullets, and playing tag with 5 year olds. Eventually you just become immune to the heat, but it's quite the struggle for many of the days.
3. Field Trips
Obviously field trips are the best thing in the world for the kids, but when you are a counselor they can be quite the struggle. Keeping head counts of all your kids, taking someone to the bathroom every 5 minutes, the extremely loud bus ride on the way. The best feeling in the world is getting back, and finally getting to take a needed shower after a long field trip.
4. Farmers Tan
Don't even get me started on my beautiful farmers tan from this summer. It's embarrassing how incredibly white some of my body is compared to the rest. After being outside for so long at summer camp, you don't want to to sit outside again and get the rest of your body tan. I guess the farmers tan will have to do!
5. The Occasional Break Downs
Luckily they didn't happen too often, but occasionally one of the kids would have a break-down and I would have to deal with it. It was usually that the more warm it was outside, the more breakdowns would commence throughout the day. Eventually I would want to have a breakdown myself!
6. Tie- Dye Shirts
Working as a camp counselor throughout the years, I have way too many tie-dye shirts. Way too many. If they were more socially acceptable to wear all the time, I'd never have to clothes shop again.
7. Arts and Crafts
You are thinking that the kids are doing the arts and crafts? Nope. 95% of the time the Counselors would get stuck doing the craft for the kids. Helping eventually just became doing it for them. Also, you end up having a big pile of the crafts, because your kids always leave them behind at the end of camp.
8. BUGS
SO MANY BUGS. So many bugs I had never seen before! As someone who hates bugs, it was such a struggle to have to take care of them every-time they were close to one of the kids. My dislike of bugs has now become a hate.
9. Early Mornings
From waking up extremely late at college every day, to having to get up early for camp everyday was a struggle. I would snooze my alarm button so many times before finally rolling out of bed, and then eventually leaving 5 minutes before camp started.
10. It has to end
Although there are many struggles associated with summer camp, the struggles are what makes us all love camp so much. It's always a sad time when camp has to end at the end of the season. You make so many connections with the kids, and you wish you could stay forever. Can't I just have a full time job as a camp counselor forever?
