This is my first year being a day camp counselor and I think I can say it's going pretty well. Nobody has broken any bones yet and all the kids seem to be happy it's just a coincidence that our numbers have dropped the second week of camp right? The amount of times that I say each of these things every day is crazy and if I had a dime for each time I said them I would be living in the Bahamas right now, and not at camp.
1. "Why is he or she crying?"
Most of the time when one of the campers is crying its because they got hit or they got out when the game just started but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
2. "Keep your hands to yourself!"
No matter what activity we are doing there are always two kids fighting in the corner when they shouldn't be and one getting hurt then running to a counselor in tears pointing fingers.
3. "Are you listening?"
This is what I look like when I'm about to lose my temper because my group won't listen long enough to hear the directions and then ask 20 times what we're doing right now and how to do it.
4. "Stop asking me what time it is."
I get asked the question "what time is it" at least 50 times a day even when they know it's lunch time or snack time and it is obviously only 12:00.
5. "No, I'm not going to carry you"
I'm already tired too and the last thing I want to do is put you on my back and carry you around for the rest of the day. Plus as soon as you do it for one kid, you have to do it for all of them"
6. "Are you bleeding? No? Oh, then you're fine."
Yes, I saw you fall and hit your knee but I don't see any blood which means you are fine to continue on with your life.
7. "Get up and go play!"
I understand that camp games are hard and tiring but that doesn't mean you can just sit out and watch the fun go by!
8. "So you don't know why did you hit him/her?"
Every child that gets in trouble for hitting another child will tell you they don't know why they hit the other person even though it was clearly intentional.
9. "Do we have everybody?"
Me trying to figure out the number of kids we had in the beginning of the day, their names, and whether or not they are all in line.
10. "Does anyone need to use the bathroom?"
Right after we switch activities and are far away from any bathroom, there is always one camper who walks up to me like this and asks me to take them to the bathroom.
11. "Do you have everything?"
When I ask if the kids have everything and they don't, this is how they look for it for.2 seconds and then ask me to go on a hunt for it.
12. "Please put your fidget spinner away."
Every time we are about to do something fun or start a game someone takes out there fidget spinner and instantly everyone's attention is drawn to that small piece of plastic.
13. "Your mommy will be back at 3:00."
Some kids just have to confirm every 5 minutes that their mom will be coming back to pick them up.
At the end of the day, I really do love being a camp counselor even if I have to repeat myself 20 times within the span of an hour!
