It's the spring semester and the only thing on college kids minds right now is getting through the next few months to SUMMER! For some of us, that means digging out summer camp staff applications, interviews, and looking forward to being back in the place you call home, with the people you call your family. It takes a unique group of people to take on something like summer camp, so here's a few characteristics we all seem to share:
1. You have really weird tan lines. Everywhere.
And you really don't care. You're actually proud of them. Chaco tans, watch tans, t-shirt AND tank top tans, shorts, bracelets, glasses....you name it, camp counselors got it.
2. You can build one heck of a fire out of literally anything.
Dryer lint? Check. Doritos? Check. See a dead tree? Tear that sucker down and save it for later. You got this.
3. Your ability to make up ridiculous (yet completely necessary) rules and explain them off the top of your head as to why they actually exist in incredible.
Go ahead and hand us the Academy Award.
4. You're an expert on everything.
Fake it till you make it, am I right?
5. If someone doesn't feel well, your first question is, "Have you been drinking enough water?"
Hydrate or die-drate, kids.
6. The most common of words can set off an entire choreographed song and dance routine.
Don't ask why.
7. There's actually nothing that you don't have in your backpack at all times.
Ibuprofen? Got it. Head lamp? Yep. A first aid kit big enough to take care of a small army? Duh. A craft left behind from a camper 3 weeks ago? You've got that too.
8. Going out in public on the weekends makes you realize daily showers are a totally normal thing in the real word.
And you really need one.
9. You're a pro at rainy day games
Electricity, anyone? Heads up 7 up? Four on a couch? Mud run? Rain can't stop us.
10. You're capable of saying no in too many different ways.
"Don't anticipate, participate!" "WAFO - Wait and Find Out!"
11. You may or may not have nightmares about making one more friendship bracelet.
It's harder to teach than you would think.
12. Dry shampoo saves your life daily.
Because honestly, who has time to be washing hair anymore? Not us.
13. You can shower in 2 minutes or less and you definitely expect your campers to do the same.
PSA - Pool time counts as half a shower.
14. You're not just a counselor, but you're also a professional singer, hair braider, and a stand up comedian.
Awkwardly quiet campfires, early mornings in the bath house, and lots of free time? You've got this covered.
15. You debrief EVERYTHING
Can you relate duck duck goose and tie it in with the Bible? Bet your camp counselor can.
16. The staff becomes the most amazing family.
Throw 20-some college students into the middle of nowhere for a summer and we're gonna come out closer than anyone thought. No topic is off limits with camp staff (trust me ...), and you'll be forever thankful for this way too close knit family. Even after the summer ends, you know you'll always have each others back.
17. No matter what it is, you can always relate everything back to camp.
Cause there's just no place like Home.