Growing up and getting your first job is often an interesting experience. But no job seems to be quite as interesting as being a camp counselor. Some of the weirdest, most unrealistic experiences happen in these short 8 weeks of summer. Here are 19 things you know too well if you've ever been a camp counselor.
1. You find yourself saying things you never thought you would.
No naked cartwheels, no you may not contact the lizard lord, please don't eat the clay... oh the list is absolutely endless.
2. You can't go a day without taking someone to the nurse.
A paper cut seems to become a medical emergency or a kid manages to sprain their ankle doing a push up (believe me I've seen it all), but you're low key ok with taking them because it means you can get an ice pop.
3. Your staff shirt is your pride and joy.
You wear it everywhere (to bed, in public, as a beach cover up, etc.) and have absolutely no shame. You also own an obscene amount where it takes over half your wardrobe.
4. Color war is more serious than the Olympics.
Not only do you spend all year training for the intense three days, but you also take it very seriously and put all your blood, sweat and tears into it.
5. Every song ever used for color war is now ruined for you.
You find yourself singing the color war version when it comes on the radio and your non-camp friends just stare at you because they have no idea what is going on.
6. You have no shame in admitting you pee in the pool.
You and your friends are guilty of gathering into the corner of the pool and peeing as a group....you know what they say: those who pee together, stay together.
7. You have seasonal friends.
For those 8 weeks of summer, it's all about your camp friends. You isolate yourself from the outside world until that last day of camp.
8. You and your campers all come together to keep secrets.
"OK, guys, if anyone asks, we weren’t in here when the ball was thrown at the ceiling causing it to break... as far as we know IT FELL ON ITS OWN." You truly appreciate the ability an 11-year-old has to keep a secret.
9. You suffer popsicle overdose at snack daily.
2, 4, 6, 8 — I lost count of the number of popsicles I just ate.
10. And you're guilty of lying to your campers and saying there are no more blue ones just to keep them for yourself.
Convincing your campers that you have a weird disease which turns your mouth blue rather than just owning up to the fact you just consumed three blue popsicles
11. You have stories people would never believe.
“Today we started a cult with the kids and had them worshiping an iguana and the next thing I knew one kid brought ouija board to camp to contact the lizard lord."
12. You've brought you campers into the bathroom to summon Bloody Mary at least once.
This was probably not the best idea being I ended up having to call paranormal activity investigators just to prove to my campers that Bloody Mary is just a myth and we weren't being haunted.
13. And on rainy days you've told them about Cropsey.
Once again, probably not my best idea.
14. You actually get angry when people tell you to get a real job.
Or hearing them tell you working as a camp counselor isn't a real job.
15. You have a running list of funny things your campers have said.
Your children are actually some of the funniest people you'll ever meet. Whether it's their lack of a filter or just lack of common sense, they are hilarious. Whenever you're having a bad day, you can just look at the notes section on your phone and have a good laugh.
16. Realizing after spending four hours at the waterpark none of your campers asked to use the bathroom.
And then it hits you that you've taught them well and followed in your footsteps by peeing in the lazy river.
17. You're too familiar with lice.
You're not even surprised when another lice outbreak happens. You now keep a bottle of lice shampoo at home and spray your hair with lice repellent daily.
18. Trying, but not succeeding at the "summer body" with all the carbs you consume daily.
Fish sticks, mac and cheese, chips, PB&J, lettuce with tomatoes (aka salad bar), and pudding
19. You wouldn't trade your underpaid summer for anything and you're already counting down until next summer.
Regardless of how often you contemplate going home and never coming back, you know you never would. Camp is the best eight weeks of your life where you make some of the best memories that you wouldn't trade for the world.
