1. Bathroom breaks.
No matter how many times you ask before you get to the next activity, there is no doubt that one camper will ask to use the bathroom when you’re the furthest distance from the bathroom. Not only that, but after about 30 minutes, the same camper will ask to go another time, most likely because they don’t like hockey, basketball, arts and crafts, or any other activity you have at that time.
2. Acting like a fool everyday and not caring.
From dressing up for theme days to dancing like crazy, camp teaches you how to be a kid again. Summer camp is the outlet from real life, whether it’s from working a 9-5 job sitting inside all day, or taking classes in college. The best thing is that the kids won’t judge you for being silly either. They will love you for it.
3. Setting a bedtime for yourself.
No more all-nighters when working as a camp counselor. It’s extremely tolling on your body and even your mind chasing kids from 8-4, Monday through Friday. Your friends will make fun of you because you no longer have time to hang out with them and your immediate response to if you want to go out is “Sorry, I have camp.” Being able to gain energy for the next day and the consecutive days is challenging when your sleep schedule is off so being able to go to sleep earlier will be beneficial the next morning.
4. Hearing “Wow, your job is probably so easy.”
NO. Dealing with 15-20 children from the ages 3-15 is not an easy task, making sure every child is healthy and having fun is very difficult. The parents of these children are putting their trust in you to make sure they have sunscreen on, enjoy their time at camp, and avoid injuries along the way. I do not just “play with kids all day.”
5. Testing your patience, every day.
From waiting for your campers to line up, to listening to parents’ complaints, or waiting for a camper tell you what they want for snack that day (even though you know it’s going to be a cherry ice pop every. single. day.), camp counselors need to learn how to have patience. Not only will this help you with making the children happy, but it will benefit you in the real world and in other jobs you have.
6. Saying everything in a high pitched voice/with a smile on your face.
Even on bad days, camp counselors need to fake their excitement. Every emotion that you show towards a child influences them to feel the same. They want to be like you. They will imitate you if you appear to be sad, bored, or tired. If you’re excited to be there, so will they.
7. Realizing that more money does not mean happiness.
Most of my friends are working as lifeguards this summer, making around $10-12 an hour, while I continue to be a camp counselor at the day camp I grew up at. Some days I think to myself Am I being paid enough for all the work I do? And the answer is probably no. However, the joy that I receive at the end of the summer when one of my campers that was once shy and nervous at the beginning of the summer finally opens up and makes a new group of friends is worth all eight weeks of being exhausted and sweaty. When one of my 6 year old campers realizes that she’s finally good at something, whether it be basketball, dancing, or even ceramics, I realize that I have taught this young person something. I can even say that I have been a positive impact on their life. With only eight weeks, they can grow into a more confident and brighter child.
