I spent the past two summers as a camp counselor at a day camp in my town. It took a lot of energy, time, and patience, but overall it was so much fun.

Here are 16 things I have learned to be true working as a camp counselor.

1. Kids have WAY more energy than you do

I seriously question it every day. Where do they get all this energy from?

2. Sometimes twisting the truth is OK

"No, I don't know what that word means, just don't say it."

3. You can make anything into a fun activity

As long as there is a winner at the end, it's a game.

Let's play a circle game!! No really, WE ARE playing a circle game!!

When you end a scheduled activity early, you NEED to have some other games/activities in your back pocket to avoid the chance of free time turning into a disaster.

6. Losing your voice is a weekly occurrence

Seriously, I almost forget what my actual voice sounded like for a whole summer.

7. Field trips = total mayhem

At least now when I have kids of my own, taking only a couple of kids to the zoo won't seem so stressful.

8. You have to learn to embarrass yourself and just not care

If you're not dancing, the campers aren't dancing. So, you ARE dancing.

9. Everything takes 10 times longer with kids

Try getting one five-year-old changed for swim time. Then, try getting twelve of them changed.

10. A nice comment from a camper can make your day

There's nothing better than knowing your campers might actually like you.

11. A prize bin is a necessity

If you say it’s a prize, it’s a prize, no matter what it is.

12. You HAVE to hold your ground

You can't let them see your weakness. If you say there is a punishment, there better be one or else you just lost all of your authority.

13. Sick campers = sick counselors

You try your best to stay away from the camper who has been sniffing all morning. However, it's nearly impossible not to catch a cold from all of the germs you encounter each day.

14. You start talking to people like you talk to your campers

"Hey! We don't say words like that here!"

15. Rainy days are a blessing and a curse

Not having swim time may sound good with you, but now the campers are angry. Also, they now need to release all of the energy they usually let out in the pool while trapped inside with the rest of the camp.

16. At the end of the summer, you realize you're gonna miss your campers

Through all the time-outs, temper tantrums, and times saying "If you can hear me, clap once," at the end of the summer, you realize you're going to miss it.