The school doors are sealed and the last bell rung it’s officially summertime and for upper-level students that means it’s time for a job. My first and still only job was a summer camp counselor at a local YMCA and I’ve loved every minute of it. So much so that I’ve successfully recruited some friends of mine to apply and work with me. This will be my second year as a counselor and as I look back I wanted to share what I've learned from this job I hate that I love it so much.
Here are five tips for incoming summer camp counselors:
1. Bring out your inner kid
Each day you should come to work with a backpack, water bottle, sunscreen, lunch/snack, and time to have an amazing day at camp. This is one of the best parts of this job you are getting paid to watch kids but also act like one too.
2. Pack an extra bottle of patience
This bottle will undoubtedly be in need of a constant refill once you met the one very special camper who somehow someway finds a way to push all of your buttons at once. I personally count down from 100 and take deep, yoga-style breathes to prevent myself from screaming at a kid remember they are only six-years-old.
3. Become a free-time buster
Kind of like to ""Ghostbuster" when presented with moments of free time (which will be quite often) make sure that you as a counselor take advantage of that time to create fun within the group. Many times your campers will sniff out free time before you do and try to find their siblings and/or friends who are seemingly in the polar opposite side of camp. Instead during free time I have my kids play games like four corners, cartoon tag, or my personally favorite "Night at the Museum" to keep them from straying away. Games or camp songs keep them engaged during awkward transition time and make them connect more as a unit.
4. Learn names and faces ASAP
Outside of the Super Bowl or a Presidential inauguration Monday morning at camp is the most hectic place on earth where you and only you are responsible for rounding up 8 or more kids who all most likely are complete strangers to you. This is a low point of the job that you as a counselor just have to figure it out in your unique way but as soon as everyone is checked off on your roster immediately start learning their names and more importantly their faces. Why? Every kid looks the same from the back fresh out of the pool.
5. Be in the present
This one should go without saying but truly be present for your campers. I know Snapchat, Instagram, and hype group messages are blowing up your phone with notifications but your campers want to get to know you not your phone case. I’ve found often times that when I talk to them and get to know my campers their behavior becomes much better and they are fully engaged for whatever activity is next!
