Most college kids talk about summer vacation as a care free, relaxed time where they hang out with their old friends or go traveling to new places they've never been to before. For me my summer vacation is spent with kids, aged 5 to 6 from 8 am until 5 pm. Most people think that being a Camp Counselor, means giving up all your free time and wasting them on kids, but the time I've spent at camp have turned out to be some of the best times that I will never forget.
Being in charge of kids is a huge responsibility and has showed me the true meaning of leadership. Whether it's making a head count to make sure every kid is in line to making sure they eat their food during lunch, I've learned to be aware of the kids and most of all their actions and safety. It's almost a preview of parenting, since I have to be mindful and attentive of the kids that I am in charge of because it's key for them to always have fun while I maintain order and discipline. What people don't know about camp, is that these few weeks of camp are going to stay with the kids forever. Little activities such as Arts and Crafts or Sports help the kids become more open to trying new things and Camp Counselor always have to encourage the kids to do so, because optimistic, positive energy is what they need. Being a good leader or role model, I try to apply the lessons I've learned and implement them in the kids that are in my group. There's no better feeling than seeing a camper, learn something from you as a lesson that they will keep with them for the rest of their life. During the short period that you get to know your campers, you become the single most influential person in their lives.
Camp Staff is also a perk of Working as a Counselor. The people you work with have to engage in the activities with the kids. For example at my camp we have games that the kids, do but then the counselors perform the same game again competing against each other. Staff become like family and the awesome people that you meet when working are friendships that you will keep with you. You already have so much in common with co-counselors since you both gave up your summer to spend time with kids, impacting their kids in a positive way.
Waking up at 7 in the morning is less of a struggle when you realize that your job is not only benefitting the camper but yourself as well, in more way than one. It's the best job ever.
