It's summertime, you need a job, and what's more fun than reliving your childhood and going back to day camp?
Getting to be outside all day, hanging out with a bunch of kids and working with some awesome people ... what could be better? It's a chance to help campers create all the amazing memories you had when you were a camper, but also a time for you to make new camp memories, this time as a counselor. After a couple of weeks, you will get the hang of it and realize what being a day camp counselor really means.
1. You come home every day smelling of sunscreen.
After applying squirming kids with sunscreen and then reapplying two or three more times a day, you are bound to come home smelling like The Coppertone factory.
2. Crafts.
One of the biggest parts of camp is crafts. Even though you aren't a camper you still will bring home macaroni necklaces, paper towel princesses and plenty of tie bracelets. If you are lucky, your mom will even put it up on the fridge (mine did).
3. Your favorite time of the day is pool time.
Spending the day running around in the hot sun and chasing after kids will have you ready for the pool. Even though most of your time in the pool is spent watching campers show you how awesome their underwater handstands are, giving piggy back rides or getting splashed in the face, it is well worth it on those 100 degree days.
4. Camper Artwork.
Remember the days when you were so excited to bring your mom or dad the picture you made? Campers feel the same way as you. Being a camp counselor means having campers bring you pictures they made for you on a daily basis. Rainbows, dogs, the sun, you will see it all including pictures and drawings you will have no idea what they are supposed to be. You will think "Aww, what a cute dog," meanwhile that cute dog will turn out to be a spaceship. It's a guessing game.
5. You have a ton of STAFF T-shirts.
When going through your t-shirt drawer every other t-shirt you happen upon is a camp shirt with the letters STAFF written on it in big capital letters. Even though it may seem like you have a ton, when it;s day camp season you seem to never have enough.
6. Some of your best friends are fellow camp counselors.
You are bound to become close with your fellow coworkers when you spend every day with them. Who else can you share crazy camp stories with or try to take down in all camp activities? You form a fellow camp counselor bond that soon turns into friendships, and in my case, best friends for life.
7. Tie Bracelets.
If your arm isn't covered in tie bracelets are you really a camp counselor? Who knew colorful thread could be so much fun? On the regular, your arms are covered with these little bracelets that either you or your campers made.
8. You get excited for Special Fridays.
Whats more fun than Team Sports Day, Crazy Creature Day or Camp Carnival Day? Special Fridays mean fun events that the whole camp does together. Get ready for lots of noise and chaos, but this means the weekend is almost here!
9. Brown Bag Lunches.
It's time to bring out those brown lunch bags that you haven't used since high school! Being a day camp counselor also means packing a lunch. Hopefully, you remember how to make a PB & J or have a mom who will still make your lunch.
10. Day Camp Olympics is a Holiday.
It's that one special day of the year that you can get all decked out in gear for the country your team is representing. Bring out that competitive side because this event can get intense. Campers may like this event, but counselors love it.
Despite being exhausted, sunburned and dealing with daily crying and tantrums, there is no better reward at the end of the day than your campers giving you big hugs and telling you how much they love you.
