Oh summer jobs. Some can be fun. Some will make you reevaluate your life. Some you only keep for the paycheck. Others, however, will be incredibly rewarding. Regardless of how you look at them, you have to have one. For all those college students out there that pick Camp Counselor as your summer job title, this one is for you. Here are some things you heard just one too many times:
"What do you mean we can’t pick up rocks and throw them?" or "Can I jump in the lake?"
Answering yes to those and many other reckless questions would involve me probably losing my job. Let’s not do that today kids, my college education won’t pay for itself. Thanks for asking though...
"Are you dating (insert name of another camp counselor)?" "Are you going to get married?"
[*rolling eyes until they fall out of head*]
And when the answer to the previous question is no: "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?"
“Yes, it's Channing Tatum. Now let’s paint a pretty picture for him.”
"What are we having for lunch?"
Deer poop. You’re having deer poop. Kids I am just as hungry as you are and are just as clueless as to what the kitchen will produce today. And trust me, none of you campers want chicken nuggets more than I do.
"Can I go to the bathroom?"
Really? Really. I just asked if anyone had to go when we were at the bathroom 10 minutes ago. The nearest bathroom is aaallllllllllllll the way over there and we just started this activity. Time to prepare for the bathroom parade.
"What are we doing today?"
SUPER Awesome Fun Stuff!! It is summer camp kids, you’re going to have fun. Now please get in a circle and stop asking me questions.
"What are we doing tomorrow?" (5 minutes into the first activity of the day)
Similar to the lunch question, your guess is as good as mine. Let’s just live in the moment. Trust me, you have your whole life ahead of you where you will be expected to plan ahead. Enjoy this.
"Do you have any snacks?"
“No.” Actually yes I do, but it has peanuts in it and I know Jimmy has a nut allergy so nope.
"Can I go with that group?"
Nope, sorry little buddy, you’re stuck with me. And honestly that is not that bad of a thing. I am the cool counselor. [*slow motion puts on sunglasses and pinches whistle between lips*]
"Do we have to do (insert the camp's overwhelmingly least favorite activity)?"
Yes. Yes. Yesssssssss.
"Can we play GaGa Ball?"
A camp staple across many campgrounds, the ever so precious GaGa pit. I love a good game of GaGa just as much as the next kid but your parents are paying for you to come to camp to learn more than just GaGa ball. Oh and by the way Jimmy, that ball definitely hit your foot no matter how hard you try to hide it. This job has caused me to grow another set of eyes, I see you.
And last but definitely not least: "(Insert awkward question they should really be asking their parents about)"
Take that question home bud. Don’t make my job anymore awkward than it has to be.
In the end we all honestly love our summer job and most importantly the hilarious kids. We now know one too many camp songs and/or sayings that we love screaming louder than the kids. The little buggers taught us a lot about the simple things in life. We all wish we could see what kind of people the campers grow up to be, but unfortunately that does not happen. Every summer will bring new surprises with new kids (or that one kid who never seems to age out). After months of being surrounded by 18+-year-old moody people we can’t wait to be surrounded by a bunch of little munchkins. Just tell yourself, summer is just right around the corner! Right?
