After attending summer camp for 6 years, I decided at the ripe age of 17 that I, myself, would apply to be a counselor at the camp I grew up attending. Now let me just prepare you by saying that as a camper, I looked at counselors as the coolest people on God’s green earth, but by no measure of insanity did I ever want to become one. The job just threw me for a loop if you will. I couldn't seem to fathom wanting to sit around and deal with brats all week rolling through the same schedule just different brats. But 3 years after aging out of camp, I guess I was ready to dive in. I guess in my head it was a much easier way to get out of bagging groceries at your local HY-VEE all summer. So off to camp I went, skipping the whole way of course.
Now let's fast forward 6 weeks and I’ll give you the low down on a few expectations of mine that were more than just debunked in that time span, they were a reality check x10.
Being the “cool counselor”
EXPECTATION: As a camper, we all knew the cool counselor, the one all the kids loved and was never mean but they just like… got you.
REALITY: Yeah, well that spot was forfeited by me the moment a group of whiney 9 year olds decided it would be funny to pee their pants on the other side of camp. About an hour and no evening canteen privileges later, I was the last counselor those girls wanted to mess with, but the cool counselor? You can forget it.
Your co-workers are your BFFs
EXPECTATION: When you spend 6 weeks with the same group of people you bond, open up, maybe even spill some secrets you wouldn't even share with your real life bff. When camp finally ends you cry and promise to be only a phone call away whenever you need each other and go on to be life long friends brought together by the wondrous adventure that is summer camp.
REALITY: Reality check… before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s important to keep in mind that every person is a bit different in their own special way. These few people you may come to truly love in each of their truly special ways. But once camp is over you may not want to see these people for a whole year. Then again, you may never be able to experience everyday life without them attached to your hip. I'd have to say it could go either way on this one.
Staying up late after lights out
EXPECTATION: You just spent all day with annoying little kids, of course you're gonna rub it in their faces that you can stay up late look at your phone, yell at them to go to bed, and snack in the kitchen while they have to sleep!
REALITY: Ummmm yeah you’ll fall into bed the first chance you get, shower or not. There's really no argument here.
Getting a Killer Tan
EXPECTATION: As far as Greek gods go, you better be one glowing bronze one by the end of these next six weeks. Sitting poolside, all relaxation and no worries!
REALITY: Reality check, when it comes time for the pool all you're gonna be thinking about is how beautifully comfortable those pool chairs look when you're spread all over one taking the only nap opportunity you’ll get this week! But if you somehow manage to stay awake and enjoy those sunglasses tan lines… they won't be fading anytime soon.
Snacks
EXPECTATION: News flash. It's everything you expect and then some. You’ll eat snacks in the morning, at lunch, at dinner and after lights out. basically you won't be caught dead without some type of snack tucked in that fanny pack of yours let me tell you.
No matter what camp life throws at you, it will never be what you expect. I am now 5 years deep into being a summer camp counselor and I don't think I'm alone when I say that it's never something you can really plan for.
